Granville Henley McGhee was born in Knoxville on March 24, 1918 (some sources say 1917, but available government records favor the later date). His older brother, Brownie McGhee, who became …
Refugees Helped Create Knoxville As We Know It
Immigrants fleeing difficult or dangerous circumstances in their home countries have always been part of Knoxville’s history. A few Irish political exiles settled here in the 1790s. Right about 170 …
A Walk Through Old Gray Cemetery’s Fascinating History
Old Gray, established in 1850, was Knoxville’s first garden-style cemetery. Although it’s privately owned, Knoxville has used the 13-acre space on the northwest corner of downtown almost as a public …
Some Late-Winter Occasions to Mark in Knoxville
To begin with, this fortnight (that’s two weeks) contains the birthdays of two of Knoxville’s best-known African-American musicians. Sunday, Feb. 26 is the 127th birthday of Ida Cox, the great …
Black History Month and Valentine’s Day Both Offer Occasions to Celebrate James and Ethel Beck
On Wed., Feb. 22, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center at 1927 Dandridge Ave. is hosting a sneak-peak screening of scholar Henry Louis Gates’ film, Africa’s Great Civilizations, at 5:30 p.m. …