History is being honored in two new exhibits at the Reece Museum.
“Preserving Our Stories: 150 Years of the Tennessee Historical Society” is on display through Jan. 4.
This exhibit features a variety of artifacts and documents celebrating Tennessee’s past.
The “Frank and Sue Urban Print Collection” runs through Dec. 19 and features a selection of Old Master prints.
Dan Pomeroy, chief curator and director of collections at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, said “Preserving Our Stories: 150 Years of the Tennessee Historical Society” features artifacts and documents of famous personalities and common people.
The exhibit includes the first Tennessee state flag whose prototype was made in Johnson City in 1905, a Confederate shell jacket and a two-page letter from David Crockett.
Also included in the show are documents honoring the Civil Rights Movement, Indian culture and Elvis Presley.
“This will be an opportunity for people in this section of the state to see some real icons of Tennessee history,” he said.
Pomeroy said many of the items are kept in storage in Nashville and this is a unique opportunity to see these important artifacts.
The exhibit has been traveling across Tennessee for two years. Pomeroy said it is a “daunting” task to put together an exhibit of this quality.
Exhibits must be built to accommodate venues of various sizes, the artifacts have to be insured, the security of an exhibition sight is studied and crews must be paid for their work.
Pomeroy, who grew-up in Kingsport, said it is gratifying to see the exhibit travel across the state and for individuals who might never travel to Nashville get the opportunity to see such important items.
So, he has “endeavored” to make the exhibit available at minimal cost.
“I am acutely aware of how important it is to reach out to sections of the state that never get to Nashville,” he said.
One important role of exhibits such as this is that they clarify historical inaccuracies.
Pomeroy said the Crockett letter refutes a common belief.
“Despite popular misconceptions, he was very literate,” he said.
Like the objects on display from the Tennessee Historical Society, the “Frank and Sue Urban Print Collection” also provides a look at history.
The prints in the exhibit are primarily etchings and date back to the 1800s.
The subject matter ranges from farm scenes to street scenes of London, England.
The prints of James McNeill Whistler are among those on exhibit.
Blair White, director and curator of the Reece Museum, said he scheduled the print show after the Urbans, who are Alabama residents, visited the museum and told him about their collection.
White said it is a “rare opportunity to borrow a real fine collection” and make it available to viewers.
In addition to framed prints, the exhibit will include old books, which are illustrated by etchings.
The books are delicate and fragile and will have to be incased so human handling can’t damage them.
White said it is becoming unusual to find old books that are illustrated by etchings because dealers remove the etchings and sell them.
White thinks viewers sometimes fail to consider how complicated the printmaking process is.
The image must be composed in reverse.
“There is no substitute for thinking. There is no substitute for drawing,” he said. “And, obviously these are well thought out, but the drawing is just superb.”
For more information, call the Reece Museum at 439-4392.

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