The archives may be filled with records, but it is an empty place without people. There are few people more important to the department than volunteers. The archives cannot function at its best without them. If you have an interest in volunteering, an interest in meeting and helping others, an interest in helping preserve old documents, please consider working with us in the archives. We think you will enjoy the experience.
There are opportunities to work in the Reading Room where you can help researchers. Here you will have the chance to meet people from all over the country. If you prefer working behind the scenes, there are many things you can do. Experience some time travel in working with documents from another century.
Tennesseans are not called citizens of the “Volunteer State” for nothing. So we hope you will consider volunteering in the archives. If you are interested, please contact Donna Briggs by phone at (423)753-1658 or by email at dbriggs@washingtoncountytn.org.
To see photographs of the volunteers and staff at work, click here: Volunteers and Staff.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:
Martha Snyder and Rebecca Moss
Our newest archive volunteers are a sister act: sisters Martha Snyder and Rebecca “Boo” Moss. They began their tag-team volunteer work in July 2024.
The sisters grew up in historical houses in the Limestone area of Washington County. One house was built about 1778 and the other in 1840. So, their love of history came early. Martha and Rebecca graduated from Science Hill High School and then from East Tennessee State University. Both later got master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Martha worked over 40 years as a dental hygienist. She also at one time owned and operated a country store and greenhouses. Rebecca became a nurse, later teaching 16 years in the College of Nursing at ETSU, as well as working 25 years as a primary care nurse practitioner at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Mountain Home.
Martha enjoys collecting and researching Southern decorative arts. She was instrumental in documenting the history of the Keystone Pottery that led to an important exhibit at the Jonesborough History Museum and to the publication of a book titled The Pottery of Charles F. Decker: a life well made (2004).
Rebecca enjoys hunting, fishing, refinishing furniture, sewing, kitting, painting, travel, and learning anything new. She is also active with Heritage Alliance.
We feel very lucky to have these lovely, lively ladies helping us preserve the historical records of our shared county. Welcome aboard Martha and Boo!
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Washington County, Tennessee Department of Records Management and Archives 