Special Collections Mission Statement

The mission of the Mildred L. Iddins Special Collections is to aid the Stephens-Burnett Memorial Library in supporting the academic and spiritual goals of Carson-Newman College through its three branches: the Appalachian & Rare Book Collection, Baptist Archives, and College Archives. Each plays a special role in helping preserve Carson-Newman’s unique heritage. It does so by identifying, collecting, preserving, and making available college records, personal papers, publications, books, and artifacts of enduring historical value that relate to Appalachian culture, local history, East Tennessee Baptists, Baptist history, and Carson-Newman College. These materials are for the use of college staff, students, scholars, and the general public. As a “faith based” archives, we believe that in preserving materials documenting the history of Carson-Newman and Baptists, we are keeping a record of God’s work in the lives of His people. As David wrote in Psalm 22:30, “Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.”