By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–While reorganizing the Henry County Chancery Court Clerk and Master’s office a treasure trove of old records–and old newspapers–were found by the staff. Clerk and Master Mary Burns and Deputy Clerks Whitney Muller and Jennie Sanders have been going through the old records stored in old drawers in the office and found that many old newspapers were also in the files.
The newspapers date from the pre-Civil War era and are well-preserved because they were in relatively airtight drawers and were neatly folded between the old Chancery Court records.
Copies of newspapers they have found so far include a Paris Republic from 1850, a Paris Sentinel from 1858 as well as other local newspapers dating from the years immediately after the Civil War.
“We’re so excited about this,” Burns said, noting that the staff still has even older drawers to go through. “We can’t wait to see what else we find,” she said. They found Case No. 10 and Burns noted the court is now up to 24,000 cases.
The staff has found the old newspapers especially fascinating, she said. “We love looking through these old ads and the articles we’re finding.”
The files and newspapers will be donated to the Henry County Archives.
Photos by Shannon McFarlin.
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