Jefferson City in Jefferson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Carson - Newman College

Photographed by Tom Bosse, February 27, 2010

1. Carson-Newman College Marker

Inscription. ½ mi. Following organizational meetings in 1849, this was chartered as Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary in 1851. It closed 1861-65, its buildings being occupied and badly damaged by Federal troops in that period. Resuming operation in 1866, its name was changed to Carson College in honor of a benefactor. Uniting with Newman College, a female institution, it has had its present name since 1889.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1C42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 36° 6.917′ N, 83° 29.576′ W. Marker was in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in Jefferson County. It was at the intersection of Russel Avenue and Andrew Johnson Highway (Tennessee Highway 11E), on the right when traveling north on Russel Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Jefferson City TN 37760, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in East Tennessee.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Sarah Swann Hall (approx. half a mile away); Old U.S. Post Office (approx. 0.8 miles

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away); Main Street (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Main Street (approx. 0.8 miles away); First National Bank (approx. 0.8 miles away); Interior Mossy Creek Bank (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mossy Creek / Jefferson City Train Depot (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mossy Creek Bank (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson City.

Regarding Carson - Newman College. Established as Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary in 1851, the school began by holding classes in a local Baptist church. Within a few years the institution became Mossy Creek Baptist College and occupied its own buildings on the site of the present campus.
In 1880, the college was named Carson College for James Harvey Carson (1801-1880), who left $15,000 of his estate to the school. For several years it existed alongside Newman College, a separate facility for the education of women named for William Cate Newman, who had donated money to the women's college. In 1889, the two colleges merged and became one of the first coeducational institutions in the South.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 23, 2016

2. Carson - Newman College Marker

Carson - Newman College image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 23, 2016

3. Carson - Newman College

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, October 23, 2025

4. Carson - Newman College Marker

Former location.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 10, 2010, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,707 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 10, 2010, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on November 23, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 4. submitted on October 23, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.