This image is the cover for the book Brief History of Memphis

Brief History of Memphis

The story of Memphis, Tennessee—from raucous river town to major Southern metropolis—with photos included.

No other southern city has a history quite like Memphis. First purchased in the early 1800s from natives to serve as a vital port for the emerging American river trade, the city flourished until the tumultuous years of the Civil War brought chaos and uncertainty.

Yet the city survived. Through the triumphs and tragedies of the civil rights movement and beyond, Memphis endured it all. Despite its compelling story, no concise history of this home of soulful music and unmistakable flavor is available to modern readers. Thankfully, local historian and Memphis archivist G. Wayne Dowdy has filled this gap with a history of Memphis that is as vibrant and welcoming as the city itself.

G. Wayne Dowdy

G. Wayne Dowdy is the agency manager of the Memphis Public Library and Information Center's history department and Memphis and Shelby County Room. He holds a master's degree in history from the University of Arkansas and is a certified archives manager. He is the author of A Brief History of Memphis"; "Mayor Crump Don't Like It: Machine Politics in Memphis"; "Hidden History of Memphis" and "Crusades for Freedom: Memphis and the Political Transformation of the American South."

The History Press