Knoxville was a growing community undergoing social change. The arrival of the railroad came with an influx of tradesmen and immigrant laborers with few local ties, but it also strengthened trading connections with the southern market. When war descended upon Knoxville, the vast majority hoped to be able to ride out the national turmoil with some sort of local compromise. As time went on, Confederate and Union sympathizers alike became more polarized, dividing the town almost 50/50. In the surrounding area, Union support predominated mainly because the independent mountaineers did not see themselves uniting with the southern planters. Two individuals, both associated with what came to be known as the University of Tennessee, personify here the differing local sentiments.

Frank H. McClung, in whose memory this museum was named, was a member of a large and prosperous founding family of wholesale merchants. He and all of the McClungs were Confederates, and, as a 33-year-old family man, he joined the “Home Guard,” working as a clerk in the Ordnance department. In June of 1863, he undoubtedly participated in the defense of Knoxville against an artillery barrage by Union Col. William P. Sanders. Just before the Federal army marched into town in September, Frank left for Saltville, Virginia, where he spent the rest of the war working for his uncle in a draft-exempt position in salt production.

Thomas Humes was from another old Knoxville family. Thirteen years older than Frank McClung, they certainly would have known of each other and perhaps socialized prior to the war. An educated man, Humes began his career as a newspaper publisher, then studied for the ministry. When the war began, he was the rector at Saint John’s Episcopal Church. Humes was an ardent Unionist and refused to conduct services while the town was under Confederate control. After Federal troops arrived, he resumed services at Gen. Bunside’s request.

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