History of Montgomery County Tennessee

Montgomery County Archives
Department of Preservation of Records
Jill Hastings-Johnson, County Archivist

The Archives is the repository for nearly all the pre-1950 records of
Montgomery County. With some exceptions, we have both the original and a
microfilm copy of these records. Some of our holdings are the marriages, bound
(from 1838) and loose (from 1866); probate record books (begin 1796); deed
books (begin 1788); loose papers of the county and chancery courts; county
court minutes; chancery court minutes; delayed birth certificate orders. The
loose marriages, the loose papers of the county court, and delayed birth
certificate orders are housed here and microfilming has been recently
completed but the microfilm is not yet available. In addition, we have several
other groups of records which have not been processed. Among these are
1930s-1950s tax books, various maps, loose papers of the quarterly court,
circuit court papers, loose wills, and more chancery court papers. We also
have the microfilm of population schedules for the 1820 through 1920
Montgomery County census, mortality, manufacturing, slave, and agricultural schedules.

Generally, materials from the Archives can be copied. But we do reserve the right not to copy original documents that are fragile or that may be damaged by copying. Most of the bound records have a microfilm copy abailable for use and copy purposes. For mail request we will search a ten year period in one record group for one surname for a $5.00 search fee (excepting some more common surnames), notify the patron of our findings and cost to obtain copies. The records available for this search (at this time) are the following:

Message from Jill Hastings-Johnson:

Nov. 2005

To bring you up to date on the Archives --- We are in the newly renovated Plaza building and it is very nice. It took a long time to get moved. We started in June but didn't finish until almost the end of July.

The reference room is larger with more tables for patrons. We also have a second reader-printer and additional space for the 'read-only' computer terminal which we should be getting soon. Of course, the main part of the department is the area the public usually doesn't see. We have two large and separate secured storage rooms for the records. One is the Records Center for non-current records which we house for various county departments. The second is the Archives where the permanent records, and various collections are stored. We were able to utilize the shelving we already had but actually have more shelf space since we went to a mobile shelving system. There is a large processing/work area for volunteers in addition to a conservation area, secured microfilm area, and an accessions/projects area. The only thing we don't have is a restroom within the department, but it is right up the hall and around the corner from our main door.

Our hours are still the same - 9 to 12, 1 to 4, Monday through Friday. We have lots of parking, and we are only a few steps from the library for those who want to look at printed sources and other information.

We have been very, very busy - not only with patrons but also getting back to processing court papers and veterans' papers. We have had several significant donations to our manuscript collection which I hope to have ready for use in the next few months. We continue to solicit donations of family documents, photographs, etc. We have a safe and secure place to store these precious documents for now and the future.

MAP FOR SALE

A full color reproduction of the 1877 MAP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY which contains all of the districts of the county and a Clarksville insert is available from the Montgomery County Archives. Included on the map are the precients with the names of most land owners in the area at the time also being listed.. Cost is $55.00 plus shipping and handling and can be obtained from the Archives. See phone, address, and email above.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library
350 Pageant Lane, Suite 501
Clarksville, Tennessee 37040

This beautiful new facility houses the Brown Harvey, Sr. Genealogy Room which contains a storehouse of information on Montgomery County. The vertical file and microfilm collections are cross-referenced for ease in locating information. Included in the microfilm collection are the Death Records for the State of Tennessee covering the dates 1908-1946. Books include county histories, family histories, cemetery records and other vital information. Tim Pulley is the Genealogy Librarian.

Phone: 931/358-9635
Phone FHC Director: 931/647-0559
E-Mail FHC Director: Carol Ebinger
FAX FHC Director: 932/647-0559

Hours (Central time):
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wed and Thu 9:00 a.m. to Noon; 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday By appointment only. Contact Director.

This office holds the records of the official registration of births/deaths beginning 1914 and marriages/divorces beginning 1945.

The City Health Department has some earlier records of births, deaths, marriages and divorces.

The most complete war service records are housed in the Adj. General's Office. There are records of Tennesseans who served in the Union Forces during the Civil War but not those serving in the Confederate Army. Also available are records of Tennesseans in the Spanish American War, World War I and the records of the National Guard.

MCREYNOLDS NAVE & LARSON FUNERAL
1209 MADISON ST
CLARKSVILLE, 37040-3819
615-645-2406

NEAL TARPLEY FUNERAL DIRECTORS
335 FRANKLIN ST
CLARKSVILLE, 37040-3421
615-645-6488

BROADY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME
601 PEACHERS MILL RD #-3
CLARKSVILLE, 37042-5521
615-645-9595