The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee & Southwest Virginia

If These Photos Could Talk

The archival collections of the Heritage Alliance tell the story of Washington County, Tennessee, but certain voices have been missing. Our archives do not do enough to tell the whole story, especially when it comes to the history of the African American and Indigenous communities. These photos were brought to us by Joel Conger, owner of Mauk’s in Jonesborough, in early 2020. We do not have much information as to when these photos were taken, where they were taken, or who’s in them. Some of these photos are local. Others are not. If you recognize any of the people in these photos, comment on the photos or contact the Heritage Alliance at info@heritageall.org. We find ourselves wishing this was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and that these photos would speak to us. Even without knowing much about the people in these photos, they still tell us a lot. They speak to vibrant communities, fashion, families, and ordinary moments captured on film.