Back in the Day

As part of Main Library's 25th anniversary, Sarah and Grace chat with former library director Donna Nicely about her time with NPL, what brought her to Nashville, and so much more!

Sarah and Grace talk with Alan LeQuire about his artistic career and the impact of his work on Nashville. From the Athena statue at The Parthenon to the bronze doors at Nashville Public Library, Alan shares stories and insights behind some of the city’s most iconic art.

In this episode, Sarah talks with Fred Harveys grandson, Fred Harvey III. While the iconic Harveys Department Store is a central focus, the conversation also explores several other topics—including mid-20th-century Nashville.

In this episode, Sarah talks with author L.A. Wilson about her new book on the Nativity Scene that once lit up Centennial Park each Christmas. We cover how the display came to be and the man behind it all—Mr. Harvey.

In this episode, Sarah chats with Thomas Patterson, a Chicago lawyer and author of a recently published book about Huey Long, the fascinating yet controversial Louisiana politician of the early 20th century. And yes—there’s a Nashville connection.

During this episode, Sarah talks with Bob Henderson — a former Naval Flight Officer, Air National Guard veteran, avid history researcher (especially aviation), and honorary member of Metro Archives.

Metro Archives staff Sarah and Darnetha sit down with their now-retired boss, Ken Fieth, to talk about his life before the Metro Archives, how he first stumbled into the field, and to hear some of his favorite stories from his 31 years with Metro Archives.

In this enlightening episode of the Back in the Day podcast, Sarah and Grace sit down with Giancarlo Guerrero, Music Director of the Nashville Symphony, to learn more about his remarkable career in Nashville.

In this Back in the Day podcast installment, Ken and Sarah interview Mark Chee, an undergraduate educator in biology and public health at the University of Tennessee, Southern.

Occupying the corner of 21st Ave S and Belcourt Ave for a little over 20 years, and on Belmont Blvd before that, Pangaea was a beloved business by many Nashvillians, tourists, and even celebrities. Sandra Shelton was its proprietor, and she sat down with us to tell us the story of her shop and her life.

In this episode, Ken and Sarah chat with Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, the curator of "Camp Forrest, TN - POW Exhibit: Friend, Enemy or Frenemy" that resided in Metro Archives from fall, 2022 through February, 2023.Dr. Taylor is a best-selling author and retired higher-education administrator. For more than a decade, she researched topics such as WWII, the U.S. home front, and American government. Her res...

In this episode, Program Coordinator for the Archives, Sarah Arntz officially joins the podcast team with Ken to interview native Nashvillian, John Zuccarello, about growing up in the Music City, its plentiful history with baseball, his research work with the local cemeteries, and various other Nashville-related topics.

In 2006, the Archives opened an exhibit entitled, "Play Ball" featuring interviews with some of Nashville's baseball greats. In honor of Black History Month, Back in the Day presents Jim Zapp. Born in 1924 in Nashville, his baseball career began after his enlistment in the US Navy during World War 2.He joined a segregated military team while stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His coach, impressed...

Historian DeAnn Killon discusses some of the Tennessee Women that contributed to the United States victory in World War 2

In this episode from 2019, Tony Turnbow discusses his nonfiction History book, Hardened to Hickory: the missing chapter of Andrew Jackson's Life.

In this episode, Metro Archivist Ken Fieth talks with local historian, author and Professor Todd Van Beck on funeral practices during the American Civil War, 1861-1865.

Author Kurt Vetters discusses his newest books, Confederate Winter and Freedom Spring.

Metro Archivist Ken Fieth speaks with Bill Carey, a.k.a. History Bill, on his new book about Slavery in Nashville and Davidson County.

The lead story on May 24th, 1968 was the killing of popular, well-known Chevrolet dealership owner Haynie Gourley. Not since the Cooper-Carmack case of 1908 had Nashville been so pre-occupied with a murder investigation. The murder is still unsolved.

Sarah Arntz, an Archivist with the Metro Archives, speaks about her recent processing of the US Weather Service, Nashville Station journals. Some of the more interesting entries relate sightings of the Northern Lights and the first Airmail balloon—The Buffalo—making trips across Nashville.

During this episode, Myers Brown, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Archives Development Program, discusses their project to collect and preserve the records of Tennesseans during the war.

Archivist Drew Mahan discusses the use of implosion technology and the recent implosion of the Lifeway Draper Tower.

Nashville had a strong second generation German community by the time of World War One. Amy Wannamacher discusses the impact of the strong Anti-German sentiment expressed on the National, State and local level on the Nashville German community.

During this episode, Metropolitan Archivist Ken Fieth welcomes Mark Thompson for a discussion in commemoration of the United States' entry into World War I, just over one hundred years ago. Mark is a living history interpreter and student of America's military and wars.