A Brief History of Memphis - Paperback

by G. Wayne Dowdy (Author)

Local Historian G. Wayne Dowdy tells the tales of Memphis's triumphs and tragedies through the civil rights movement and beyond like only a true Memphian can.

First purchased in the early 1800s from natives to serve as a vital port for the emerging American river trade, the city flourished until the tumultuous years of the Civil War brought chaos and uncertainty. Despite its compelling story, no concise history of this home of soulful music and unmistakable flavor has been available to modern readers until now. Thankfully, archivist G. Wayne Dowdy has filled this gap with a history of Memphis that is as vibrant and welcoming as the city itself.

Author Biography

G. Wayne Dowdy is the agency manager of the Memphis Public Library and Information Center's history department and Memphis and Shelby County Room. He holds a master's degree in history from the University of Arkansas and is a certified archives manager. He is the author of A Brief History of Memphis; Mayor Crump Don't Like It: Machine Politics in Memphis; Hidden History of Memphis and Crusades for Freedom: Memphis and the Political Transformation of the American South.