About Tennessee Heritage

This 'project' began more than 50 years ago. My great uncle, Paul Oliphant, was an announcer for a program on WLAC radio in Nashville called 'The Old Dirt Dauber' in the 1940s, and the range for the program was over several states. Having such an unusual last name prompted all kinds of letters from fellow Oliphants wanting to know if he was related. He corresponded with several of these people and found that there was indeed a connection with some of them. 

He, his brother Ward (my maternal grandfather), and their father Thomas also corresponded with relatives they already knew about all across Tennessee, to get birthdates, burial places, and all the other details a genealogist would be interested in. They began recording all this information, which I still have today in their own handwriting. It is included in the pages of this site.

I fell in love with this type of history as my grandfather shared it with me. I talked with my other grandfather, on my father's side, who I found had just as strong an interest in his family's history - and an amazing amount of knowledge about his forefathers in his head; down to correct birthdates, spouse's names, etc.

Both of my grandfathers died while I was in my early twenties. After their deaths, I began doing research at libraries, LDS history centers, and by computer to confirm and add to the information they shared with me. My intention was always to publish this information, and the World Wide Web has provided a place to do this and let it continue to be a work in progress, and one you can add to.

If you have comments, suggestions, or related information you would like to share with me, please feel free to send me an email, or use our feedback system or message boards.