Archives & Special Collections
About the Archives & Special Collections
The Vision of the FHU Archives involves serving as a repository for materials that are 1) important to the history of the university, 2) important to the history of churches in the Henderson area, and 3) important to the history of the Restoration Movement as a whole. The purpose for acquiring & preserving these materials is to make the material available to those researching this history.
Loan Periods
Because of the rare – and very fragile – nature of many of these materials, they can only be used on-site. Organizations wishing to borrow items for an extended period of time may do so, in compliance with established policy and procedure.
The Archives is located on the 2nd floor of the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center (ARC). The Reading Room of the Archives is open and available whenever the ARC is open. Students or guests wanting to use archival materials may do so by appointment only.
Access and Security
To ensure the safety of both collections and visitors, we kindly request that the following rules be observed:
Prior to accessing material in Archives Storage, a request must be made at least 24 hours in advance. This can be done by contacting the Library Director (at least 24 hours prior to your visit) via email ([email protected]).
• Users of stored archival material must first complete an Archives Researcher Registration form which can be obtained by visiting the ARC.
• Please follow all guidelines of the library staff regarding the handling of items.
• Please do not bring food or drink into the Room. A storage area will be provided.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before handling any collections objects.
• Pens cannot be allowed. Pencils will be made available.
• All materials must be returned to library staff before leaving the facility.
Reproductions
The Archives & Special Collections fulfills reproduction requests on a case-by-case basis. The fragile condition of many of the items will determine what types of reproduction can be used. The intended use of the reproduction must also be stated at the time of reproduction. The University does not hold all rights to all the items in its Collections. The University’s Intellectual Property Policy will hold sway in this matter. We reserve the right to refuse reproduction requests.
Digital Collections & Resources
Through the generosity of the University of Tennessee, Martin, we are able to offer the following catalogs, as well as Freed-Hardeman’s Sky Rocket, The New Edition, and Bell Tower student newspapers in PDF form.
Digital Collections
FIND OBJECTS IN ANY OF OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Browse the Archives’ digital collections
Visit the Archives’ digital collection home page
ABOUT DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Through the generosity of the University of Tennessee, Martin, we are able to offer the following catalogs.
West Tennessee Christian College
Georgie Robertson Christian College
• GRCC Catalogue February 1906
National Teacher’s Normal & Business College
Freed-Hardeman College
Special Collections
The Freed-Hardeman University Archives holds many extraordinary collections. Highlights include:
Freed-Hardeman University Archives – Covering 120 years of operation, the Archives include institutional records, photographs from the Treasure Chest, Bell Tower, and Sky Rocket publications, audio and video recordings of campus activities and other related items.
The Wheeler Family Music Collection – Tommy Wheeler established this collection with his own manuscripts, recordings, and scores and those of his father, former FHC music director Palmer Wheeler. The collection includes the well-known hymn “I Love the Lord” and the hymnal Youth Action Songs.
Also represented are objects and documents:
- Associated with the physical plants, members of the student body, faculty, and staff, and the historical role of FHU and its predecessors
- Associated with the Churches of Christ
- Associated with Henderson and Chester County, Tennessee
- Representative of a unique collection opportunity
All activities of the Archives & Special Collections are governed by the Collections Management Policy as approved by President Joe A. Wiley in October 2008.
Resources
The collections cover a wide range of topics for research, but primarily center around three areas: the University, the churches of Christ, and Henderson/Chester County Tennessee. The links below can provide additional information about these areas.
CHURCHES OF CHRIST AND RESTORATION MOVEMENT
• Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville
• Pepperdine Special Collections & Archives, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California
• The Restoration Movement, Facilitated by Scott Harp
CITY OF HENDERSON AND CHESTER COUNTY TENNESSEE
• Chester County Independent, Henderson
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville
• West Tennessee Historical Society, Memphis
FHU Student Newspapers
Sky Rocket (1923-1929)
Sky Rocket (1930-1939)
March-April 1937 (Vol.14 No.5)
Sky Rocket (1940-1949)
Sky Rocket (1950-1959)
November 22, 1959 (Vol.38 No.3)
Sky Rocket (1960-1969)
October 31, 1960 (Vol.39 No.3)
November 14, 1960 (Vol.39 No.4)
November 29, 1960 (Vol.39 No.5)
December 12, 1960 (Vol.39 No.6)
January 24, 1961 (Vol.39 No.7)
February 13, 1961 (Vol.39 No.8)
February 27, 1961 (Vol.39 No.9)
October 20, 1961 (Vol.38 No.3)
November 3, 1961 (Vol.38 No.4)
November 20, 1961 (Vol.38 No.5)
December 5, 1961 (Vol.38 No.6)
December 15, 1961 (Vol.38 No.7)
Sky Rocket (1970)
THE NEW EDITION
BELL TOWER (1972-1979)
December 15, 1972 (Vol.1 No.4)
September 21, 1973 (Vol.2 No.1)
December 14, 1973 (Vol.2 No.4)
November 19, 1974 (Vol.3 No.3)
December 10, 1974 (Vol.3 No.4)
November 11, 1975 (Vol.4 No.4)
February 28, 1976 (Vol.4 No.7)
November 12, 1976 (Vol.5 No.3)
February 15, 1977 (Vol.5 No.4)
November 10, 1978 (Vol.7 No.2)
December 12, 1978 (Vol.7 No.2)
February 23, 1979 (Vol.7 No.3)
September 14, 1979 (Vol.8 No.1)
BELL TOWER (1980-1989)
September 3, 1981 (Vol.10 No.1)
September 17, 1981 (Vol.10 No.1)
September 24, 1981 (Vol.1 No.4)
November 5, 1981 (Vol.1 No.10)
November 12, 1981 (Vol.1 No.11)
December 10, 1981 (Vol.1 No.13)
January 28, 1982 (Vol.1 No.14)
February 4, 1982 (Vol.1 No.15)
February 11, 1982 (Vol.1 No.16)
February 18, 1982 (Vol.1 No.17)
February 25, 1982 (Vol.1 No.18)
September 2, 1982 (Vol.2 No.1)
September 9, 1982 (Vol.2 No.2)
September 23, 1982 (Vol.2 No.4)
September 30, 1982 (Vol.2 No.5)
November 4, 1982 (Vol.2 No.10)
November 11, 1982 (Vol.2 No.11)
November 18, 1982 (Vol.2 No.12)
December 9, 1982 (Vol.2 No.13)
January 27, 1983 (Vol.2 No.14)
February 3, 1983 (Vol.2 No.15)
February 10, 1983 (Vol.2 No.16)
February 24, 1983 (Vol.2 No.17)
February 23, 1984 (Vol.3 No.9)
September 20, 1984 (Vol.4 No.1)
November 16, 1984 (Vol.4 No.5)
February 21, 1985 (Vol.4 No.9)
September 19, 1985 (Vol.5 No.1)
November 22, 1985 (Vol.5 No.5)
February 21, 1986 (Vol.5 No.9)
September 26, 1986 (Vol.6 No.2)
November 21, 1986 (Vol.6 No.6)
December 12, 1986 (Vol.6 No.7)
February 13, 1987 (Vol.6 No.9)
February 27, 1987 (Vol.6 No.10)
September 18, 1987 (Vol.7 No.1)
September 25, 1987 (Vol.7 No.2)
November 13, 1987 (Vol.7 No.9)
November 20, 1987 (Vol.7 No.10)
December 4, 1987 (Vol.7 No.11)
December 11, 1987 (Vol.7 No.12)
January 22, 1988 (Vol.7 No.13)
January 29, 1988 (Vol.7 No.14)
February 5, 1988 (Vol.7 No.15)
February 12, 1988 (Vol.7 No.16)
February 22, 1988 (Vol.7 No.17)
September 16, 1988 (Vol.8 No.1)
September 30, 1988 (Vol.8 No.2)
November 11, 1988 (Vol.8 No.5)
September 15, 1989 (Vol.9 No.1)
BELL TOWER (1990-1999)
February 23, 1990 (Vol.9 No.9)
November 13, 1992 (Vol.13 No.5)
December 11, 1992 (Vol.13 No.6)
BELL TOWER (2000-2009)
February 15, 2002 (Vol.22 No.7)
September 21, 2005 (Vol.26 No.2)
October 20, 2005 (Vol.26 No.4)
December 6, 2005 (Vol.26 No.6)
February 14, 2006 (Vol.26 No.8)
January 31, 2008 (Vol.28 No.7)
February 14, 2008 (Vol.28 No.8)
February 28, 2008 (Vol.28 No.9)
September 10, 2008 (Vol.29 No.1)
September 18, 2008 (Vol.29 No.2)
October 23, 2008 (Vol.29 No.4)
November 13, 2008 (Vol.29 No.5)
December 4, 2008 (Vol.29 No.6)
February 5, 2009 (Vol.29 No.7)
February 26, 2009 (Vol.29 No.8)
September 17, 2009 (Vol.30 No.1)
October 15, 2009 (Vol.30 No.3)
November 5, 2009 (Vol.30 No.4)
December 10, 2009 (Vol.30 No.6)
BELL TOWER (2010-Present)
November 11, 2010 (Vol.30 No.5)
February 11, 2010 (Vol.30 No.7)
February 25, 2010 (Vol.30 No.8)
September 16, 2010 (Vol.31 No.1)
October 21, 2010 (Vol.31 No.3)
November 4, 2010 (Vol.31 No.4)
November 18, 2010 (Vol.31 No.5)
December 9, 2010 (Vol.31 No.6)
February 3, 2011 (Vol.31 No.7)