The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County announces a community heritage lecture by about Andrew Jackson by Dr. Mark Cheathem.  The event is free and open to the public.  All are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch to the lecture.  The Heritage Center is located at 225 W. College Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The event will be on January 16th at 11:30 in the morning. 

Dr. Cheathem’s book, Andrew Jackson: Southerner examines the Jackson’s southern identity and how that impacted both his personal and professional life.  Unlike other historians who view Jackson as a rough Westerner and self-made man, Cheathem’s book argues that Jackson was a part of the Southern elite and part of a kinship network that assisted his political career.  Cheathem’s book also examines the world of elite Southern gentlemen and describes the values of the class.  A book signing will follow Dr. Cheathem’s lecture.

Dr. Cheathem is an associate professor of history at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and serves as the history program director.  He received his B.A. from Cumberland University, his M.A. from Middle Tennessee State University, and his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University.  In addition to Andrew Jackson, Southerner, Dr. Cheathem is also the author of Old Hickory’s Nephew: The Political and Private Struggles of Andrew Jackson Donelson (2007), and editor of Jacksonian America: People and Perspectives (2008).  He is presently under contract to author a book about the presidential election of 1840.

About the Heritage Center in Murfreesboro:

The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County is a joint venture between the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation’s Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, Main Street:  Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, and the City of Murfreesboro. Additional support comes from Rutherford County government and State Farm Insurance.