In the years after the Civil War, freedom had come—but stability had not.

In Nashville, a small group of students at Fisk University faced an uncertain future. Their school was struggling. Resources were scarce. The path forward wasn’t clear.

So they did something unexpected.

They sang.

What began as a desperate effort to raise funds became something far greater. The Fisk Jubilee Singers carried the spirituals of a people—songs born out of suffering, faith, and endurance—across the country and eventually across the world.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we tell the story of the Jubilee Singers—how they preserved a musical tradition, helped save their university, and introduced the world to a sound that could not be silenced.

Because sometimes the most powerful voices rise not in comfort—but in hardship.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and listen to a story that was meant to be heard.

Sources

• Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877 — Foner, E. (1988). Harper & Row.
• The African-American History of Nashville, Tennessee, 1780–1930: Elites and Dilemmas — Lovett, B. L. (1999). University of Arkansas Press.
  https://www.uapress.com/product/the-african-american-history-of-nashville-tennessee-1780-1930/
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia —
  Mitchell, R. L., Jr. (2018). “Fisk University”
  https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/fisk-university/
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia —
  McKenzie, R. T. (2018). “Reconstruction”
  https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/reconstruction/
  
  
• National Register of Historic Places —
  Jubilee Hall (Fisk University) (1971). U.S. Department of the Interior.
  https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/71000817_text
  
  
• The Jubilee Singers and Their Campaign for Twenty Thousand Dollars — Pike, G. D. (1873). Lee and Shepard.
  https://library.si.edu/digital-library/book/jubileesingersth00pike
  
  
• Dark Midnight When I Rise: The Story of the Jubilee Singers — Ward, A. (2000). Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Links & Support

• Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews): https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises
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If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

There was a time when people traveled from across the region to a quiet corner of Tennessee—not for business, not for politics, but for healing.

Tucked away in Warren County, Nicholson Springs Resort was once a thriving destination. Visitors came for the mineral waters, the scenery, and the promise of restoration. For a season, it flourished.

And then… it was gone.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we uncover the story of Nicholson Springs Resort—how it rose, why it mattered, and how something so significant could seemingly disappear from memory.

Because Tennessee isn’t just full of the stories we remember.
It’s full of the ones we’ve forgotten.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and let’s go find what’s left of a place that time almost erased.

Sources

• Summers, M. (1986). Nicholson Springs Resort Hotel: A Nineteenth-Century Spa. Tennessee Historical Quarterly, 45(3), 244–255.
  https://www.jstor.org/stable/42626611
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia (2023). Entries: “Historic Resorts” and “Warren County”
  https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net
  
  

Links & Support

• Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews): https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises
• Merch & Apparel: https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch
• Book John for Speaking Engagements: https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/speaking-engagements
• Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTennesseeHistoryNerd/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Why is Tennessee called the Volunteer State?

It’s one of those names everyone recognizes—but not everyone really understands. The answer isn’t just a slogan or a bit of folklore. It’s a story rooted in moments when Tennesseans stepped forward—sometimes unexpectedly—and left a lasting mark on American history.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we trace the origins of Tennessee’s nickname and explore the events that helped define it. From early conflicts to pivotal turning points, we look at how the idea of “volunteerism” became part of the state’s identity—and why it still resonates today.

Because sometimes a nickname isn’t just a name. It’s a legacy.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and let’s dig into the story behind Tennessee’s most famous title.

Sources

• Tennessee Encyclopedia — https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net
• Tennessee Blue Book
• Tennessee History for Kids — https://www.tnhistoryforkids.org
  
  

Links & Support

• Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews): https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises
• Merch & Apparel: https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch
• Book John for Speaking Engagements: https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/speaking-engagements
• Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTennesseeHistoryNerd/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.