George Whitworth is a Memphis attorney and dedicated collector who has practiced law since 1963.  His passion for history and collecting began when he was 12 years old after receiving an autographed photo of Alben Barkley, 35th Vice President of the U.S.  His family was also big on collecting - his Dad collected coins, his sister collected western art and artifacts, his Mother collected antiques, photos, etc.  Now, as he begins to think about "retirement" he still says his passion is for Memphis History, rare books, cappuccino, and football.  He has amassed an amazing collection of vintage photos, books, and memorabilia related to early Memphis.   Most of the collection has not been seen by the public - until now.   We are pleased that George has chosen to show selections from his collection on the Historic-Memphis.com website. 

George Whitworth may be reached at 901-486-6436 or by email:  Januarytwentysix@msn.com

Click on the small photos to see full screen photos.

Roosevelt arrives Memphis 1907

Memphis Cobblestone Landing

Roosevelt - 1907       

 1924 Peabody under Construction

Grocery Kyle-Lamar

Softball Champs -1954

The Speedway

Union Station

Loeb's Delivery

Court Square - Winter      

Gillis Bros - Beale      

Beale Market 1907

Bowers Store No 27

Silver Moon Restaurant

University Club     

       Conf. Park Esplanade

George Whitworth recently discovered an old pamphlet with photos taken around Memphis during the flood of 1912.  Many of these photos (below) are quite rare.

William V. Davidson found this very rare 1795 map of downtown Memphis (below) years ago in the Archivo Historico Nacianal Museum of Madrid, Spain.   In 1795 the Spanish had a fort “SAN FERNANDO DE LAS BARRANCAS” (SAINT FERDINAND OF THE BLUFFS) . The Spanish were there for almost two years after Tennessee became a State when President Adams sent a Flotilla to challenge the Spanish and renamed it Fort Adams.  They still owned everything west of the Mississippi River until the Louisiana Purchase.  The Spanish also  built a fort on the West Bank named Hopefield El Campo de Esperanza (The Village Hopefield, Arkansas is still on the modern maps).

Memorabilia

Paper items are the first to be thrown away in any society.   Thankfully, some individuals saved these disposable items and collectors  have found them and preserved them for future generations.  - Selections from the George Whitworth Collection

Invitations (below) to the 1876, 1879, 1881 Memphis Mardi Gras, designed by Carl Gutherz.  All invitations were sent to Charles Grosvenor, who was a major real estate investor in downtown Memphis and very active in establishing the Memphis streetcar lines.  His wife, Olivia was the daughter of Napoleon Hill, and the owner of the lot where the Sterick Building is located.

Photo Books

These books are the type sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce describing all that's good about a city.  They contain vintage photos of every aspect of Memphis-Life in the earlier years.  The books below are all posted, along with other photo books, on the PHOTO BOOKS section of the Historic-Memphis website.   (Click on the book cover below to bring up the book).
- Selections from the George Whitworth Collection

Sincere thanks to George Whitworth, for allowing us to scan and post selections from his collection. 

He may be reached at 901-486-6436 or by email:  Januarytwentysix@msn.com . 

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Historic Memphis Website