Martin, Tenn.–The Jackson Purchase Historical Society (JPHS) concludes its 2019 series of public programs with a presentation by Professor Alice-Catherine Carls on “West Tennessee Returns to Peace – 1919.”
A brief business meeting will precede the program, beginning at 10:30 am at Weldon Public Library. 100 Main Street, Martin, Tennessee on Saturday, November 2.
“We are excited to have Dr. Carls share her extensive research on the First World War in Jackson, Tennessee, especially the involvement of white and black women on the home front. There remains so much to be uncovered about the history of our region. Too often, the work and sacrifices of those who remained behind on the home front when the nation went to war have been neglected when we study and write about warfare. Dr. Carls’ work helps redress that imbalance,” said JPHS President Bill Mulligan.
Dr, Carls is Tom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Tennessee-Martin. She has her doctorate from Université de Paris I – Sorbonne and has published extensively and translated a number of books in a broad range of areas. Her book, Europe from War to War, 1914-1945, co-authored with her husband Steven Carls, University Professor at Union University, appeared in 2018 from Routledge. A French-language edition of the book is in development. She was a member of the Tennessee Great War Commission from 2014-2018, among a large number of professional and community activities.
According to West Tennessee reporter and local historian Shannon McFarlin, Dr. Carls has also been doing research to support the restoration of Jackson, Tennessee’s World War I Memorial Fountain in Jackson, Tennessee. The Surgical Dressings Workers of Jackson built it after the end of the War. The American Red Cross trained the women to sew surgical dressings and other medical bandages. According to Carls’ research, the Jackson chapter may have been alone in training an entire class of African American women to make surgical dressings. Almost 13,000 surgical dressings were produced in Jackson during the war. “The purpose of this restoration is remember all parts of that story and to honor every one of whom we are aware and who deserve to be named or mentioned,” said Carls. She continues to research local Jackson people’s involvement in the First World War. Currently, she is working on an article on Pvt. William Rushing, who served “over there” in 1918, suffered sneezing gas attacks, and was part of the Battle of St. Quentin Canal in early October. His diary of his time in France is very dramatic. Rushing operated the presses for the Jackson Sun for fifty-one years after his return to Jackson.
In 1958, a group of people from western Kentucky and west Tennessee who were interested in local and regional history met in Murray, Kentucky and formed the Jackson Purchase Historical Society to promote interest, study, and preservation of the regional history of the territory included in the Chickasaw Purchase of 1818-19. Andrew Jackson (before he was president) and Isaac Shelby negotiated the treaty with the Chickasaw Nation represented by Levi Colbert and family. Jackson played the leading role in the negotiations. The Treaty was ratified in 1819 and opened the region to full settlement. The area of primary interest to the Jackson Purchase Historical Society includes the Kentucky counties of Ballard, Carlisle, Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken and Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley in Tennessee. We have an interest in, and welcome members, from all of West Tennessee, as well as all those who trace their roots to the Jackson Purchase and want to stay in touch with home. The Society’s interest in the general heritage of this region extends to bordering counties and larger national issues that have affected the region and the lives of its people. In 2018, we celebrated our sixtieth anniversary of service to the region.
The Journal of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society has made an important contribution for more than forty years and has received awards from the Historical Society of Kentucky in 2013 and 2017. Our meetings share current research by scholars at all levels with the community of those interested. All are welcome to attend and all meetings are free.
Membership is open to all who are interested for $15 per year (August to July) and includes a copy of our annual journal.
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