Special Collections Division: Portraits

These portraits hang on the walls in the Nashville Room. Each portrait has a plaque with identifying information mounted nearby. For information about and images of all of the portraits held by the Division, see the Colonial Dames' Tennessee Portrait Project. The portraits are also available for viewing in our Digital Collection here.

Gideon Hicks Baskette served as editor of the Nashville Banner (1884-1911) and as Nashville Librarian (1913-1927).

Mary Hannah Johnson was the first Carnegie (NPL) librarian (1901-1912) and is represented in both a full-length portrait and a bust painting.

Francis K. W. Drury, painted by Richard Williams in 1965, was librarian from 1931-1948.

Dr. Alfred Leland Crabb, painted by Elizabeth Gill, was an author, educator, historian and library board member.

Dr. and Mrs. John Shelby's original portraits were done in 1840. These copies were painted c.1900. Dr. Shelby (1786-1859) was a civic leader who served as Postmaster.

Wilkins Tannehill (1785-1858) was a scholar, served in the City Council and was elected Mayor of Nashville in 1825.

Randal William McGavock (1826-1863) served as Mayor from 1858-1859. He was killed during the Civil War near Raymond, MS. This portrait, a gift of Margaret Lindsley Warden in 1966, has undergone extensive conservation and restoration treatment.