Nashville Banner Reporter Reference Files: Series V. Banner History, 1878 – ca. 1997 (bulk 1916-1985)

Collection Summary Creator: Nashville Banner Title: Banner History Series Inclusive Dates: 1878 – ca. 1997 (bulk 1916-1985) Summary/Abstract: A wide variety of materials, from 1878 – ca. 1997 (bulk 1916-1985) documenting the history of the Nashville Banner newspaper, with isolated items concerning some individual libel cases (1917-1939). Items were originally housed in the Banner Clippings Files and were removed for preservation purposes by Nashville Public Library staff to form this collection. Physical Description/Extent: .9 cu. ft. Series: V. Banner History Linking Entry Complexity Note: Forms part of the Nashville Banner Reporter Reference Files, part of the Nashville Banner Archives. Accession Number: RT-102 Language: English Stack Location: Closed stacks Nashville Banner Room Repository: Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Biographical/Historical Sketch The Nashville Banner newspaper began publication on Apr. 10, 1876 and ceased publication Feb. 20, 1998.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Nashville Banner Reporter Reference Files, Banner History Series has information about the history of the Nashville Banner newspaper. Most materials date from around 1916 to about 1985, although a few items may be from before or after these dates. Formats include clippings, brochures, booklets, reports, correspondence, typescripts, and even a few full single pages from the newspaper. Quantity of materials ranges from a single item to typescripts of nearly twenty pages. Some items are photocopies. All the materials in this collection were originally housed in the Banner Clippings Files, but were removed by library staff for preservation purposes. Thus, although the Banner Reporter Reference Files is a separate collection, due to its size, it nevertheless bears a very close relationship and indeed should be viewed as an extension of the Banner Clippings Files. Information in both instances was compiled and used by reporters at the Nashville Banner as references when writing about significant events of the time. Researchers are advised that due to its being a much more comprehensive

Banner Reporter Ref. Files Page 1 of 7 Last updated: 01/22/2018 Series V. Banner History resource, the Banner Clippings Files will likely be a more useful and productive source of information than the isolated items to be found in the Banner Reporter Reference Files. The materials in this series include: various compilations relating to the history of the Banner newspaper, including items from the Diamond Jubilee, which featured the “Nashville Banner March” composed by noted bandleader Francis Craig. Biographical information is included about various members of the Stahlman family and a few other individuals who were owners, publishers, or editors of the newspaper. A few items relate to special Banner-sponsored activities or contests, such as a science fair and a speech contest. Also of interest is an employee handbook from circa 1985. A number of files contain generally sparse information about libel suits, spanning from approximately 1917 to 1939. This date span is significant since the majority of Banner Clippings files do not begin until over a decade later. Researchers are cautioned that these materials were found in an enveloped marked "libel" within the Banner Clippings Files, though often there is no specific indication about the libel suit itself. The possibility remains that at least some of these cases simply merited a published correction, with perhaps little or no legal action. In addition, the names under which the cases are filed in the Banner Reporter Reference Files are the names which predominate in the materials themselves, within the collection. It is not known, nor should it be assumed, that the names provided as headings are part of the official case name. Nevertheless, these libel files contain interesting and unusual information. Common subjects include erroneous wedding announcements; accusations of criminal acts, including bootlegging; political improprieties; pardons; or other matters. A few specific cases of special interest include: Compton v. Banner (1931) where a white man was misidentified as a Negro; investigations into the behavior of Superintendent W.T. Boaz at the Tennessee Orphans Home in Columbia (1917); an investigation into socialist activities of Harry Goldfarb and W. C. Birthright (1919); fraudulent misrepresentation as a dentist by Mr. A. Jean Hager to enable access to cocaine and morphine in violation of the Harrison Anti-Narcotics Act (1924-1925); and alleged "immorality" of McKendree Methodist Church pastor, Rev. Marion Nelson Waldrip, including testimony in his defense by his wife, Nancy C. Waldrip (1922).

Organization/Arrangement of Materials

Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access: In library use only. Available by appointment.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Some items may be too fragile to be photocopied.

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Index Terms

Personal Names: Beard, W. E. (William Ewing), 1873-1950 Birthright, W.C. Goldfarb, Harry Hager, A. Jean Stahlman, E. B. (Edward Bushrod), 1843-1930 Stahlman, James Geddes, 1893-1976 Waldrip, Marion Nelson, b. ca. 1874 Waldrip, Nancy C., b. ca. 1876

Corporate Names/Organizations: Gannett Company McKendree Methodist Church (Nashville, Tenn.) Nashville Banner Tennessee Orphan Home (Columbia, Tenn.) United States. District Court (Tennessee : Middle District)

Subjects: Alcoholic beverage law violations -- Tennessee American newspapers – History American newspapers – Tennessee – Nashville Biography—20th century—Sources Courts – Tennessee Crime and the press – Tennessee Drug abuse and crime – Tennessee – Nashville Freedom of the press – Tennessee Journalism – Tennessee Journalistic errors Journalists – Tennessee – Nashville Libel and slander – Tennessee Local elections – Tennessee – Nashville Narcotic laws – United States Newspaper editors – Tennessee – Nashville Newspaper publishing – Tennessee – Nashville Newspapers – Ownership – History Oratory – Competitions – Tennessee – Nashville Pardon – Tennessee Pharmacy—Law and legislation – United States Politicians – Tennessee – Nashville Prohibition -- Tennessee Publishers and publishing – Tennessee – Nashville Reporters and reporting – Tennessee – Nashville

Banner Reporter Ref. Files Page 3 of 7 Last updated: 01/22/2018 Series V. Banner History Science fairs – Tennessee – Nashville Socialism – Tennessee Socialists – Tennessee – Nashville Trials (Libel) – Tennessee – Nashville Weddings – Press coverage – Tennessee Whiskey – Tennessee—Anecdotes

Places: Nashville (Tenn.) -- Biography Nashville (Tenn.) – History – 20th century – Sources Nashville (Tenn.) – Intellectual life – 20th century Nashville (Tenn.) – Politics and government – 20th century Nashville (Tenn.) – Social conditions – 20th century Tennessee, Middle – History – 20th century – Sources Tennessee, Middle – Social conditions – 20th century Tennessee—Biography

Genre/Document Types: Booklets Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence Legal documents Pamphlets Reports Typescripts

Occupations: Journalists Newspaper editors Politicians

Added Author (Personal Name): Craig, Francis, 1900-1966

Added Author (Corporate Heading): Gannett Company

Associated and Related Material Nashville Banner Archives, including clippings and photographs, is housed in the Nashville Room of the Nashville Public Library. Full issues of the Nashville Banner newspaper are available on microfilm.

Separated Material Occasionally some items were removed to separate storage. Separation notices have been used when this occurred.

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Administrative Information

Additional Physical Form Available: Full issues of the Nashville Banner newspaper are available on microfilm in the Special Collections Division. The Nashville Banner Clippings Files (ca. 1935-1995) contains numerous news clippings compiled by the Banner staff. Inquire at service desk for more information. Location of Originals/Duplicates: Copyright: Irby C. Simpkins, Jr., and Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. transferred any copyright they held in Nashville Banner materials to the Public Library Board in 2002. However, this collection may contain items for which they did not hold copyright, such as wire service items and others, and therefore rights were not transferred to the Public Library Board. In either case, items in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code). Preferred Citation: [item description, file title], Series V. Banner History, Nashville Banner Reporter Reference Files, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library. Immediate Source of Acquisition: Irby C. Simpkins, Jr., and Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. donated this collection along with many other materials belonging to the Nashville Banner, including clippings and photographs, to the Nashville Public Library in 1999. Ownership and Custodial History: In possession of Irby C. Simpkins, Jr., and Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. until donated to the Nashville Public Library in 1999. Processing Information: Non-clipping items removed from Banner Clippings Files at random as encountered by staff from 2001-2009. Staff member Jennifer Quier systematically removed and rehoused non-clipping items from Banner Clippings Files, and created initial inventory in 2013-2014. Additional physical processing and preliminary preservation and conservation work, completed by intern Poppy Krump, summer 2016. Final processing and formal finding aid completed by intern Quinntana Slaughter, summer 2017 under supervision of staff member Linda Barnickel. Accruals: No further accruals are expected.

Other Finding Aids Electronic Location and Access References to Works by or about Collection Creator/Topic

Banner Reporter Ref. Files Page 5 of 7 Last updated: 01/22/2018 Series V. Banner History Detailed Description of the Collection:

EARLY LATE HEADING YEAR YEAR DESCRIPTION

Banner History folder 1 1900 1963 clippings folder 2 1925 1930 obituaries of J. C. "Doc" Cooke and Maj. E.B. Stahlman folder 3 --- n.d. booklet: "Behind the Printed Page: How the Banner Brings the News to You" folder 4 --- n.d. typescripts folder 5 1955 1956 typescripts folder 6 --- 1971 typescript folder 7 1953 1979 typescripts folder 8 --- 1972 "Gannetteer" employee magazine folder 9 1990 ca. 1997 clippings, entry on James Geddes Stahlman for Tennessee Encyclopedia folder 10 1878 1963 Silver & Diamond Jubilees: correspondence, "Nashville Banner March," typescripts, "A History and a Promise" brochure Oversize: folder 1 1920 1992 articles folder 2 --- 1951 Diamond Anniversary coverage folder 3 --- 1920 Banner building fire folder 4 1937 1955 Stahlman ownership folder 5 1900 1930 W. E. Beard materials folder 6 1924 1929 Gravure sections folder 7 --- 1937 Banner magazine folder 8 --- 1939 “Nashville 50 years ago” special section

“Know Tennessee” Oratorical Contest --- 1926 booklet

Libel Suits Autry/Carr (wedding) --- 1935 article, correspondence Bennett (reckless driving) --- 1920 article Blair (larceny) --- 1923 article, typescript Boaz (Tenn. Orphans Home) --- 1917 typescript Compton v. Banner (racial identity error) 1931 typescript, correspondence Cooper-Carter (age of consent) --- 1919 article, typescript Davis (bribery) --- 1939 note

Banner Reporter Ref. Files Page 6 of 7 Last updated: 01/22/2018 Series V. Banner History Elliot/Williams/Womack (pardon & affadavit) ca. 1919 typescript Goldfarb/Birthright (socialism) --- 1919 article, typescript Hager (anti-Narcotics act) 1924 1925 legal documents, typescript Lehman ("whiskey probe") --- 1919 typescript Little (whiskey) --- 1929 article, correspondence McWhorter/Bush (wedding) --- 1934 correspondence, typescript Morton (pardon) --- 1919 articles, typescript Murray-Curley (wedding) --- 1933 articles, correspondence Omohundro (sheriff's race) --- ca. 1916 typescript Poyner (bootlegging) --- 1923 article, correspondence Prichard/Vantrease (wedding) --- 1935 article, correspondence Raines (whiskey) --- 1921 statement Sloan (car accident/death of Russell) n.d. typescript Smith/Powder Plant (forgery, fighting, larceny) n.d. article, note Smith v. Daniels (wedding) --- ca. 1922 legal documents Tanksley (bootlegging) --- 1917 letter Vance/Dalton (wedding) --- 1934 clippings, letters, telegram Waldrip (immorality, --- 1922 legal document, typescript McKendree Methodist minister) Unidentified libel suits ca. 1918 n.d. typescripts

Miscellaneous --- 1985 Booklet “The Media and the First Amendment in Tennessee 1985” New Employee Handbook --- ca. 1985 Booklet Science Fair 1959 1961 [?] Booklet, pamphlet

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