The Valley Of The Tennessee (1944 Original Black & White Film)

Step back to 1944 with *The Valley of the Tennessee*, a documentary that explores the origins and construction of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and its profound impact on the people of the Tennessee Valley. The film sheds light on how the TVA transformed a region struggling with droughts, water erosion, and economic hardship.

In Reel 1, the documentary outlines the devastation caused by droughts and erosion, which destroyed both the land and the economy of the valley. It highlights key figures in the creation of the TVA, including Sen. James P. Polk, Harcourt Morgan (President of the University of Tennessee), David Lillienthal (Director of the TVA), and Sen. George Norris. President Franklin Roosevelt also emphasizes the importance of the TVA in providing water control and hydroelectric power to the region.

Reel 2 shifts focus to the construction of various dams, illustrating the monumental efforts involved in the TVA's creation. Specialists from the TVA teach local farmers new agricultural techniques to help improve their yields and rebuild the economy.

Reel 3 highlights the success of the TVA’s initiatives, showing how the program led to record harvests and economic recovery, with a special focus on the Norris Dam as a symbol of the region’s renewal.

*The Valley of the Tennessee* is a powerful testament to the role of public infrastructure in transforming a struggling region into a thriving community, demonstrating the lasting legacy of the TVA.

Source: National Archives. (1944). *The Valley of the Tennessee*. [Video] Retrieved from the National Archives Catalog, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/47040