State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives 403 Seventh Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0312 PROVINE, WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1867-1935) PAPERS, 1552-1935 Processed by: Robert O. DePriest Archival Technical Services Accession Number: THS 443 Date Completed: August 9, 1985 Location: THS IV-B-C-4 Microfilm Accession Number: 1114 MICROFILMED INTRODUCTION The William Alexander Provine Papers (1552-1935), concern the career of William Alexander Provine (1867-1935), retired minister of the Presbyterian Church, corresponding secretary of the Tennessee Historical Society and editor of its journal. Donor information is unknown. The materials in this collection measure 11.76 linear feet. There are no restrictions on the materials. Single photocopies of unpublished writings in the William Alexander Provine Papers may be made for purposes of scholarly research. SCOPE AND CONTENT The William Alexander Provine Papers, containing approximately 2,400 items, span the years 1552 to 1935. The material is organized under seven general topics: Tennessee; Tennessee History-Biographies; Andrew Jackson; Nashville; Mississippi Valley History; Denominational History; and Biographies of Ministers. Correspondence relating to the Tennessee Historical Society has been listed under the general headings. The collection contains extensive records relating to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Shawnee Indians. This data consist of official correspondence, treaty articles, memoirs, notes, sketches, essays and excerpts from journals, state papers and newspapers. Correspondence by W. A. Provine for the years 1897-1935 deals primarily with official business for the Tennessee Historical Society and denominational matters relating to the Presbyterian Church. Genealogical records, which comprise approximately 60 percent of the collection, relate to individuals and families connected with Tennessee, Nashville, Mississippi Valley and denominational (church) history. This material consists of genealogical charts, biographies, wills, diaries, letters, church records, notes and military records. Tennessee topics relate to the early history of Tennessee and include data on the Territory South of the Ohio River, the State of Franklin, and the Watauga settlements. Documentation includes papers of the Continental Congress, State of North Carolina, boundary records, annexation petitions, speeches, resolutions, minutes, notes and news articles. Also included is a list of early Tennessee newspapers. Topics concerning Nashville focus on the early settlement of Nashville with data on early commerce, land transactions, pioneer roads and trails, families and homes, churches and academic institutions in Nashville and Davidson County. Andrew Jackson topics contain information on Jackson’s youth, the Dickinson-Jackson duel, marriage, Masonic record, military career, political life, residence at the Hermitage, and religion. Biographical data are included on Lewis Robards, Peggy Eaton, John Donelson, R. E. W. Earl and John Eaton. Mississippi Valley history contains genealogical and biographical data on early French families and notables and their exploration and settlement in the West. Documentation has been obtained from state papers, letters, biographies and genealogical data, essays, speeches, news clippings, memoirs and notes. Denominational history deals primarily with the early history of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination and contains information on presbyteries, congregations, missions, church union, boards and agencies. Limited information is available on the Methodists and the Shakers. The collection includes the biographies and family genealogy of many prominent ministers such as James Balch, Samuel Doak, Robert Donnell, William Hume, John Lyle, Williams W. Provine, Barton Stone and others. The collection contains military records on the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. This data consist of a list of North Carolina Revolutionary War soldiers; list of Revolutionary soldiers buried in Tennessee; list of killed and wounded, Seventh Tennessee Regiment, Confederate States of America; Civil War diary of W. W. Putnam; letter and speech by Governor Isham G. Harris to the Tennessee State Legislature in 1862, list of Confederate soldiers from Alabama, data regarding Civil war battles at Franklin and Nashville, and clippings from a Presbyterian newspaper, 1862-1866. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH William Alexander Provine 1867 Born at Nashville, Tennessee, son of the Reverend John Calhoun Provine and Mary Kate Weedin Provine Dr. Provine’s early education was under a tutor, but he later attended Vanderbilt Preparatory School and Montgomery Bell Academy, graduating in 1884 1884 Attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 1887 Entered Theological Department, Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee 1888 Licensed to preach by Lebanon Presbytery 1889 Ordained in April to the full work of the ministry Graduated form Cumberland University with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity 1889-1890 Attended Union Seminary, New York, NY 1890 In May, received first ministerial charge at Princeton, Indiana, where he served three years. Also served as moderator of the Indiana Presbytery ca. 1892 Married Christine Kolb of Indiana ca. 1893-1907 Served as minister of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee ca. 1901-1907 Served as Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath School Work and Treasurer of mission work of the Synod of Tennessee 1907 Award honorary degree of D. D. from Cumberland University 1907-1925 Served as Southern representative for the Presbyterian Board of Ministerial Relief and Sustentation, Nashville, Tennessee 1919-1935 Served as corresponding secretary of the Tennessee Historical Society and editor of its journal ca. 1925-1935 Served as State Clerk, Presbytery of Nashville 1935 Died July 14 at Nashville, Tennessee; buried at Nashville, Tennessee CONTAINER LIST Microfilm Roll # 1______________________________________________________________ Box 1 Tennessee Topics 1. Aborigines; Sketch, 1925; Notes, 1823 2. “Antiquarian Society of Tennessee”; Record of Proceedings, 1820-1822; History National Banner and Nashville Whig, 1826; Notes, 1820-1858 3. Civil War – Bibliography; “Tennessee’s Part in the Confederacy, 1862-1914; Letter – Isham G. Harris to Tennessee State Legislature, 1862; “Governor’s Message, 1862”; Correspondence – J. N. Bailey, 1862-1863; News clippings, n. d. ; Correspondence – W. A. Provine, 1924-1933 4. Counties – Franklin – Articles re: Stone Fort, 1810-1834; Essay – “An Unmarked Historic Spot…,” n. d. 5. Grundy – History, n. d.; Letter to Commercial Appeal – “History of Beersheba Springs,” 1936 6. Lincoln – Historical Sketches, 1930-1932; Biographical sketch – General Benjamin Lincoln; Obituary – George W. Jones, 1884 7. McNairy – Memoirs of Brig. General Marcus J. Wright (1831-1922), n. d. 8. Maury – Sketch – “Early Times and Settlements in and Around Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee,” 1871; News clippings, 1915-1919; Genealogical data re: Adkins, Caruthers, Cathey and Latta families, et al. 9. Robertson – News clippings, 1882 10. Rutherford – Act to establish town, 1803; Rutherford County court case; “Free Negroes” 1838; Biographical data; General Joseph Dickson, 1926 11. Sumner – Marriage records, 1787-1790; Will – William Henderson, 1807; Sketch – Bledsoe’s Lick, 1843; History – Cairo, n. d.; sketch – Pilot Knob, n. d.; Speech – John DeWitt, 1928; Genealogy, et al. 12. Warren – Clipping – “Early History of Warren County,” n.d.; Essay – “Indian Trails and Pioneer Roads of Warren County,” n. d.; Correspondence – W. A. Provine, 1919-1934 13. Cumberland River – History, n.d.; Manuscript – “Courses of Shawnoe River…” n.d.; Notes, 1795-1851, et al. 14. East Tennessee – State Acts – City of Knoxville and counties of Greene, Hawkins, Knox, Jefferson, Sevier and Wilson, 1791-1795; Knox County wills, 1792-1794; Blount County deeds, 1795-1815; Tennessee – Kentucky Boundary Act, 1801; Correspondence – W. A. Provine, 1917-1932, et al. 15. Education – Subscription – Nashville school, 1799; Creation of Federal Academy, 1800; History – Sumner, Valodolid and Martin Academies, 1801-1805; Act to establish academy in Mero District, 1805; Clippings – The Nashville University and Academy, 1825-1869; Notes, et al. 16. Fort Loudon – Historical data, 1756-1924; Bibliography, 1909; correspondence – W. A. Provine, 1922-1923 17. Franklin – Battle; Correspondence – W. A. Provine, 1921-1924 18. French in Tennessee and South Carolina; Excerpts – Historical Collection at South Carolina, 1697-1699; Excerpts – Journal of South Carolina Grand Council, 1714-1860; Genealogy – Notes – Clippings, 1882 19. Heaton’s Old Station; Genealogical and biographical data re: Amos Heaton and allied families; Will of Amos Heaton, 1794; Land records, 1768-1808; Map, n . d., et al. Box 2 Tennessee Topics 1. Indians – Cherokees – Government correspondence, 1776-1788; Historical notes, 1743- 1744; Treaty articles, 1791, et al. 2. Cherokees – Government correspondence – Letters of Governor Dinwiddie, Virginia, et al., 1755-1792; Manuscripts – Nickojack Campaign, n. d.; Memoirs – Lt. Henry Timberlake, 1762; Notes, 1741-1792, et al. 3. Cherokees – Government correspondence, 1791-1796; Affidavit – John Watts 1753; Historical notes, 1743-1796, et al. 4. Cherokees – Notes, 1740-1753; Copy General Washington’s Orders for the employment of Indians, 1776; List – Cherokee Indian towns, 1776, et al. Box 3 Tennessee Topics 1. Indians