Battle of Athens 80th Anniversary: Documentary & Lecture

Tennessee Wesleyan University will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Athens with a special documentary presentation and lecture exploring one of the most significant events in Tennessee political history. Using preserved oral histories, archival film and photography, newspaper accounts, and newly digitized records, the documentary examines the events leading to August 1, 1946, when local veterans and citizens challenged entrenched political corruption in McMinn County, as well as the reforms that followed. The program will also feature Steve Byrum, author of The Battle of Athens, first published in 1996 for the event’s 50th anniversary. Byrum will discuss his research and present footage from the documentary at Townsend Auditorium on the Tennessee Wesleyan University campus in Athens. The event offers an opportunity to learn more about the Battle of Athens, its place in local and state history, and its continuing significance to discussions of elections, civic responsibility, and democratic participation.