CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Clarksville Campus of Nashville State Community College has hosted a series of guest speakers over the past few months.
The topics have ranged from the preservation of the Mt. Olive cemetery to the evolution of steel army helmets since World War I to medical practices in the 19th century.
The series began in February with guests from the Mt. Olive Historical Preservation Society, Mike Taliento & Phyllis Smith, giving a presentation on Mt. Olive and the Colored U.S. Army soldiers buried in the cemetery. Ms. Smith gave brief snapshots into the lives of 4 soldiers who lived in the area and fought for the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Mr. Taliento also presented information on the historical society and their mission to preserve the cemetery.
In March, Mr. William Parker came to the campus to present on how steel army helmets have evolved over the years. Mr. Parker displayed several helmets from his personal collection as he discussed how helmets had evolved from little more than cloth show pieces to the more modern helmets designed to actually save lives. He pointed out that steel helmets came about as protection against shrapnel and not necessarily bullets. During World War I more soldiers with head wounds died from shrapnel than bullets. However, as arms and artillery evolved, helmets also need to evolve, with today’s helmets being designed to protect against shrapnel and bullets.
Professor Kathy Heuston of Austin Peay State University’s Communications department also visited the campus in March. Professor Heuston discussed the life of Dorothy Dix, a famous journalist who lived in Clarksville. As part of her lecture, Professor Heuston showcased her award-winning documentary on Ms. Dix’s life.
Mr. Mark Britton stopped by the campus to kick off April’s guest speakers. He brought with him tools and medications that were used during the 19th century to treat patients, both during the Civil War and after. Mr. Britton, dressed in the traditional costume of the time, spoke about the advances made in medicine and medical treatments after the Civil War and gave a vibrant picture of how archaic the practices of the time were compared to today’s medical practices.
The series of speakers continues with adjunct history professor Robert Ross giving a presentation on David Rice Atchison and the legend of the one-day president on Friday, April 13 from 2:00-3:00 PM. Mr. Ross will then team up with biology professor Elizabeth Slade to discuss the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1920 from an historical and biological point of view. These presentations are free and open to the public, so mark your calendars and visit the Clarksville Campus to learn more about these topics.