Please forgive the quasi-commercial nature of this message. I'm just so excited that I can't help but spread the word. But, if you're offended, please hit delete and forgive my faux pax. Thanks to the generosity of Knoxville Cemetery Historian Robert McGinnis, I'm sitting here looking at an absolute treasure. Charles Reeves, the master historical cartographer, has created a fabulous book that everyone with an interest in Knoxville history should own. It's a facsimile reproduction of "Souvenir History of Knoxville the Marble City and Great Southern Jobbing Market -- Its Importance as a Manufacturing Center and Its Manufacturing Possibilities" edited by W. M. Goodman. The book was originally published about 1907. It has 96 pages of history, photos, and advertisements from local businesses for that period. There isn't any family history -- this deals with the development of Knoxville from 1786. But, it talks about several noteworthy settlers. Best of all, though, are the photographs of buildings that no longer exist in our "scruffy little city." Charles' reproduction is printed on extra-heavy paper and professionally softbound with laminated covers. It would make a tremendous holiday gift and donation to genealogy libraries where Knoxville material would be welcome. For sample photos and ordering information, go to http://user.icx.net/~reevesca/knox_booklet/

Billie -- Thank you for a great tip and a delightful page! Betsy Gammill-Hayes