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Back in the Day

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Ken

Ken Fieth is the Metropolitan Archivist for Nashville and Davidson County. He is passionate about military history and brings it to life as a World War II reenactor. Learn more about the Metro Archives.

Podcast
Sandra Shelton with pet, inside store

Occupying the corner of 21st Ave S and Belcourt Ave for a little over 20 years, and on Belmont Blvd before that, Pangaea was a beloved business by many Nashvillians, tourists, and even celebrities. Sandra Shelton was its proprietor, and she sat down with us to tell us the story of her shop and her life. 

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Flyer for WWII Prisoners of War Exhibit: Friends, Enemies, or Frenemies

In this episode, Ken and Sarah chat with Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, the curator of "Camp Forrest, TN - POW Exhibit: Friend, Enemy or Frenemy" that resided in Metro Archives from fall, 2022 through February, 2023.

Dr. Taylor is a best-selling author and retired higher-education administrator. For more than a decade, she researched topics such as WWII, the U.S. home front, and American government. Her research led her down the path of Camp Forrest and the P.O.W. camp that existed there during WWII. Learn about how her research turned into collecting valuable artwork, ephemera, and stories, and ultimately led to the interesting exhibit she curated. 

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In this episode, Program Coordinator for the Archives, Sarah Arntz officially joins the podcast team with Ken to interview native Nashvillian, John Zuccarello, about growing up in the Music City, its plentiful history with baseball, his research work with the local cemeteries, and various other Nashville-related topics. 

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In 2006, the Archives opened an exhibit entitled, "Play Ball" featuring interviews with some of Nashville's baseball greats.  In honor of Black History Month, Back in the Day presents Jim Zapp. 

Born in 1924 in Nashville, his baseball career began after his enlistment in the US Navy during World War 2.He joined a segregated military team while stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His coach, impressed with his ability,  transferred him to the white team, becoming only one of two African-American players in the integrated line-up. After the war, he signed with the Baltimore Elite Giants, returning home to Nashville in 1946 and joining the Nashville Cubs. Later he went to play for the Birmingham Black Barons, the Morocco Stars, the Nashville Stars and finally returned to the Elite Giants.

At the conclusion of the 1955 season, he retired from baseball.  Mr. Zapp passed away on september 30, 2016.

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In this episode, Metro Archivist Ken Fieth talks with local historian, author and Professor Todd Van Beck on funeral practices during the American Civil War, 1861-1865.

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The lead story on May 24th, 1968 was the killing of popular, well-known Chevrolet dealership owner Haynie Gourley. Not since the Cooper-Carmack case of 1908 had Nashville been so pre-occupied with a murder investigation. The murder is still unsolved.

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During this episode, Metropolitan Archivist Ken Fieth welcomes Mark Thompson for a discussion in commemoration of the United States' entry into World War I, just over one hundred years ago. Mark is a living history interpreter and student of America's military and wars.