President Andrew Johnson Museum and "Old College"

The building known as "Old College" is the home of the President Andrew Johnson Collection, Tusculum College Archives, and Tusculum Museum Studies Program.

Old College is the second oldest building on the Tusculum College campus. It is one of ten structures on the Tusculum campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1841, Old College celebrated 160 years of service to Tusculum in 2001.

By 1840, President Samuel Witherspoon Doak's Tusculum Academy was flourishing with 70 students. The time had come to improve facilities and replace the second Academy building, built in 1835 across the wagon road from the Doak House.

Several hundred citizens, from as far away as Philadelphia and Baltimore, and state legislator Andrew Johnson, subscribed a total of $4,245.62 in cash and in-kind, for construction and equipping of the new building. The building contained space for a chapel, classrooms, an assembly room, the library, two literary societies, and the president's office. The first classes were held on the first Wednesday in October, 1841.

"This institution was revived in the year 1834 and has enjoyed growing prosperity up to the present time and without any expense to the public until the year 1841. The institution is furnished with a convenient, comfortable and handsome brick edifice 68 feet long, 36 feet wide, and two stories high. It is located four miles east of Greeneville, East Tennessee, having all the advantages of a [college] in a town as yet free from all its disadvantages, on a beautiful eminence, that commands a delightful view of the distant mountains and the surrounding farms and forrest."

- Samuel W. Doak, 1841

With the development of other college buildings beginning in 1887, Old College served as a dormitory, classrooms, and faculty apartments. In 1993, the exterior of the building was restored to its 19th century appearance and its use turned to house the College Archives, the Andrew Johnson Collection, and the College's Museum Studies Program.

The President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library is operated by the Department of Museum Program and Studies at Tusculum College.

The President Andrew Johnson Collection

The collection contains approximately 100 three-dimensional artifacts, ranging from the former President's top hat and political memorabilia to a copy of Lincoln's life-mask.

Read more about the collection.

Tusculum College Archives

Over 350 linear feet of records reflect the history of the oldest college in Tennessee.

Read more about the archives.

Selections from our Collections

The selections include books, drawings, and prints from the eighteenth through the turn of the twentieth centuries

View selections

More Information About

Andrew Johnson Heritage Association

Doak House Museum
Dept. of Museum Studies
Tusculum College

Be A Volunteer!

Learn about volunteer and employment opportunities.