MURFREESBORO — He became Tennessee’s first official state archaeologist and later its first state naturalist. He was also the driving force behind adding the Savage Gulf State Natural Area and others to the Tennessee State Parks System. Now, the general public can access Mack Prichard’s personal archives at Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) Walker Library.

The Mack Prichard Collection includes approximately 350 books from his personal library, dozens of papers from numerous speaking engagements, and scholarly presentations, and thousands of things and places he found interesting.

“I am enjoying the postcard collection,” Special Collections Librarian Susan Martin said. “It is quite extensive — covering almost all 50 states, as well as select foreign countries. Flora, fauna, and natural history are the predominant subjects, but there’s also your typical tourist ‘greetings from’ and tourist sites as well. I am particularly fond of a small batch of American Airlines and British Airlines cards.”

“He also saved books, papers and postcards, and I’m so thankful that the collection has a home at MTSU.”

Instrumental in expanding the state parks system

Prichard began his storied 50-year career with the state of Tennessee at 16 as a seasonal naturalist at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park near Memphis. Over the decades, he was instrumental in promoting conservation and establishing state parks and natural areas throughout Tennessee.

He was also a founding member of the nonprofit Tennessee Trails Association and involved in the creation of at least 30 conservation associations throughout the state. Prichard is also a noted figure in the preservation of Nashville’s beloved Radnor Lake, which would eventually be enveloped within the Tennessee State Park system.

“He was a driving force behind the creation of Savage Gulf State Natural Area as well as at least 22 other state parks and natural areas,” said Mary Priestley, a board member of the Friends of South Cumberland State Parks. “A complex and driven person, he had a propensity for saving things, including particularly Tennessee’s beauty spots, archaeological treasures, and waterways.

In addition to his career as an environmentalist, historian and archaeologist, Prichard was a noted photographer who documented nature and notable locations across Tennessee. Those images are housed in the Tennessee State Library and Archive in Nashville.

“We are so pleased to be able to help preserve Mack’s legacy, and the collection complements our other collections that focus on Tennessee and natural history,” said Martin. “It will allow us to connect with a new segment of MTSU faculty and students, as well as in the wider community.”

The Mack Prichard Collection was donated by the Mack S. Prichard Foundation, which preserves and promotes the legacy of the late conservationist, who served the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as the first state archaeologist and later as the first state naturalist.

The Mack S. Prichard Foundation was also in search of a home for his personal library. Biology professor Kim Sadler connected foundation representatives with Special Collections and plans were put in place to move the items to MTSU. It was a win-win for everyone.

“MTSU’s Center for Environmental Education and Center for Cedar Glade Studies have a longstanding partnership in conservation with Tennessee State Parks through our staff and outreach programs,” Sadler said. “The Mack Pritchard Collection provides our students with hands-on access to Mack’s resources that supported him while serving as Tennessee’s first state naturalist.”

The donation is currently being processed by the Special Collections staff.

“We are working on arranging his personal papers and writing a finding aid, as well as cataloging the books,” Martin said.

The Mack S. Prichard Foundation is curated by the nonprofit Friends of South Cumberland State Parks. For more information, visit https://www.mackprichard.com/.•

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