Mary Utopia Rothrock was the youngest of five known children of the Rev. John Thomas Rothrock (1843-1924) and his first wife, Utopia Ada Herron (1847-1890),who married 06 Jun 1882 at Gibson County, Tennessee. After Utopia died, John remarried to Tennessee (went by Tennie) Gilmore Byrn (1854-1944) on 28 Oct 1896 at Williamson County, Tennessee but had no additional children.
Mary's mother died when she was only three months old and she was largely raised by her father's second wife, Tennessee (Tennie) Gilmore Byrn Rothrock (1854-1944). Mary was a librarian who worked to bring books to rural sections of Tennessee. She created a state history book, "Discovering Tennessee," which was used in many 4th grade classes. Because she was also devoted to fighting for womens' rights, one Knoxvillian said of her, she's "a dangerous woman—you never know where she is gonna bust out next." She received many state and national awards for her librarian work during her lifetime.
Links to Mary's parents and all of her four known siblings are included below.
From: The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) 31 Jan 1976
Miss Mary Rothrock, Noted historian, Dies
Miss Mary Utopia Rothrock, 85, one of Tennessee’s outstanding historians, died at her home in Knoxville last night after a heart attack.
Miss Rothrock, author of one of the most authoritative books on Tennessee and a past president of the American Library Association, had been in ill health for the past month.
A Memorial service will be 4 p.m. tomorrow at Mann’s Chapel in Knoxville, conducted by the Rev. Jack Davis. Private interment will be in the Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Miss Rothrock was one of the founders of the East Tennessee Historical Society in 1925. In the early 193-0s, she originated the concept of the state’s regional library system, to make books available to readers in rural areas, and it grew from a TVA-sponsored project at that time to a system support by the state and federal governments now involving 12 regional library districts.
She was a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission for 25 years, retiring in 1967.
In 1936 Miss Rothrock wrote an elementary school textbook, Discovering Tennessee, which became a standard text for the seventh grade and was subsequently revised under the title, This is Tennessee.
She served as Knoxville’s first public librarian, and was credited with helping to develop the city’s library system.
Born in Trenton, Tennessee in 1890, Miss Rothrock was a daughter of the Rev. John Thomas and Utopia Herron Rothrock. She taught school at the age of 16, but then entered Vanderbilt University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1911 and her master’s degree in 1912.
Subsequently, she received his B.L.S. degree from New York State University Library School, and was a student assistant in the New York State Library in 1913-14. In 1915 she became head of the circulation department of the Cossitt Library in Memphis.
The following year, Miss Rothrock was employed as librarian for Knoxville’s new free public library, which absorbed the old Lawson McGhee Library there, and she served in that capacity until 1934. During her tenure, the McClung Historical Collection was donated to the library in 1919.
Miss Rothrock had the opportunity to actualize her own plans for regional library system during her service as a supervisor of library service for the TVA from 1934 to 1948. In 1938, she received the first Lippincott Award for the most contribution to librarianship in 1935-36.
Miss Rothrock was largely responsible for the publication in 1949 of Libraries of the Southeast the report of a survey initiated by the Tennessee Valley Library Council and made by the Southeastern Library Association, of which she was the founder and first president.
She served as president of the American Library Association in 1946-47, and previously served as present of the Tennessee Library Association. After retiring from the TVA in 1948 – when the University of Chattanooga awarded her the Doctor of Letters degree for her library and historical work- she became librarian for Knox County and served in that capacity for many ears.
Miss Rothrock was general editor of the sesquicentennial publication in 1946, The French Broad-Holston Country: A history of Knox County, Tennessee, and of a reprint of Ramsey’s Annals of Tennessee, and editor of a reprint edition of John Haywood’s Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, for which she wrote a biographical sketch of Haywood.
Miss Rothrock was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Tennessee Historical Society, the East Tennessee Historical Society and the West Tennessee Historical Society.
Last October, she received the award of merit for distinguished contributions to Tennessee history from the American Association of State and Local History.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the McClung Collection of the Knoxville-Knox Public Library.
Contributed by cousin MGYnipper.
Mary's mother died when she was only three months old and she was largely raised by her father's second wife, Tennessee (Tennie) Gilmore Byrn Rothrock (1854-1944). Mary was a librarian who worked to bring books to rural sections of Tennessee. She created a state history book, "Discovering Tennessee," which was used in many 4th grade classes. Because she was also devoted to fighting for womens' rights, one Knoxvillian said of her, she's "a dangerous woman—you never know where she is gonna bust out next." She received many state and national awards for her librarian work during her lifetime.
Links to Mary's parents and all of her four known siblings are included below.
From: The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) 31 Jan 1976
Miss Mary Rothrock, Noted historian, Dies
Miss Mary Utopia Rothrock, 85, one of Tennessee’s outstanding historians, died at her home in Knoxville last night after a heart attack.
Miss Rothrock, author of one of the most authoritative books on Tennessee and a past president of the American Library Association, had been in ill health for the past month.
A Memorial service will be 4 p.m. tomorrow at Mann’s Chapel in Knoxville, conducted by the Rev. Jack Davis. Private interment will be in the Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Miss Rothrock was one of the founders of the East Tennessee Historical Society in 1925. In the early 193-0s, she originated the concept of the state’s regional library system, to make books available to readers in rural areas, and it grew from a TVA-sponsored project at that time to a system support by the state and federal governments now involving 12 regional library districts.
She was a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission for 25 years, retiring in 1967.
In 1936 Miss Rothrock wrote an elementary school textbook, Discovering Tennessee, which became a standard text for the seventh grade and was subsequently revised under the title, This is Tennessee.
She served as Knoxville’s first public librarian, and was credited with helping to develop the city’s library system.
Born in Trenton, Tennessee in 1890, Miss Rothrock was a daughter of the Rev. John Thomas and Utopia Herron Rothrock. She taught school at the age of 16, but then entered Vanderbilt University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1911 and her master’s degree in 1912.
Subsequently, she received his B.L.S. degree from New York State University Library School, and was a student assistant in the New York State Library in 1913-14. In 1915 she became head of the circulation department of the Cossitt Library in Memphis.
The following year, Miss Rothrock was employed as librarian for Knoxville’s new free public library, which absorbed the old Lawson McGhee Library there, and she served in that capacity until 1934. During her tenure, the McClung Historical Collection was donated to the library in 1919.
Miss Rothrock had the opportunity to actualize her own plans for regional library system during her service as a supervisor of library service for the TVA from 1934 to 1948. In 1938, she received the first Lippincott Award for the most contribution to librarianship in 1935-36.
Miss Rothrock was largely responsible for the publication in 1949 of Libraries of the Southeast the report of a survey initiated by the Tennessee Valley Library Council and made by the Southeastern Library Association, of which she was the founder and first president.
She served as president of the American Library Association in 1946-47, and previously served as present of the Tennessee Library Association. After retiring from the TVA in 1948 – when the University of Chattanooga awarded her the Doctor of Letters degree for her library and historical work- she became librarian for Knox County and served in that capacity for many ears.
Miss Rothrock was general editor of the sesquicentennial publication in 1946, The French Broad-Holston Country: A history of Knox County, Tennessee, and of a reprint of Ramsey’s Annals of Tennessee, and editor of a reprint edition of John Haywood’s Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, for which she wrote a biographical sketch of Haywood.
Miss Rothrock was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Tennessee Historical Society, the East Tennessee Historical Society and the West Tennessee Historical Society.
Last October, she received the award of merit for distinguished contributions to Tennessee history from the American Association of State and Local History.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the McClung Collection of the Knoxville-Knox Public Library.
Contributed by cousin MGYnipper.
Mary Utopia Rothrock was the youngest of five known children of the Rev. John Thomas Rothrock (1843-1924) and his first wife, Utopia Ada Herron (1847-1890),who married 06 Jun 1882 at Gibson County, Tennessee. After Utopia died, John remarried to Tennessee (went by Tennie) Gilmore Byrn (1854-1944) on 28 Oct 1896 at Williamson County, Tennessee but had no additional children.
Mary's mother died when she was only three months old and she was largely raised by her father's second wife, Tennessee (Tennie) Gilmore Byrn Rothrock (1854-1944). Mary was a librarian who worked to bring books to rural sections of Tennessee. She created a state history book, "Discovering Tennessee," which was used in many 4th grade classes. Because she was also devoted to fighting for womens' rights, one Knoxvillian said of her, she's "a dangerous woman—you never know where she is gonna bust out next." She received many state and national awards for her librarian work during her lifetime.
Links to Mary's parents and all of her four known siblings are included below.
From: The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) 31 Jan 1976
Miss Mary Rothrock, Noted historian, Dies
Miss Mary Utopia Rothrock, 85, one of Tennessee’s outstanding historians, died at her home in Knoxville last night after a heart attack.
Miss Rothrock, author of one of the most authoritative books on Tennessee and a past president of the American Library Association, had been in ill health for the past month.
A Memorial service will be 4 p.m. tomorrow at Mann’s Chapel in Knoxville, conducted by the Rev. Jack Davis. Private interment will be in the Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Miss Rothrock was one of the founders of the East Tennessee Historical Society in 1925. In the early 193-0s, she originated the concept of the state’s regional library system, to make books available to readers in rural areas, and it grew from a TVA-sponsored project at that time to a system support by the state and federal governments now involving 12 regional library districts.
She was a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission for 25 years, retiring in 1967.
In 1936 Miss Rothrock wrote an elementary school textbook, Discovering Tennessee, which became a standard text for the seventh grade and was subsequently revised under the title, This is Tennessee.
She served as Knoxville’s first public librarian, and was credited with helping to develop the city’s library system.
Born in Trenton, Tennessee in 1890, Miss Rothrock was a daughter of the Rev. John Thomas and Utopia Herron Rothrock. She taught school at the age of 16, but then entered Vanderbilt University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1911 and her master’s degree in 1912.
Subsequently, she received his B.L.S. degree from New York State University Library School, and was a student assistant in the New York State Library in 1913-14. In 1915 she became head of the circulation department of the Cossitt Library in Memphis.
The following year, Miss Rothrock was employed as librarian for Knoxville’s new free public library, which absorbed the old Lawson McGhee Library there, and she served in that capacity until 1934. During her tenure, the McClung Historical Collection was donated to the library in 1919.
Miss Rothrock had the opportunity to actualize her own plans for regional library system during her service as a supervisor of library service for the TVA from 1934 to 1948. In 1938, she received the first Lippincott Award for the most contribution to librarianship in 1935-36.
Miss Rothrock was largely responsible for the publication in 1949 of Libraries of the Southeast the report of a survey initiated by the Tennessee Valley Library Council and made by the Southeastern Library Association, of which she was the founder and first president.
She served as president of the American Library Association in 1946-47, and previously served as present of the Tennessee Library Association. After retiring from the TVA in 1948 – when the University of Chattanooga awarded her the Doctor of Letters degree for her library and historical work- she became librarian for Knox County and served in that capacity for many ears.
Miss Rothrock was general editor of the sesquicentennial publication in 1946, The French Broad-Holston Country: A history of Knox County, Tennessee, and of a reprint of Ramsey’s Annals of Tennessee, and editor of a reprint edition of John Haywood’s Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, for which she wrote a biographical sketch of Haywood.
Miss Rothrock was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Tennessee Historical Society, the East Tennessee Historical Society and the West Tennessee Historical Society.
Last October, she received the award of merit for distinguished contributions to Tennessee history from the American Association of State and Local History.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the McClung Collection of the Knoxville-Knox Public Library.
Contributed by cousin MGYnipper.
Mary's mother died when she was only three months old and she was largely raised by her father's second wife, Tennessee (Tennie) Gilmore Byrn Rothrock (1854-1944). Mary was a librarian who worked to bring books to rural sections of Tennessee. She created a state history book, "Discovering Tennessee," which was used in many 4th grade classes. Because she was also devoted to fighting for womens' rights, one Knoxvillian said of her, she's "a dangerous woman—you never know where she is gonna bust out next." She received many state and national awards for her librarian work during her lifetime.
Links to Mary's parents and all of her four known siblings are included below.
From: The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) 31 Jan 1976
Miss Mary Rothrock, Noted historian, Dies
Miss Mary Utopia Rothrock, 85, one of Tennessee’s outstanding historians, died at her home in Knoxville last night after a heart attack.
Miss Rothrock, author of one of the most authoritative books on Tennessee and a past president of the American Library Association, had been in ill health for the past month.
A Memorial service will be 4 p.m. tomorrow at Mann’s Chapel in Knoxville, conducted by the Rev. Jack Davis. Private interment will be in the Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Miss Rothrock was one of the founders of the East Tennessee Historical Society in 1925. In the early 193-0s, she originated the concept of the state’s regional library system, to make books available to readers in rural areas, and it grew from a TVA-sponsored project at that time to a system support by the state and federal governments now involving 12 regional library districts.
She was a member of the Tennessee Historical Commission for 25 years, retiring in 1967.
In 1936 Miss Rothrock wrote an elementary school textbook, Discovering Tennessee, which became a standard text for the seventh grade and was subsequently revised under the title, This is Tennessee.
She served as Knoxville’s first public librarian, and was credited with helping to develop the city’s library system.
Born in Trenton, Tennessee in 1890, Miss Rothrock was a daughter of the Rev. John Thomas and Utopia Herron Rothrock. She taught school at the age of 16, but then entered Vanderbilt University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1911 and her master’s degree in 1912.
Subsequently, she received his B.L.S. degree from New York State University Library School, and was a student assistant in the New York State Library in 1913-14. In 1915 she became head of the circulation department of the Cossitt Library in Memphis.
The following year, Miss Rothrock was employed as librarian for Knoxville’s new free public library, which absorbed the old Lawson McGhee Library there, and she served in that capacity until 1934. During her tenure, the McClung Historical Collection was donated to the library in 1919.
Miss Rothrock had the opportunity to actualize her own plans for regional library system during her service as a supervisor of library service for the TVA from 1934 to 1948. In 1938, she received the first Lippincott Award for the most contribution to librarianship in 1935-36.
Miss Rothrock was largely responsible for the publication in 1949 of Libraries of the Southeast the report of a survey initiated by the Tennessee Valley Library Council and made by the Southeastern Library Association, of which she was the founder and first president.
She served as president of the American Library Association in 1946-47, and previously served as present of the Tennessee Library Association. After retiring from the TVA in 1948 – when the University of Chattanooga awarded her the Doctor of Letters degree for her library and historical work- she became librarian for Knox County and served in that capacity for many ears.
Miss Rothrock was general editor of the sesquicentennial publication in 1946, The French Broad-Holston Country: A history of Knox County, Tennessee, and of a reprint of Ramsey’s Annals of Tennessee, and editor of a reprint edition of John Haywood’s Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, for which she wrote a biographical sketch of Haywood.
Miss Rothrock was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Tennessee Historical Society, the East Tennessee Historical Society and the West Tennessee Historical Society.
Last October, she received the award of merit for distinguished contributions to Tennessee history from the American Association of State and Local History.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the McClung Collection of the Knoxville-Knox Public Library.
Contributed by cousin MGYnipper.
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