National Archives at Atlanta
Upcoming events
Valley of the Dams: The Impact & Legacy of the Tennessee Valley Authority |
One of the largest record groups in the holdings of the National Archives at Atlanta is the records of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which total approximately 14,000 cubic feet. These records document the story of one of the first New Deal agencies from its enactment to modern activities. This year’s symposium encourages research in these diverse records, features scholars whose works are based on these holdings, and promotes the discovery of new scholars with a call for proposals from universities and colleges across the Southeast region. The story of the Tennessee Valley Authority began in 1916 with President Wilson’s authorization to build a hydroelectric dam at Muscle Shoals, Alabama to produce nitrate for munitions. Wilson Dam would eventually become the first TVA facility, acquired following President Roosevelt’s enactment of legislation on May 18, 1933 that created the Tennessee Valley Authority. Since its creation, TVA has been both controversial and transformational, affecting the people and the environment in seven states and blurring the lines between the rights and responsibilities of the private and public sectors. Its impact on the electrification of the South, national defense, the evolution of the post-war economy, the environment, and the development of alternative power sources, among other topics, make the records of the Tennessee Valley Authority worthy of analytical investigation. The staff of the National Archives at Atlanta invites you to take part in our third annual scholarly symposium promoting the rich historical records within our holdings. Pre-registration is required. Registration is free and limited to 200 participants. The deadline for registration is Monday, September 15, 2014. Please download the registration form here. |
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