Robert Booker News for Knoxville, TN from Knoxville News Sentinel

Robert Booker

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Bob Booker is a columnist with the News Sentinel.

Robert Booker: Author's Knoxville home site elusive Published 9/13/2011 at 4:00 a.m. 0 comments
Several years ago, while doing research to compile the history of Knoxville College, I discovered that Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1886) and "The Secret Garden" (1910), had lived on a portion of land where the ...
Robert Booker: Game brings memories of Montana trip Published 9/6/2011 at 4:00 a.m. 0 comments
As the University of Tennessee football team played the Grizzlies from the University of Montana a few days ago, I reflected on my visit to that campus 14 years ago. It was the first time I'd been to that part ...
Robert Booker: On cross-dressing, rail travel, funding Published 8/30/2011 at 4:00 a.m. 3 comments
One hundred years ago, in January 1911, several interesting items appeared in the Knoxville Journal and Tribune: A new train made its first stop in Knoxville. A 14-year-old girl was discovered masquerading as a man working on the railroad in ...
Robert Booker: Gentle was black pioneer, shoemaker Published 8/23/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 2 comments
I have studied and lectured on the history of the black people of Knoxville for more than 30 years, and I am still fascinated with what I find in ancient newspapers at the McClung Collection at the corner or Gay ...
Robert Booker: Con men are out to get your money Published 8/16/2011 at 4:00 a.m. 8 comments
I am a real fan of Don Dare and the WATE, Channel 6, program "Six on Your Side," which investigates complaints from local residents against businesses.
Robert Booker: 8th of August was day of liberation Published 8/9/2011 at 4:00 a.m. 1 comment
Yesterday was that date in my childhood that was like the Fourth of July and Christmas rolled into one. Aug. 8 — Emancipation Day — was a day of liberation for me in the 1940s that had been recognized as ...
Robert Booker: Book examines role of blacks in Civil War Published 8/2/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 3 comments
One of the most revealing books about blacks in early American wars is "Black Phalanx," edited by Joseph T. Wilson in 1889. He had been a member of the Louisiana Native Guard Volunteers, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers and aide de ...
Robert Booker: 'One-Eyed Ike' was among city's first black politicians Published 7/26/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 2 comments
Slavery was abolished in 1865. Black men in Tennessee got the right to vote in 1867 and the right to sit on juries and to hold elected office in 1868. The next year, 1869, was a very busy year for ...
Robert Booker: Controversial show gave black actors chance to star Published 7/18/2011 at 1:32 p.m. 2 comments
Some of the most memorable characters of early television were banned forever, never to be seen on TV Land or anywhere else. The actors were brilliant and experienced. They had hilarious and clever material, but they were popular at a ...
Robert Booker: Book describes Jim Crow era in Knoxville Published 7/12/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 2 comments
I first read "The Age of Jim Crow" about 42 years ago. Written by James A. Atkins, it discusses segregated life in Knoxville from shortly after slavery to the 1920s. It mentions a number of prominent people, the activities at ...
Robert Booker: Radio soaps can still be heard in memory Published 7/5/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 2 comments
According to what I read in the newspaper, two long-running soap operas, "One Life To Live" and "All My Children," are on the way out. In less than a year, both will be dropped by their respective networks. Since I ...
Robert Booker: Brownlow roared pro-union message Published 6/28/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 0 comments
William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow gave an amazing account of his downfall as editor of the Knoxville Whig during the Civil War. On Oct. 24, 1861, he wrote an editorial: "To the People of Tennessee. Our country has been divided and ...
Robert Booker: Parents shaped Knox entrepreneur Cal Johnson Published 6/21/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 3 comments
Cupid and Harriet Johnson were the parents of Caldonia Fackler "Cal" Johnson, who was born into slavery here in 1844 and died one of the wealthiest blacks in Tennessee in 1925.
Robert Booker: Mail Bag dispatches give account of Civil War Published 6/14/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 0 comments
In this column I continue with items from the Army Mail Bag, which was published in Knoxville from May 30, 1864, to Oct. 6, 1864.
Robert Booker: Short-lived newspaper details life in Civil War Knoxville Published 6/7/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 2 comments
Staff members of the McClung Collection in the East Tennessee History Center at the corner of Gay Street and Clinch Avenue made me aware of a third newspaper that was being published during the Civil War. I have often used ...