Yes, the Special Collections will be closed for a long Memorial Day weekend, from Friday, May 24th through Tuesday, May 28th. Should you have any questions or need assistance during this time, please email archives@utc.edu or contact the library dean, Theresa Liedtka at (423) 425-4508 or at Theresa-Liedtka@utc.edu, and we will certainly try to accommodate you, but certain items, collections, and services may be unavailable during this period. We are sorry for the inconvenience. The department will reopen on Wednesday, May 29th, at 9:00 am.
The above book is from our Rare Book Collection and is A History of the Origin of Memorial Day, printed in Columbus, Georgia, in 1898. Many cities across the United States claim Memorial Day to have originated in their city. Two from the South – Columbus, Mississippi and Columbus, Georgia – both had observances a year after the end of the Civil War to remember the fallen. Similar observances were held across the United States in those first years after the war. There is no definitive agreement as to where the holiday originated, but the important thing is that we remember those that have given their lives to serve and protect our country!