The Registrar, according to Canon 3 of the Diocese, is charged to "…Collect
and preserve such papers, reports, journals, records, and other documents
relating to the history and property of the church in this Diocese as
are now, or may hereafter become, the property of the Convention, and
to keep the same in a safe and convenient place…"
This archival responsibility is now in progress in the Diocesan House
in Knoxville, Tennessee. Although the Diocese of East Tennessee is a
young one, its records are accumulating rapidly in storage boxes and
file drawers on the third floor of the Diocesan House in what might
be called the attic. A large number of these records are those of the
Rt. Rev. William E. Sanders and the Rt. Rev. Robert G. Tharp plus files
from various organizations and activities. All of these will be carefully
appraised and arranged for preservation in acid free archival boxes
in order that they may be more accessible to the Bishop and staff. General
descriptions and useful notes will be provided.
These papers contain the story of this Diocese and are of historical,
administrative and legal value. The task of arranging them is the responsibility
of Dr. Nelle Bellamy and Ms. Margaret Crump. Both of these ladies are
members of the Diocese and retired. Dr. Bellamy administered the archival
program for the Episcopal Church at the National level for some thirty
years. Ms. Crump has an extensive knowledge of diocesan activities and
the records which are created. Her expertise is indeed invaluable! Since
she works at the Diocesan House only one day a week, this will be a
slow process but it is under way.
The earliest historical documentation of this Diocese is in the records
of the Diocese of Tennessee when it included all of the State of Tennessee.
Those have been deposited in the library at the University of the South,
Sewanee, Tennessee. Whereas there are no plans to ask for copies of
any of those records, general descriptions would enhance the value of
the archives of this Diocese. Finally, the Registrar's office is compiling
a complete set of the Journals of Diocese of East Tennessee and as much
as may be possible Journals of the Diocese of Tennessee when it included
all of the State of Tennessee.
Respectfully submitted by Nelle Bellamy, Ph.D., Registrar