The archivists in the Special Collections recently discovered an exciting fact regarding several documents held in the J. Leonard Raulston Papers.
Mr. Raulston (1905-1987) was a South Pittsburg businessman, and an historian and genealogist. He was also a member of the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee. The university acquired Mr. Raulston’s papers in 1974. In going through Mr. Raulston’s papers, which total 17 linear feet of mostly research material of the Sequatchie Region of Tennessee, it was discovered that several 19th century land grants in his papers were signed by President Andrew Jackson and Tennessee governor Sam Houston who, after relocating to Texas, defeated Santa Anna after the Alamo loss, during the Battle of San Jacinto. Although the signatures have not been authenticated by a handwriting expert, they appear to match actual documented examples of Jackson’s and Houston’s signatures.
To see the J. Raulston Papers and more, stop by Special Collections, Monday through Thursday, 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. and 1:00p.m. to 4:30p.m.