Paul Mathes Fink Papers.
Scope and Contents
Includes papers, records, photographs and memorabilia of Paul Mathes Fink (1892-1980) of Jonesboro, Tenn. Subjects include: Jonesboro, Washington County, Tenn; Tennessee Historical Commission, 1969-1975; Appalachian Consortium; Great Smoky Mountains; Appalachian Trail; Arnold Guyot; photographs and slides, most of Great Smoky Mountains; George Masa; Benton McKaye; Horace Kephart. 1909 Jonesboro High School diploma and 1920 Kerbela Temple certificate in folder 1. Appalachian Consortium award for Paul Fink; print “The Longhunter” by David Wright; certificate from Tennessee Mountain Men; 1976 Laurel Leaves Award in folder 2.
Dates
- 1909 - 1976
Conditions Governing Access
Material is available for research. Prior arrangement MUST be made by contacting the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection at mcclung-archivist@knoxlib.org
Biographical / Historical
Paul M. Fink (1892-1980) was a native of Jonesborough, Tennessee and lifelong student of the history and culture of Washington County, Tennessee. He had the longtime honor of serving as the Washington County Historian and took to it with enthusiasm and gusto. One of his most significant books was Jonesborough: The First Century of Tennessee’s First Town. In 1912 Fink began extensive hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains. Diaries of these trips were the basis for his book Backpacking was the Only Way. In 1922 Paul Fink made the first airplane flight over the Great Smoky Mountains with Knoxville Aero Corp pilot James G. Ray. Paul Fink had great enthusiasm for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail. He was an early and ardent supporter of the group of Tennesseans who supported the creation of the park. He was an early proponent of the Appalachian Trail and served as a board member of the Appalachian Trail Conference beginning in 1925. Fink served on the Nomenclature Committee of the new park, which determined the proper names for the all the natural features of the park. His keen interest in history, historic preservation, hiking, and archaeology stayed with him throughout his life. Fink published widely over a long period of time: in his earlier years in outdoor magazines like Field and Stream and later in historical publications like the Tennessee Historical Quarterly. Paul Fink played an important role in encouraging the preservation of the historic city of Jonesborough.
Extent
28 boxes
2 oversize folder
Language of Materials
English
General
See also: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, for material purchased in 1996 or 1997 from Elizabeth Fink and Sara Boscher.
- Appalachian Consortium Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Appalachian Trail Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Arnold Guyot Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Benton McKaye Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Broome, Harvey Benjamin, 1902-1968 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- David Chapman Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fink, Paul Mathes, 1892-1980 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George Masa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Great Smoky Mountains Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Horace Kephart Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Jonesborough (Tenn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Myron Avery Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Nomenclature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs and slides Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Tennessee Historical Commission Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington County (Tenn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection Repository
601 S Gay Street
3rd floor
Knoxville Tennessee 37902 United States
865.215.8814
mcclung-archivist@knoxlib.org
