An old friend is our new state historian...

In May, I reported the sad news that my home state of Tennessee lost its chief historian. Walter Durham served as Tennessee's State Historian since his appointment in 2002 until his death at the age of 88 on May 24, 2013.

Filling Walter Durham's shoes will be a daunting task, but it is one task that I believe the next State Historian can handle. I am thrilled to share the news that Dr. Carroll Van West was recently appointed to the post of Tennessee State Historian. Here's an excerpt of the press release issued by the Governor's Office:

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the appointment of Dr. Carroll Van West as state historian.

West replaces the late Walter T. Durham, who served 11 years in the honorary position.

"Dr. West's faithful service to his field for many years reflects a commitment to excellence that will serve the citizens of Tennessee very well," Haslam said. "His incredible body of work speaks for itself, and we are fortunate and grateful to have him as our state historian."

West has served as director at the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area since 2002.

He has taught as a professor in the MTSU history department since 1985. He currently serves as a co-chair of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and as a Tennessee representative on the National Board of Advisors of National Trust for Historic Preservation. West also sits on the Executive Board of Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc. and on the Advisory Board of Teaching with Primary Sources, Library of Congress.

On a personal note, Dr. West served as thesis advisor for both me and my wife while we studied Public History at Middle Tennessee State University, and he was very instrumental in guiding Traci's work on Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War. We have continued to maintain contact with Dr. West since that time. In fact, Traci will have the honor of appearing on a panel discussion at the upcoming Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event in Chattanooga this October, moderated by Dr. West. Naturally, we are both very excited to learn of his appointment to the post of Tennessee State Historian.

Last year, Traci and I joined Dr. Carroll Van West for a lecture and book signing for Onward Southern Soldiers at the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. Author photo.

Beyond my own personal excitement about this nomination, I believe Dr. West's appointment signals that officials in state government are keenly aware of the importance of the office of State Historian and its connections to the civic and economic well-being of Tennessee. The growth of heritage tourism in our state is due in no small measure to Dr. West's efforts, and his experience as an academic historian, instructor of public history, and passionate advocate of state and local history throughout Tennessee makes him an ideal candidate for this position.

I believe that Dr. West will serve the citizens of Tennessee with distinction in this new role, and I can think of no other person more deserving of this honor.

Gordon Belt is the Director of Public Services for the Tennessee State Library & Archives, and past president of the Society of Tennessee Archivists. On The Posterity Project, Gordon blogs about archives, local history, genealogy, and social media advocacy for archives and cultural heritage organizations. His forthcoming book, John Sevier: Tennessee's First Hero, examines the life of Tennessee's first governor, John Sevier, through the lens of history and memory.

A scholar and a gentleman...

On Sunday morning, I awoke to the sad news that Tennessee State Historian Walter Durham had passed away at the age of 88. I only had two brief occasions to meet Mr. Durham, but I've admired his work and professional character for many years. Though I did not know him well, I feel a profound sense of loss for my home state of Tennessee.

Walter Durham was appointed state historian in 2002. He served as president of the Tennessee Historical Society, founding president of the Tennessee Heritage Alliance, later renamed the Tennessee Preservation Trust, and chair of the Tennessee Historical Commission. Mr. Durham was the author of two dozen books spanning a wide range of areas of Tennessee history. He was the recipient of numerous awards for his writing, and was a contributor for the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

During a Memorial Day weekend in which we remembered the fallen heroes of our nation, it is also fitting that we remember that Walter Durham served our country in the United States Air Force during World War II. Upon returning home, he attended Vanderbilt University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1948 and his Master's degree in 1955. He was also the only person to serve on the state commission of the 100th and 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

In a beautifully written tribute published in The Tennessean, several of Mr. Durham's close friends and professional colleagues weighed in on his life and work. I was particularly struck by this remembrance by artist and historian, Bill Puryear:

"Walter was always a gentleman, very modest and courteous in his demeanor, religious about getting his facts right on history," Puryear said. "If he wrote it down and testified to it, you could count on it being accurate. He explored aspects of history, both local and Tennessee, in areas where nobody has ever gone before. So his books will stand as reference for hundreds of years."

Walter Durham was truly a scholar and a gentleman, a devoted advocate for history across the state of Tennessee, and he established the standard by which all future works of Tennessee historical scholarship will be measured. May God bless his family during this difficult time.