author
Mary French Caldwell
1896–1982
A Nashville historian and writer, she brought Tennessee’s past to life through books on Andrew Jackson, Rachel Donelson Jackson, and the Hermitage. Her work blends local history with a strong sense of place, making big historical figures feel close and human.
1 Audiobook
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
by Mary French Caldwell
About the author
Born in 1896 and later based in Nashville, she became known as a local historian and author with a deep interest in Tennessee history. Archival records describe her as a noted Nashville historian and writer, and her surviving collection includes notes, scrapbooks, and memorabilia tied to Tennessee subjects and famous Tennesseans.
Her best-known books include General Jackson's Lady (1936), a full-length life of Rachel Donelson Jackson, and Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, first published in 1933 and later reissued. These works show her lasting focus on Andrew Jackson’s world, especially the people and places around the Hermitage.
Mary Emily French Caldwell died in 1982. Although she is not widely profiled online today, the record that remains points to a writer who helped preserve Tennessee’s historical memory for general readers as well as history-minded locals.