THE UNKNOWN KNOXVILLE HISTORIAN

RON ALLEN'S HOME PAGE

Telephone 865-584-4487

email address ronaldallen@knology.net

As a native Knoxville resident, I've long been interested in the history of the city. Aside from collecting various memorabilia concerning the city for fifty years, as a dealer in old and rare books, I've done considerable research about many aspects of Knoxville and Knox County. To date, aside from compiling several bibliographical and reference books concerning old and rare Tennessee books, I've written sixteen books plus a number historical articles about old Knoxville. Those writings concern many of the places, events, and activities in Knoxville.

This site reproduces several of my published books about Knoxville (not including the illustrations that are contained in the printed works.) Also included here are a number of other books that have not been published, plus various articles, including some that appear in my book Knoxville Miscellany and others that are unpublished. Books that are reproduced here, in text format only, have been made available for the benefit of those who are interested in reading about old Knoxville. Books that have been published, all including illustrations, are listed at the end of this web page.

I continue to do research and writing concerning Knoxville, in an attempt to uncover and record history, much of which is not recorded elsewhere, other than in old newspaper accounts and other original sources. I seek that information for my own enjoyment and enlightenment, and also for those who are interested in Knoxville's history. I seriously doubt that anyone has devoted more time gathering information about the history of Knoxville and Knox County during the past quarter century or so. The dearth of the availability of much of this information elsewhere, in writings and published works, is obvious. For example, the majority of the old Knoxville communities that are listed in my book Knox-Stalgia are unmentioned in all standard historical works about Knoxville, including The French Broad Holston Country, Heart of the Valley, and William Rule's Standard History of Knoxville, and none of those communities are mentioned in the extensive Tennessee Encyclopedia.

My newest book is A History of Theatres in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1872-1982, an illustrated record of the theatres in Knoxville during those years.

I'm always glad to hear from those who may have comments or questions concerning any of these books and articles. I'm available either by telephone or via email.

Enjoy.

Ron Allen

Internet links are provided below for each book and article.

KNOXVILLE IN THE GAY NINETIES. This is a compilation of some of the various events and happenings that took place in Knoxville from the year 1890 through the year 1899. These are listed chronologically, and likely probably reveal some things that few people around here (or elsewhere) have previously heard or read about. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web%20Gay%2090's.htm

KNOX-STALAGIA, Revised edition. Originally published in 1999, this is a considerably enlarged edition of a book that lists the majority of the communities that existed in Knoxville and Knox County until the middle twentieth century, in addition to listing many other Knoxville sites. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web%20Knoxstalgia.htm

KNOXVILLE CITY DIRECTORY, 1869. A revised edition of the original Knoxville city directory for 1869, with the names more accurately alphabetically rearranged, with the addition of a street directory listing residents and businesses in Knoxville that year. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web%201869.htm

NEARLY A HALF CENTURY OF TENNESSEANA. An alphabetical listing of more than two thousand old Tennessee books, manuscripts, and related materials I've sold during nearly a half century, including scarce and rare Tennessee books and a variety of unusual and interesting items. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/tennbooks.htm

DARYL. A fictional account of a young boy growing up in the North Knoxville community of Happy Holler. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web%20Daryl.htm

SAME OLD SMOKIES. A brief history of baseball in Knoxville, from the earliest teams until the middle 1950's. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Smokies.htm

NOSE GUARDS AND WILD CARDS. The early University of Tennessee football teams of the 1890's. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/NoseGuards.htm

KNOXVILLE, 1948. A stroll along Knoxville's downtown streets in the year 1948. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/KNOXVILLE%201948%20.htm

KNOXVILLE, 1948 - REVISITED. A look at the local communities in Knoxville in 1948. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/1948%20B.htm

RUNNING PLAYS AND PASSING DAYS. High school football in Knoxville, from the earliest times until the closing of Knoxville High School in 1951. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/HS%20FOOTBALL.htm

FROM CAS WALKERS TO DOWNTOWN HAWKERS. A chronological listing of some happenings in Knoxville from 1934 through 2007. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/cas.htm

FORTY YEARS IN BASEMENTS AND ATTICS. Experiences in buying and selling old and rare books. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/FORTY%20YEARS.htm

THE ROXY THEATER. A brief history of Knoxville's last combination movie theatre and live vaudeville stage venue. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/ROXY.htm

EARLY KNOXVILLE BUSINESSES. A listing of more than one thousand early business firms in Knoxville, 1791-1876. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/DIrectory%201791%201876.pdf

CHILHOWEE PARK. A brief review of the East Knoxville park, from the beginnings in the nineteenth century. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/CHILHOWEE%20PARK.htm

MARKET SQUARE BUSINESSES. A review of the businesses that have been on downtown Market Square since 1859. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/MKTSQUARE%20.htm

AN UNSOLVED MURDER IN KNOXVILLE. An account of the unsolved 1951 murder of Fountain City housewife Mary Hankins. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Hankins%20.htm

KNOXVILLE AND KNOX COUNTY SCHOOLS. A list of the majority of schools that existed in Knoxville and Knox County from the earliest times until 1950. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/SCHOOLS.htm

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN KNOXVILLE. A few of the sites of July 4^th celebrations in Knoxville in the nineteenth century. Not available in printed format. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/July%204.htm

LOTS FOR SALE. A brief history of the Red Light District in Knoxville, 1891-1913. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Lots.htm

KNOXVILLE STREETS IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/STREETS%20.htm

TENNESSEE PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, 1791 - 1899. A preliminary guide to printing establishments in Tennessee, from the earliest times through the nineteenth century. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/PRINTERS.htm

FRANK MOFFETT. A brief biographical sketch of this long-time promoter of baseball in Knoxville in earlier times. Not available in printed format. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/MOFFETT.htm

MECHANICSVILLE. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Mechanicsville.htm

EARLY EDUCATION AT POWELL STATION. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/POWELL.htm

TURNER PARK. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/TURNER%20PARK%20.htm

THE FAILED CHEROKEE DEVELOPMENT. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/CHEROKEE.htm

VANISHED GLENWOOD PARK AND LAKE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/GLENWOOD%20PARK.htm

KNOXVILLE'S CHISHOLM TAVERN. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/CHISHOLM%20TAVERN.htm

HOT TAMALES IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/HOT%20TAMALES.htm

A STORY OF SOME KNAFFL STUDIO NEGATIVES. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/KNAFFL%20NEGATIVES.htm

HOTELS AT THE LAMAR HOUSE LOCATION. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Lamar%20House.htm

OLD BUSINESSES IN THE 600 BLOCK OF GAY STREET. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/600%20Block.htm

THE CONVICTION AND EXECUTION OF ABNER BAKER. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/ABNER%20BAKER,%20JR.htm

KNOXVILLE'S FIRST AUDITORIUM. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Auditorium%20.htm

BEATTIE FEATHERS, TENNESSEE VOL PHENOM. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Beattie%20Feathers.htm

THE BOWERY AND CRIPPLE CREEK. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Bowery.htm

CAL JOHNSON. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Cal%20Johnson.htm

SOME EARLY TAVERNS IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Ear%20Taverns.htm

KNOXVILLE'S OLD FAIR GROUNDS. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Fair%20Old%20.htm

KNOXVILLE'S NEW FAIR GROUNDS. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Fair%20New%20.htm

FARMERS MARKETS IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Farmers%20Market%20%20%20.htm

MARY BEANE'S BEARDEN HIGH SCHOOL DIARY, 1912 http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Beane.htm

THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF LEONIDAS HOUK. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Houk%20.htm

THE FORGOTTEN FOUNTAIN CITY BASEBALL PARK http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/FCBASEBALL%20.htm

MY COLLECTION OF TENNESSEE SONGS. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/WebTennSongs.htm

THE KNOXVILLE BLUE BOOK OF 1894. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/BLUEBOOK%20.htm

EARLY SUBURBS IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/SUBURBS%20.htm

OLD MAIN AVENUE BUSINESSES. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Main%20.htm

THE MECHANICSVILLE AID SOCIETY. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/MC%20AID%20SOC%20.htm

MURDER AND AFTERMATH IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/MURDER%20.htm

KNOXVILLE'S ALLEYS. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Alleys.htm

OLD RACE TRACKS IN KNOXVILLE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/RACE%20TRACKS.htm

TRAGEDY AT LAKE OTTOSEE. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/TRAGEDY%20.htm

MARY WHITSON'S DIARY, 1862-1867. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/WHITSON%20.htm

TENNESSEE SONGS. An alphabetical listing of more than one thousand songs that have published during the past one hundred and fifty years or so that include the word "Tennessee" in the song title. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web%20songs.htm

MY 78 RPM RECORD COLLECTION. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/78%20RPM%20RECORDS%20.BK!

ODDS AND ENDS IN KNOXVILLE IN 1913. http://www.knology.net/~ronallen/Web1913.htm

BOOKS BY RON ALLEN

KNOXVILLE MISCELLANY. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 262 pages. Illustrated. 8 x 11. A collection of writings about old Knoxville. $15.00

FROM CAS WALKERS TO DOWNTOWN HAWKERS. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 328 pages. Illustrations. Miscellaneous events, people, and places in Knoxville, Tennessee, from 1934 to 2007. $15.00

SAME OLD SMOKIES. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 8 x 11. 90 pages. Illustrated. A preliminary chronological record of the Knoxville's baseball teams, from 1866 to 1954. $10.00

NOSE GUARDS AND WILD CARDS. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 8 x 11. 77 pages. Illustrated. The story of the earliest University of Tennessee football teams, from 1891 through 1899. $7.50

FAIRS AND CIRCUSES IN KNOXVILLE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 8 x 11. 82 pages. Illustrated. $10.00

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, SUMMER, 1915 - SPRING, 1916. Knoxville. 2008 Soft cover. 8 x 11. 111 pages. Illustrated. Knoxville during the time period covered in James Agee's book, A Death in the Family. $12.00

THE PLAY'S THE THING. Knoxville. 2008. Soft cover. 8 x 11. 86 pages. Illustrated. Entertainment venues in Knoxville from the earliest times to the 1950's. $10.00

RUNNING PLAYS AND PASSING DAYS. THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, 1900-1950. Knoxville, Tenn. 2003. Softbound. Illustrated. $ 15.00

THE STREET HAS CHANGED. A REVIEW OF THE DEMOLITION OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND HOMES IN DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, WITH VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN STREETS TODAY AND YESTERDAY. Knoxville, Tennessee. 2003. Softbound. $ 20.00

KNOXVILLE 1948. A CASUAL STROLL THROUGH DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE IN 1948. Knoxville. 2001. Softbound. (113 pages). Illustrations. A trip through downtown Knoxville in 1948, with descriptions of businesses, theaters, and occasional comments and reminiscences. $ 12.00

DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING OF BUSINESS HOUSES, STORES, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER GAY STREET FIRMS, 1859-1950. WITH ADDENDA, CONTAINING A PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESSES IN KNOXVILLE PRIOR TO 1860. Knoxville. 2001. Softbound. 8 1/4 x 10 3/4. 90 pages. Illustrations. $ 12.00

OLD TENNESSEE SONGS. Knoxville. 2001. Softbound. (244 pages) Reproductions of 100 old published songs with "Tennessee" in the title. $ 15.00

SOME TENNESSEE RARITIES. Knoxville, Tennessee. 1973. Simulated leather binding, gilt cover title. Descriptions of some of the rarest Tennessee books, with reproductions of title pages. $ 35.00

TENNESSEE IMPRINTS, 1791-1875. Knoxville, Tennessee. Privately printed. 1987. Simulated leather binding, gilt cover title. To date, the most comprehensive compilation of books, pamphlets, broadsides, periodicals, etc., printed in the state of Tennessee through the year 1875. $35.00

MORE TENNESSEE RARITIES. Knoxville, Tennessee. 2003. 8 x 11. Simulated leather binding. 450 pages. Expands my earlier book, Some Tennessee Rarities, to include many additional scarce and rare Tennessee books. Including illustrations of title page reproductions from rare Tennessee titles. Limited to 100 copies. $ 100.00

OUT OF PRINT BOOKS BY RON ALLEN

TENNESSEE BOOKS, A PRELIMINARY GUIDE. Knoxville. 1969.

TENNESSEANA. Knoxville. 1979.

PRICE GUIDE TO TENNESSEE IMPRINTS. Knoxville. 1990

SUPPLEMENT TO TENNESSEANA. Knoxville. 1996.

A HALF CENTURY AGO. Knoxville. 1998.

KNOX-STALGIA. (Original edition) Knoxville. 1999.

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