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Andrew Gulliford Papers

Dates

1988 - 1995

Creator

Gulliford, Andrew

Summary/Abstract

These papers pertain to the controversy surrounding interpretation at, and control of, the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, Tennessee, in the mid-1990s. Dr. Andrew Gulliford, a history professor and director of the Public History program at MTSU, served on the board of trustees and was one of the most vocal advocates for reinterpretation at the Sam Davis Home. The Sam Davis Home Association and other local organizations disagreed with Dr. Gulliford and other trustees, resulting in a legal battle between the Board of Trustees and the Home Association.

Quantity/Physical Description

Approximately 1 linear foot

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

None

Copyright

It is presumed that corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have been retained by the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions apply. Users of materials should seek necessary permissions from the copyright hol

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), Collection Name, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

Donated by Andrew Gulliford, 2000

Processed By

Original processor undetermined.

Arrangement

Because of the small number of documents, the contents are not divided into series. Documents are arranged into folders by type. For a more detailed portrait of this collection’s arrangement, please see the inventory on page three of this finding aid.

Biographical Note

Andrew Gulliford received a BA in American History from the Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1975, and an MAT from Colorado College the following year. He then went on to teach fourth graders in Colorado and to serve as a history instructor at Colorado Mountain College from 1976-1983. He later received his PhD in American Culture and American History from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1986. Upon completion of his degree, Dr. Gulliford went on to Western New Mexico University, Silver City, New Mexico, and served as a member of their history faculty from 1987-1990. From there he came to Middle Tennessee State University as a member of the history faculty and Director of the Public History and Historic Preservation Program. In 2000, Dr. Gulliford left MTSU and accepted a position as the Director of the Center of Southwest Studies and tenured Professor of Southwest Studies and history at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. During his career as a public historian, he has created numerous workshops, engaged in and developed various outreach programs, and taught both inside and outside the classroom.

During his time at MTSU, Gulliford served on the Board of Trustees for the Sam Davis Home from 1991-1995. During his tenure, the museum made adjustments to its programs, interpretational focus, and administrative structure. While the ensuing growing pains caused some turmoil within the organization, the museum recovered from the brink of financial disaster and transformed into the dynamic museum it is today.

Both the Board of Trustees and the Sam Davis Memorial Association (SDMA) saw their position, duties, and responsibilities to one another differently and finally asked the State Attorney General to resolve the difference. During this time period, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of the Confederate Veterans vehemently disagreed with Dr. Gulliford's push to expand the museum's focus to also include the contextual interpretation of the site as a living history farm. This resulted in a volley of correspondence between each of the organizations, press releases, and two attempts by these Confederate memorial organizations to take over the SDMA Board of Directors in order for them to control policy at the museum. Aside from the political controversies, the museum also underwent extensive renovation of its buildings, museum collections, and grounds during this time period.

Scope and Content

These papers document the history of the Sam Davis Home and Dr. Gulliford's work as a trustee. The folders contain information on the Board of Trustees' efforts to reform the By-Laws, which resulted in a legal battle between the Sam Davis Memorial Association (SDMA) and the Board of Trustees. Included are meeting minutes, organizational by-laws, newsletters, financial statements, publications, reports, grant information, and recommendations.