Education Outreach: Field Trips

Field Trips

Thank you for your interest in the Tennessee State Library & Archives for your field trip! The Library & Archives offers year-round, free, interactive programs on site at our facility located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way North in downtown Nashville. Our education programs focus on providing students with hands-on opportunities to engage with historical documents and learn about the archival field; they are generally geared toward students in grades 3 through 12.

Below you will find descriptions of the various programs offered by the Library & Archives and a link to the Google Form to request a field trip. We ask that requests be submitted one month in advance of your proposed visit. If you have any additional questions, please email FieldTrips.TSLA@tnsos.gov. 

Program Descriptions:

 

Field TripArchives in Action

  • In this hands-on classroom experience, students will learn about the difference between primary and secondary sources, what archivists do, and the lifecycle of an archival collection. They will also have the opportunity to process their own small, donated collection consisting of replicas of documents housed at the Library & Archives.

Time: 60 minutes
Group Size: Up to 90 students (groups larger than 40 may be split between classrooms for this program)
Grade Levels: Ideal for students in grades 3 through 12

Library & Archives Building Tour

  • Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tennessee State Library & Archives and learn about the lifecycle of a collection, from donation to processing to storage to public access. The visit includes stops in the lobby, automated storage facility, and public reading room.

Time: 45-60 minutes
Group Size: No more than 25 students
Grade Levels: Ideal for students in grades 3 through 12

Basics of Archival Research

  • Do your students need to conduct archival research for a project but don't know where to start? Our Basics of Archival Research program can help! Students will learn the ins and outs of conducting historical research within an archive, including a discussion about the uses of primary and secondary sources, a tutorial on how to use the Library & Archives' online catalog, and a crash course on how to utilize finding aids to locate relevant historical documents.

Time: 60 minutes
Group Size: Up to 90 students (groups larger than 40 may be split between two or more classrooms for this program)
Grade Levels: Ideal for students in grades 9 through 12

Conducting Primary Source-Based Research

  • Are your students working on a history project and need to locate and utilize primary sources? Let our staff help facilitate that research at the Library & Archives! This program requires a pre-visit orientation with your class (either in person or virtually) to demonstrate how to identify materials within our online catalog, as well as either a half-day or a full-day visit to the Library & Archives to conduct their research. Research materials will be pulled and waiting for your students upon their arrival so they can maximize their research time.

Time: 45-60 minutes (pre-visit orientation) and half-day or full-day visit (on-site research)
Group Size: No more than 30 students
Grade Levels: Ideal for students in grades 6 through 12 participating in the Tennessee History Day program or conducting specialized research projects

Exploring the Exhibits

  • Want to learn about Tennessee history and some of the unique items within the Library & Archives' collection? Explore the exhibits in our lobby through a scavenger hunt! Your students will learn about the history of Tennessee's Constitution, the lives of famous Tennesseans, events and festivals that occur across the state, and so much more. 

Time: 30-45 minutes
Group Size: Up to 90 students
Grade Levels: Ideal for students in grades 3 through 12

Requesting a Field Trip

To request a field trip at the Tennessee State Library & Archives, please fill out and submit this Google Form. The Field Trip Coordinator will respond to your request within 2 business days.