Athens to Acuff: Changing Identities and Influences on the City of Nashville

Abstract

This thesis explores how Nashville's two main identities, the "Athens of the South" and "Music City, U.S.A.," developed, changed, and influenced each other. This thesis utilizes an arrange of primary sources, including newspapers, pamphlets, maps, photographs, letters, books, articles, and other archival material. The thesis begins with a discussion on the birth and evolution of Nashville's "Athens of the South" identity from the 1840s to the 1890s. It then discusses the dominance of Nashville's classical identity during the 1890s to 1940s, while also discussing Nashville's music industry, which began to grow during this same time period. It further discusses the rise of Nashville's music industry and its identity as "Music City, U.S.A." During the 1940s to 1974, and how Nashvillians, classical or otherwise, responded to this identity shift. It concludes with a brief discussion on contemporary Nashville and how Nashville's classical legacy and music industry are remembered in modern times.