HIghlander’s archives include a collection of materials documenting Highlander’s history and work, as well as the social movements in which Highlander and its staff have participated. Formats include letters, meeting notes, memos, correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, photo negatives, film, sound recordings, books, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, flyers, and other publications. Materials in the Highlander archives must be used on-site, in Highlander’s Harry Lasker Memorial Library.
Click here for information about how to conduct research and locate materials in the archives. About 25% of the materials in our archives currently have finding aids. Click here for Highlander’s available finding aids online
To find out more about Myles Horton and the Citizenship Schools, contact Susan Williams.
The Harry Lasker Memorial Library at the Highlander Research and Education Center is open most regular business hours. We recommend that you contact Highlander before arriving to ensure that someone will be in the library to meet you.
Phone: 865-943-3443 ext. 229 or email Susan Williams
Other repositories house any archival materials related to Highlander’s history and work. To access these materials, contact the repository directly.
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State St.
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 264-6400
The majority of the Highlander archives from 1917 through 1987, as well as the papers of Myles Horton, Frank Adams, Septima Clark, and others associated with Highlander, are housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Microfilm of these archives is available through interlibrary loan.
The Society will also make paper copies, charging only for copying and shipping.
The titles of specific archive collections may be searched through the Society’s online catalog, ArCat. To use ArCat, click on “Guided Search,” enter “Highlander” into the first “Search For” box, then click the “Search” button. The program will then display a list of all the archives that contain references to Highlander, including the Highlander archives themselves.
A portion of the Society’s collection of Highlander photographs is available online. Click here to view these photographs.
Tennessee State Library and Archives
403 Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0312
(615) 741-2764
A portion of the earlier Highlander material is housed in the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. To view the online list of the Archives’ holdings, go to http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/history/manuscripts/index.htm and click on “Guide to Manuscript Materials.”
The Archives’ “Manuscript Collection” includes Highlander material from 1932 to 1969 (Mf#990) as well as a “Highlander Folk School Audio Collection.” The “Microform Collection” includes the Highlander FBI Files (Mf#1407). For information about how to access this material, please contact the Archives at the address and phone number above.
W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection
Carol G. Belk Library
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-4041
(828) 262-2553
The W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection houses an extensive collection of material on Appalachia, including the papers of Helen Lewis, a long-time Highlander associate, and the records of the Appalachian land ownership study that Highlander helped to coordinate in the late 1970s. Appalachian State also has a useful list of other Appalachian Studies links.
1959 Highlander Way
New Market, TN 37820
(865) 933-3443
hrec@highlandercenter.org