Special Collections (Tennessee Room)

The Tennessee Room on the second floor contains a non-circulating collection of over 2,900 books and periodicals that relate to local, regional, and state history and to genealogy. Many of these books were donated by individuals or by a local genealogical society, the Watauga Association of Genealogists (WAGs), which meets once a month at the Library. A collection of census records for East Tennessee as well as East Tennessee county records on microfilm are also available.

Through the Tennessee State Library electronic library (TEL), the databases of HeritageQuest can be accessed from library computers or from home computers.  It contains census records for every state from 1790-1820, 1860-1920 that can be searched online. Similarly a large collection of genealogy books can be searched via TEL online.

A microfilm reader-printer is located next to the Tennessee Room.  

 Vertical files arranged by family surname contain unpublished materials such as pedigree charts and bible records that relate to local families.

Donations of genealogical materials, especially relating to Northeast Tennessee families, are appreciated.

Reference staff is available to offer only general introductory assistance to the materials located in the Tennessee Room. Volunteer researchers from WAGS offer assistance on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month (with the exception of January and February) from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Watauga Association of Genealogists - Upper East Tennessee

This is a membership organization open to any persons with genealogical and historical interests. There is a $18 annual membership fee. This group meets at the Johnson City Public Library the first Tuesday of each month (with the exception of January and February) at 6:30 p.m. The association supports the Library’s Tennessee Room and is a solid contact for those interested in regional history and genealogy.