pos·ter·i·ty (n.) late 14c., from Old French posterité, from Latin posteritatem meaning "future, future time; after-generation, offspring;" Referring to future generations and the idea of saving or documenting knowledge for use in the future.
The Posterity Project is the personal weblog of author, information professional, and public historian, Gordon T. Belt. On this blog I explore history, myth, and memory on America's first frontier. As a supplement to my latest book, John Sevier: Tennessee's First Hero, this blog critiques the ways in which Tennessee's first governor, John Sevier, is remembered in history and literature. And occasionally, I offer reflections on archives and public history from my home state of Tennessee.
The header image on my blog, courtesy of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, vividly captures this theme of history and memory...
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| In 1889 the Governors of Alabama and Tennessee along with an assemblage of dignitaries and common citizens gathered at John Sevier's fenced grave site in Alabama to resurrect the memory of "Tennessee's First Hero." A grand ceremony took place on this site where John Sevier's remains were transported to Knoxville to be reinterred on the lawn of the Old Knox County Courthouse. You can read more about this fascinating episode in Tennessee history by reading my blog post on this subject, "Sevier Amnesia: The Forgotten Grave of Tennessee's Founding Father." |
What's in a Name?
A chapter in Joseph Ellis's book, His Excellency: George Washington, inspired the name for this site. In the book, Ellis writes about George Washington's obsession with chronicling the details of his life and experiences through his paper records, correspondence and memoirs. Like an archivist, Washington meticulously arranged and described his personal papers. Washington's “posterity project,” as Ellis describes it, directly influenced how history and future generations remembered our nation's founding father through the careful management of the documentary evidence of his life. As an archivist and public historian, a word from the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution also inspired me to name this site...
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
As one of our nation's founding documents, the Constitution, as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights greatly influenced me at an early age to pursue archives and public history as a career. So, I thought it was only fitting to choose The Posterity Project as the name for this site. This is a place where archives, local history, and the importance of public records are celebrated, from a "Volunteer's" point of view.
Archives & Social Media
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| Receiving the award with STA President, Steve Cox. |
Since then, I have delivered presentations to local archives, genealogical and historical societies about using social media, and about how cultural heritage organizations can leverage social media in their outreach efforts. Also, in my role as Director of Public Services at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, I work collaboratively across several departments to actively promote the Library & Archives' many services, collections, and outreach initiatives through social media.
After more than a decade on social media, I've recently taken a step back from active personal engagement on these platforms to focus more of my attention on my blog, my books, and other "legacy" projects. I still maintain a professional presence on a few social media platforms, but my main point of contact is here, on The Posterity Project.
Disclaimer
The Posterity Project is a reflection of my own personal and professional interests, and the opinions expressed here do not represent the views, positions, strategies, or opinions of my current or former employers.
About Us
To learn more about me and my wife, Traci, please visit the “About Us” section of this website, where you’ll find more information about my work, and about our books, Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War, and our latest title, John Sevier: Tennessee's First Hero, published by The History Press. Pricing and ordering information are located in the "Books" section of this blog. To schedule a book signing or speaking engagement with us, visit our "Events" page to learn more.
Copyright
© The Posterity Project & Gordon T. Belt. 2008-present. No copyrighted information found on any page within this website may be used for commercial purposes without the express permission of the copyright owner.
