Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

John Grisham

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2018

1. John Grisham Marker

Inscription. Author John Grisham immortalized downtown Memphis, particularly Front Street, in his novel The Firm. In 1993, he became the first author to have four books on the best seller list at the same time. Rooted deeply in the South's rich literary soil, he was born February 8, 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977 and University of Mississippi Law School in 1981. For ten years, he practiced law in Southaven, a Memphis suburb. In 1990, he and his wife, Renee, and their children, Ty and Shea, moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where he continues to write.

Erected by Shelby County Mayor William N. Morris, Jr. and Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is February 8, 1955.

Location. 35° 8.602′ N, 90° 3.27′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is on Union Avenue east of South Front Street. Mounted on the wall of the Cotton Exchange building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 65 Union Avenue, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First "Talkies" (within shouting distance of this marker); Cotton Exchange Building (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Promenade (within shouting distance of this marker); Opera House Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); Farnsworth Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Barboro Grocery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Union Avenue (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Also see . . . John Grisham bio from his website. (Submitted on April 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

John Grisham marker on the left, mounted to wall of Cotton Exchange. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2018

2. John Grisham marker on the left, mounted to wall of Cotton Exchange.

John Grisham image. Click for full size.

(CC BY 2.0)

3. John Grisham

Free use license. Flickr (BJTJ1)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 946 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.