Karen L Nunan, President of the Hamblen County Genealogical Society, was awarded a Publication Excellence Award at the East Tennessee Historical Society’s Award Night on May 5, at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville.

This award was for “Katie’s Cards Come Home,” an article printed in the Spring 2025 issue of “Tennessee Ancestors” describing how an album of early 20th century postcards found in Minnesota were returned to Hamblen County. The cards, dated from 1906 to 1914, were primarily addressed to Miss Katie Gray, Morristown, Tennessee.

Nunan requested that the album be sent to the Hamblen County Genealogical Society. Once received, she researched the Gray family, learning that Gray was a teacher in Hamblen County for 46 years, including 23 years as the principal of the Rose School. The album was organized and preserved in a new album.