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Branch Manager:
Ms. Amber Mace
Clifton Library
300 East Water Street
Clifton, TN 38425
(931)676-3678
Fax: (931)676-3678
Clifton Tennessee - City Hall
PO Box 192
142 Main Street
Clifton, Tennessee 38425
Phone (931) 676-3370
Fax (931) 676-5390
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T.S.
Stribling Museum •
Internet Resources • Children's
Department
 T.S.
Stribling Museum
Our hours:
Sunday & Monday- Closed
Tuesday-11:30a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Wednesday- 11:30a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Thursday- 11:30a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Friday- 11:30a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Saturday- Closed
Guided tours can be arranged by contacting: Wanda
Johnston
Email:
Johnstonw@K12tn.net Tel: (931) 676-3188
T.S. Stribling
Photo Gallery
| Pictured here is a wood and glass
cabinet which was built into the house upon it's original
construction. It contains copies of Mr. Stribling's novels and other
works. Only some of these books are available for check out, but all
of them can be viewed at any time during regular hours. Included in
this collection are first edition copies, signed copies, translated
texts in German and Spanish, and an antique Bible which belonged to
Frank Hughes. |
Click Photo To Enlarge |
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The typewriter you see here is an old
Remington Standard manual typewriter. This typewriter belonged to
Mr. Stribling and he reportedly used it for his writing. It is very
large, solid metal, extremely heavy, and exceptionally difficult to
operate compared to typewriters of today. It is located in Mr.
Stribling's study, which is on the ground level of the house facing
the river. There are even some unused packages of typing paper with
the typewriter. Mr. Stribling is said to have used this study often.
There is also a small bed located in the study, as well as
photographs, books, artwork, and furniture. |
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| This is Mr. Stribling's study. There
are several items of interest located in this room. For example, Mr.
Stribling's Bible, a monogrammed towel which belonged to Mr.
Stribling, several sketches, newspaper articles, magazines in which
the Striblings appeared, photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Stribling,
harmonicas, and a very old Kodak camera partially constructed of
leather, to name just a few things. The light fixture seen here is
one of the original fixtures installed during construction of the
house. |
Click Photo To Enlarge |
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The room pictured here contains items
which belonged to Mrs. Stribling, who was quite an accomplished
pianist and violinist. The piano shown is a solid wood Krell in
beautiful condition. The violin case shown to the right of the
piano, although sadly lacking the violin, still contains a package
of violin strings. There are books of sheet music, some of it hand
written, some nice photographs and news articles, and an antique fur
coat which is still in nice condition. There is also a small chair
and dressing table. |
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| Here is a view of the upstairs
bedroom. The bed you see is an antique iron frame bed. Pictured is a
variety of clothes and luggage which belonged to the Stribling's and
was most likely used by them on their many travels. There are also
some other personal effects and some nice art to be seen in this
room, also. |
Click Photo To Enlarge |
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Shown here is another view of the
upstairs bedroom. Note the antique chair by the windows and the
intricate embroidery sampler displayed on the bed pillow. This room
also contains some very nice vintage dresses which belonged to Mrs.
Stribling. |
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| At the top of the stairs is an open
area in the middle of the house, and shown here is an antique
quilting loom which is located there. The quilt shown is handmade.
To the right in the photo is an ornate rocking chair in beautiful
condition. To the left and below the loom is a small round piece of
furniture which appears to be a stool, but it's actual purpose was
to hold a chamber pot. Beside it is a low bench with a box
containing sewing implements. |
Click Photo To Enlarge |
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The upstairs study contains a very
large selection of Mr. Stribling's books from his personal
collection. These books are of varied subject matter. There is also
a scrapbook with many pictures and articles, some artwork, curios,
and embroidery samplers. This room has a nice view of the Tennessee
River. |
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| Back downstairs again, this is a view
of the rooms occupied by the library. Originally, the entrance and
middle room were the living and dining rooms, respectively, and the
children's room was the Stribling's kitchen. There are items from
Mr. Stribling's travels adorning the tops of the library
bookshelves, as well as several items from the original kitchen used
in the children's room. |
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This photograph of the library's
children's room, originally the Stribling's kitchen, shows many of
the books we have available for children and young adults. Our
collection of materials for young people is steadily improving. |
Historical Information
The T. S. Stribling Museum and Clifton Library are located
in a Craftsman Bungalow style house which was originally contracted by T.L.
Kloss in 1924. Mr. Kloss was a local businessman and his daughter, Lou
Ella, married T.S. Stribling. The house became the retirement residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Stribling. The house, located in the historic district of
Clifton, was restored by the Tennessee Historical Foundation, using a
grant received from the Tennessee Valley Authority, and is now on the
National Register of Historic Places. It houses the Clifton Public Library
and the T.S. Stribling Museum. Inside you will find beautifully restored
original woodwork, wood floors, art, photographs, and a collection of
items belonging to the Striblings.
Born in Clifton on March 4, 1881, Thomas Sigismund Stribling was one of
the first southern writers to speak out about issues of social conscience
in the early part of the twentieth century. Mr. Stribling completed
numerous short stories and novels during his lifetime, including the
trilogy he is most famous for: The Forge, The Store, and Unfinished
Cathedral. The Store earned Mr. Stribling the Pulitzer Prize in 1933. The
Stribling museum contains a wealth of information about Mr. Stribling, as
well as a great number of his personal possessions, artifacts, furniture,
and works of art. Mrs. Stribling was an accomplished musician and the
museum contains many of her possessions as well, including many items of
musical interest.
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