Rick Warwick - County Historian 2018

Rick began his residency in Williamson County after marrying a local girl, Elaine Ladd Warwick in 1969 and subsequently began teaching at Hillsboro School in Leipers Fork. It was here he began his passionate pursuit of all things Williamson. After teaching for over two decades, he decided to take a year’s sabbatical to concentrate on writing a book about the material culture of Williamson County. Thereafter, he retired from the public-school system and began amassing a wealth of historical information on people and places in Franklin and communities throughout the county. 

Those who know him marvel at his encyclopedic knowledge of Williamson County history no matter the decade, as well as that of Tennessee. In 1988 Rick was elected president of the Williamson County Historical Society. In 1989, he became co-editor of the Williamson County Historical Society’s annual journal and full editor thereafter. He has been the editor of 29 published journals, and over 25 additional published books. He was appointed to the Tennessee Historical Commission 2005-2015 and has served on the boards of the Heritage Foundation, Carter House, Carnton, African American Heritage Society of Franklin and Williamson County, and Franklin’s Charge.

In 2018, after the retirement of Mrs.Virginia McDaniel Bowman, he was appointed Williamson County Historian. 

Virginia McDaniel Bowman - County Historian 1972-2017

Virginia McDaniel Bowman (1923-2018) was appointed Williamson County Historian by the Quarterly Court after Col. Campbell Brown resigned due to ill health. She served as county historian until December 2017. Mrs. Bowman was born and reared in Williamson County, enjoying farm life in childhood and as the wife of Joe Hamilton Bowman. She was the proud mother of Jody and Colley Bowman and grandmother of Brent and Hamilton Bowman. Mrs. Bowman was a longtime member of the Church of Christ, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a charter member of the Williamson County Historical Society and the Carnton Association. In 1971, she published Historic Williamson County: Old Homes and Sites, a cherished book by many. Mrs. Bowman spent her remaining years researching a volume two, which will be published posthumously.

Colonel Campbell Brown - County Historian 1965-1972

Col. Campbell H. Brown (1896-1988) was our first Williamson County Historian, appointed by the Williamson County Quarterly Court in 1965. He was reared in Spring Hill and Franklin and received his education at Battle Ground Academy and Virginia Military Institute. He served in France in 1918 and became a career officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, from which he retired in 1939. He returned to active duty in 1941 and saw combat under General Stillwell in the China-Burma Theater. Following World War II, he became director of the Historical Marker Division of the State of Tennessee and executive director of the Tennessee Civil War Centennial Commission. In 1967, Col. Brown called a meeting of interested citizens to the courthouse to organize the Williamson County Historical Society. He believed that knowledge of local history fosters individuality and firmness of character containing intellectual satisfaction for both the amateur and the professional. He remained a faithful member until his death. 

Thelma Battle -  African American Heritage Society Historian

Thelma Battle is a Williamson County native and expert on the written and oral history of our local African American community. She has authored a host of books, including,The Heart of the Taste, We Ran Until Who Lasted the Longest, Raining in the House and Leaking Outdoors, a cultural and photographic presentation of 100 local African American Women Over the Age of 65, Putting Off and Putting On ‘Til I Finally Got Here, a cultural and historic presentation of six local African American men over the age of 75, and Natchez Street Area Revisited Volume I and II. Her vast research collection and publications, about the African American community, are now housed in the reference section of the Williamson County Public Library. She is the past president of the African American Heritage Society and recipient of numerous community awards for her work in historical preservation. "I think it's a gift God gave me - genealogy. I know about families - or I know who to call."