The Past and Present with Jacob S.

The Latest Writings

A place for the most recent academic and course-related writings related to research projects, blog posts, and discussion forums.

Evensville, TN trainyard, February 9, 1917
Courtesy of the Louis Edward Nollau Railroad Glass Negative Collection, University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Resources for Students and Scholars

Explore curated reading lists, sample syllabi, and research tools for deeper study of Tennessee’s past.

A late-afternoon photographic view of a historic Tennessee farmhouse set back from a narrow gravel lane, its white-painted wooden siding slightly peeling, revealing gray weathered boards beneath. A deep front porch wraps around, supported by simple square columns, with a pair of rocking chairs and a small stack of split firewood. The yard is a broad, uneven lawn dotted with mature oak and maple trees, their branches casting intricate shadows on the façade. Golden-hour sunlight bathes the house from the side, creating warm highlights and long, soft shadows that accentuate the building’s age and craftsmanship. Shot from a low, three-quarter angle with moderate depth of field, the house is crisp while the trees and sky gently blur. The mood is nostalgic yet analytical, ideal for exploring rural Tennessee social history in realistic photographic style.
A wide photographic view of a weathered Tennessee courthouse square, the red-brick courthouse with a white clock tower rising at center, its stone steps smooth from a century of use. Around it, low historic storefronts with faded painted advertisements line the street, their brickwork showing subtle variations of age and repair. Early morning, slightly overcast light creates soft, even illumination, revealing architectural details without harsh shadows. Fallen autumn leaves scatter across the brick sidewalks, hinting at the passage of time. Shot at eye level with sharp focus throughout, the composition uses the rule of thirds, giving ample space to the sky and square. The mood is reflective and scholarly, evoking careful local historical research in a calm, documentary photographic realism.
A nighttime photographic scene of a preserved early 20th-century Tennessee downtown street, the brick facades of two-story commercial buildings illuminated by warm, amber streetlights. Ornate cornices, tall arched windows, and recessed doorways show layers of architectural evolution, some storefronts carefully restored while others display worn signage and faded paint. The wet pavement after a recent rain reflects the glow of the lamps and the subtle color of brick and limestone. Overhead, a deep indigo sky frames the silhouettes of rooftop parapets and a distant courthouse dome. Captured from a low, slightly off-center angle with sharp focus and rich contrast, the composition emphasizes the rhythm of facades receding into the distance. The mood is reflective and quietly dramatic, evoking long-term urban change and historical memory in realistic photographic style.

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