Forrest Hall as a window into MTSU's Past

Items

• NAACP Murfreesboro Branch
  The official position statement submitted by the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP to the Forrest Hall Task Force. The statement advocates for changing the name of Forrest Hall due to its representation of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. It includes a reference to student protests in 1968 and the university's integration efforts beginning in 1962.
• Petition for Waiver, Forrest Hall, Middle Tennessee State University
  This official document records the petition submitted to the Tennessee Historical Commission concerning the proposed renaming of Forrest Hall. It outlines the procedural requirements of Tennessee’s Heritage Protection Act and documents the state’s role in decisions surrounding contested historical memorials.
• Midlander 1954
  The Midlander, featuring the newly organized Nathan B. Forrest Club, an honorary club for outstanding junior ROTC members, founded under faculty advisor Captain Crawford Keith. The club is named for the Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and uses his by-word as its motto. The page also shows the new ROTC building, which was scheduled to be completed in August 1954.
• Midlander 1955
  he Midlander, featuring portraits of the ROTC Staff, including Major Crawford Keith, and a photograph and description of the new ROTC building, Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Hall, which was completed in 1954.
• Theme Of ROTC BalI Is Southern Lawn Party
  The Side-Lines student newspaper, covering the annual ROTC Ball. The 1961 event's theme was the "Confederate Centennial Lawn Party" , with music by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
• Armor ROTC Brings Military Air to Campus; Offers Training For Men Seeking Careers, Peacetime Efficency
  Major headlines cover the launch of the Armor ROTC program, a Physical Education Carnival, and the cast of the Sam Davis Pageant.
• Final Forum on Forrest Hall
  On March 24, 2016, the Forrest Hall Task Force convened its third and concluding public forum at the Keathley University Center on the MTSU campus. The forum was dedicated to fielding questions directed at campus and community organizations regarding their previously submitted and approved statements.
• Dedication of Forrest Hall
  Official opening of Nathan Bedford Forrest Hall, including its construction, dedication ceremony, and purpose as the new home of the Department of Military Science and Tactics. Contains Dean Keathley’s dedication remarks, statements about ROTC relocation from the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, and military officers’ evaluations of the facility.
• University of Texas Weighs Change for Dorm Named for KKK Leader
  Article discussing the University of Texas consideration of renaming Simkins Residence Hall due to its namesake’s role in the Ku Klux Klan. Provides national context for debates over commemorative naming on university campuses and references similar concerns at other institutions, including MTSU and Forrest Hall.
• Forrest Hall: The Evolution of Middle Tennessee's Mascot
  An article tracing the history and evolution of the MTSU mascot, from the unofficial nicknames like the Normalites (1911-1934) to the controversial use of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest (1950s) , the creation of Beauregard , Lord Byron , Old Blue , and the current mascot, Lightning (1998). The article notes Forrest's image was removed from the official seal in 1978.
• SIDELINES Opinions: Welcome back, General Forrest / Racist's image finally removed
  The Opinions section of the student newspaper dominated by the debate over the MTSU mascot. Content includes an editorial by Jason Whatley advocating for the return of Nathan Bedford Forrest as the mascot, a column detailing the mascot's history, and a column celebrating the 1989 removal of the Forrest medallion from the Keathley University Center. It also features multiple letters to the editor on the Confederate flag's link to racism and an opinion article criticizing President Clinton's health care reform.
• Black history courses / ‘Get Hip Whitey Week’
  An article discussing the significance of the first Black history course taught by a white professor, Bart McCash, at MTSU. It also features the Black Students Association's week-long event, "Get Hip Whitey Week," organized to promote interracial understanding.
• Symbol must be abolished (Letters to the editor)
  A letter arguing that MTSU must abolish all Confederate symbols, including the image of Nathan Bedford Forrest, the tune "Dixie," and the Confederate flag, as these symbols represent "bondage, exploitation... lynching," and hatred to Black students.
• So where did the 'Blue Raiders' come from?
  An article addressing the origin of the "Blue Raider" nickname and its connection (or lack thereof) to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's "Raiders". It quotes University Relations Director Homer Pittard, who explains that the name "Blue Raiders" originated in a 1934 contest sponsored by The Daily News Journal. The winning name, submitted by Charles Sarver, was borrowed from the Colgate University "Red Raiders" and incorporated the school's blue color. Forrest's image was later used as a semi-official symbol around 1938 by President Q.M. Smith and PR Director Eugene Sloan.
• PR director questions logo issue/ BSA cites logo remarks, drafts Forrest statement.
  Coverage of the proposed logo change and the BSA’s formal statement criticizing the Forrest imagery; quotes BSA President Amos Tucker.
• MTSU might get a face lift with new school symbol
  News article reporting PR Director Paul Keckley’s proposed new MTSU logo and the role of the Black Student Association; includes quotes from Verda Gibbs and Amos Tucker and notes Jim Bateman’s design.
• Nathan Bedford Forrest: An Analysis of Untutored Military Genius
  Military study emphasizing Forrest’s unconventional tactics and leadership style. Highlights his strategic skill while reflecting mid-century admiration for Confederate figures.
• Nathan Bedford Forrest: Born to Fight
  Modern reflective essay analyzing Forrest’s complex legacy in southern history and literature, offering a contemporary perspective on his memory in the American South.
• The Contested Image of Nathan Bedford Forrest
  Scholarly article examining how public memory of Nathan Bedford Forrest has shifted from heroism to controversy, especially over his role in slavery and the Ku Klux Klan. Used to interpret Forrest’s legacy and the changing meaning of Forrest Hall.
• The Midlander (1956 Yearbook)
  Yearbook entry showing the newly opened Nathan Bedford Forrest Hall, with photograph and brief description of its use by the ROTC program.
• Dedication Address for Nathan Bedford Forrest Hall
  Transcript of the dedication address for the ROTC building at Middle Tennessee State College, explaining the decision to name it after Nathan Bedford Forrest and praising his military genius and local roots.
• General Forrest
  A tribute delivered by Bishop Thomas Gailor, portraying Nathan Bedford Forrest as a Christian soldier and military genius. The speech reflects early 20th-century admiration for Confederate figures and omits Forrest’s involvement in slavery and the Ku Klux Klan.
• Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
  A portrait of Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate cavalry commander during the American Civil War. He is shown seated in uniform, facing slightly to his right, with three stars on the collar of his coat that signify his rank. The photograph was taken between 1862 and 1865, likely by Mathew Brady’s studio, and is part of the Brady-Handy Collection at the Library of Congress.
• Memo from the Presidential Task Force Recommending the Renaming of Forrest Hall
  This memorandum, addressed to President Sidney A. McPhee, presents the findings and recommendation of the Presidential Task Force formed to evaluate the name of Forrest Hall. After months of forums and deliberations, the task force recommended renaming the building due to Nathan Bedford Forrest’s associations with slavery and white supremacy. The memo reflects the division among stakeholders—while a minority supported retaining the name, the majority concluded that renaming was necessary for MTSU’s values of inclusion. The document provides insight into how official campus bodies attempted to balance history, community perspectives, and university reputation.
• Letter from President Sidney A. McPhee on the Forrest Hall Renaming Petition Decision
  President Sidney A. McPhee issued this letter to the campus community after the Tennessee Historical Commission denied MTSU’s petition to rename Forrest Hall. McPhee explains that pursuing an appeal would require hiring outside legal counsel at significant cost, and after deliberation he decided against it. While acknowledging the financial and legal barriers, McPhee reaffirms his belief that renaming Forrest Hall is the right action, but emphasizes that the university’s efforts will remain focused on creating an inclusive campus for students and staff despite the building’s unchanged name.