• County Histories & Published Local Records
• Brief Biographical Sketches
• Goodspeed Biographical Sketches
• City Directories and Telephone Books
• Newspapers
• Funeral Home Records
• Postcards
• Manuscripts Collections

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• Electronic Delivery of Documents
• Certification of Documents

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• COUNTY HISTORIES AND PUBLISHED LOCAL RECORDS

A list of county histories and published local records can be obtained by viewing the genealogical fact sheet for a county. These volumes, if indexed, can be searched for entries pertaining to a particular individual or surname. Inquiries should specify up to three volumes to be searched. E-mail TSLA with the title of the book and the name of the individual, and we will check to see if there is a listing in the index. TSLA will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail or e-mail the listings from a county history. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable.  Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  [GO TO FORM SS-2235 -- Printed Index Search Request]
• There is no charge for an e-mail scan of up to five (5) pages from one published index. The standard fee of $5 will be charged if there are more than five pages.
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

The index "Brief Biographical Sketches of 30,000 Tennesseans" lists the location of brief biographies on many Tennessee politicians, clergy, military leaders, businessmen and craftsmen. TSLA will, for a $5 fee, copy up to three (3) specified listings from this index.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail or e-mail up to three (3) specified listings from the collection of brief biographical sketches. individual from the biographical sketches. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable.  Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  [GO TO FORM SS-2235 -- Printed Index Search Request] (Please use the OTHER section on the form.)
• There is no charge for an e-mail scan of up to five (5) pages from one published index. The standard fee of $5 will be charged if there are more than five pages.
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• GOODSPEED  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES

The index to the biographical sketches in the works by Goodspeed indicates the name of the individual, the county in which the sketch is located, and the beginning page number of the sketch.   TSLA will, for a fee, photocopy the biographical sketch for one specified individual and send the copy through the mail. 

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail or e-mail the listings for one specified individual from the biographical sketches found in the works by Goodspeed. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable.  Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  [GO TO FORM SS-2235 -- Printed Index Search Request]. 
• There is no charge for an e-mail scan of up to five (5) pages from one published index. The standard fee of $5 will be charged if there are more than five pages.
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• CITY DIRECTORIES AND TELEPHONE BOOKS

City directories and telephone books for many Tennessee cities and towns are available for scattered dates. A list of city directories showing which years are available by city is found on our web site; a list of telephone books showing which years are available by city and/or county is also available. These volumes can be searched for a particular surname and copies mailed. Inquiries should specify up to three directories or telephone books to be searched. Relevant pages will be copied and mailed for a search fee.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail or e-mail the listings for one specified individual or family name from a city directory or telephone book. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable.  Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  [GO TO FORM SS-2235 -- Printed Index Search Request]. 
• There is no charge for an e-mail scan of up to five (5) pages from one city directory or telephone book. The standard fee of $5 will be charged if there are more than five pages.
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• NEWSPAPERS

A list of newspapers and available dates, arranged by town of publication, can be consulted to determine what papers are available for searching. This list of Tennessee newspapers is found on our web site. Because the newspapers are not indexed, you must specify the newspaper to be searched, the name or subject of the article,  and the exact date of the event or the issue to be searched.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• There is a $10 fee to search for an article or notice in a newspaper. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.   [GO TO FORM SS-2237 -- Microfilm Copy Order]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

• Residents of Tennessee (with a current Tennessee postal address) will pay a $5 fee to search for an article or notice in a newspaper. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.   [GO TO FORM SS-2237 -- Microfilm Copy Order]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• FUNERAL   HOME  RECORDS

A list of collections of funeral home records held at TSLA can be found on our  web site.

Books and published materials can be searched by TSLA staff.   E-mail your request to TSLA with the name of the individual you are researching;  please be sure to include the title and call number of the book.  Due to the number of requests received daily, we ask that you only submit one request at a time for a single name to be searched in one book. Only one request will be handled at a time.  Please do not send a second search request while you have a request pending.  Please do not send several searches in separate e-mail messages, or a request that asks to search multiple names.  When you receive a reply to your first look-up, you may send in your next  look-up request, and so on.   TSLA can, for a fee, photocopy all of the listings for one specified surname.  TSLA will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.

TSLA will, for a fee, search microfilmed funeral home records which have been indexed or alphabetically arranged.   If a microfilm collection has not been indexed or alphabetically arranged, then the records will not be searched by TSLA staff.  The entries on the funeral home web page will indicate if an index is available for a particular microfilm collection, or if the records have been alphabetically arranged.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail or e-mail the listings for one specified individual or family name from a published funeral home index. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable.  Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.  [GO TO FORM SS-2235 -- Printed Index Search Request]. 
• There is no charge for an e-mail scan of up to five (5) pages from one published index. The standard fee of $5 will be charged if there are more than five pages.
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

• There is a $10 fee to search the microfilmed funeral home records which have been indexed or alphabetically arranged.  TSLA will search for one specified name or family name.  This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.   [GO TO FORM SS-2237 -- Microfilm Copy Order]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

• Residents of Tennessee (with a current Tennessee postal address) will pay a $5 fee to search search the microfilmed funeral home records which have been indexed or alphabetically arranged.  TSLA will search for one specified name or family name. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.   [GO TO FORM SS-2237 -- Microfilm Copy Order]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• POSTCARDS

The Tennessee Postcard Collection Inventory appears on our web site. E-mail TSLA with the subject you are researching, and we will check to see if a postcard is available. TSLA will respond to e-mail requests promptly; response time may vary, depending on the amount of research required to answer your question and the unique nature of your request. If you need immediate assistance you may call the reference desk at (615) 741-2764 or visit us in person.

ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:

• There is a $10 fee to photocopy postcards. The fee is not refundable.  This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.     [GO TO FORMS PAGE]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

• Residents of Tennessee (with a current Tennessee postal address) will pay a $5 fee to photocopy postcards. This fee covers the cost of copying up to 20 pages; each additional copy beyond the initial 20 copies is 50¢. The fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312.     [GO TO FORMS PAGE]
• Please submit each search request on a separate form. Orders will be filled promptly and in the order that they are received. Most requests are answered within two weeks of the time they are received by TSLA; however, response times may vary depending on the volume and nature of your request.
• TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
• Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.

 

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• MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS

Many manuscript collections are available on microfilm and can be borrowed on interlibrary loan .

 

 

• ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS [TSLA E-Docs]

Some printed indexes and microfilmed records may be available for delivery through our e-mail service.  Requests to be delivered by e-mail, however, must be submitted in the same manner as our Services by Mail requests:  payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required.  Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department,  403  Seventh Avenue North,  Nashville TN  37243-0312.  If you request electronic delivery of a document, you must check the e-mail box under "Delivery Instructions". If no boxes are marked, or if more than one box is marked, the record will be photocopied and sent via US Mail.

• Records available through this service are scanned and saved as a .pdf file.  Documents can only be saved as .pdfs.  Patrons can download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files.
• Records sent via e-mail service cannot be certified. 
• TSLA will e-mail the record to one e-mail address. 
• If the file size exceeds 10 pages or 15 megabytes, the .pdf file will be placed on a CD and mailed. 
• If it is not feasible to scan the record you are requesting, a print copy will be mailed to you.
• Due to space limitations, digital copies of records will be maintained on TSLA’s server for 30 days.  After 30 days, the digital copies of the records will be deleted from the server.  Once the digital copies of the records have been deleted, they will not be available for e-mail delivery unless another request, along with the required fee, is submitted. 

Digital copies of records will be sent from the e-mail address reference.tsla@tn.gov . 

 

 

• If needed, TSLA can certify a copy of a record held in our collection.  There is a fee of $5.00 to certify one copy of the document, in addition to the initial search fee. If you wish for more than one copy of a record to be certified, each additional certification is $5.00.
• If you think certification may be needed, please indicate this when the initial copy order is placed, as we cannot certify after-the-fact any copies that have left our facility.  We cannot certify copies of items that we have not copied ourselves.  If you decide at a later date that you need items certified that you have already received, we will have to charge you for the order a second time and re-copy all the materials.
• TSLA cannot certify electronic copies (scans) of documents.
• If you pay in advance for a record search and certification and the record is not located, neither the search fee nor the certification fee are refundable.  For this reason, when searching for a record that you wish to have certified, TSLA suggests that you use our downloadable forms and pay by credit card.  If you pay by credit card and a record is not located, then you will not be charged the additional $5.00 certification fee.

 

 

Updated June 26, 2013