COOKEVILLE – Antique furnishings, artifacts, fine art and quilts that comprise a new special collection recently donated to the Tennessee Tech Foundation are now on display at the White Plains Historic Home in Algood.
In April 2018, Eleanor Eads donated the Eads Museum, located in South Carthage, to the foundation. A selection of pieces from the museum are currently on loan to the White Plains Historic Home, an antebellum plantation owned by the city of Algood. The historic site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009, and is periodically open to the public for special events.
To honor Eads’ mission of education, the foundation has plans to develop a series of programs with content from the museum which houses diverse and comprehensive collections of antiques and art.
“To be able to work on an important project in the community, as well as give our students a unique academic and professional experience, is a win-win for the university,” said Laura Clemons, formerly with University Advancement, who worked on the project.
The foundation intends to use the collections of cultural, historical and natural art and artifacts for rotating educational exhibits. A number of items have also been added to the permanent collections of Tech’s programs on the university’s campus in earth sciences and human ecology, as well as the new Eads Collection in the university’s archives.
“Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Eads, Tech will be able to offer new opportunities for students that align not only with the particular interests of the donor, but with the university’s vision to graduate students known for their creativity, tenacity and analytical approach,” said Catherine Wallace, assistant to the vice president of University Advancement who has also been working on the project.
The remainder of the museum’s holdings, as well as the building and property, will be sold with the intention to fund student scholarships and other learning experiences in museum studies, archives collection development, educational outreach, quilt studies and more.
The public can view the collection at the Christmas Open House at White Plains Historic Home, 2700 Old Walton Rd., Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 5 p.m.
