How did 901 Day start? The story behind the 'hater-free Memphis holiday' | Know Your 901

John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read
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What do you want to know about Memphis?

Know Your 901 is a new initiative launched by the know-it-alls at The Commercial Appeal that will seek to answer your questions about the Bluff City and the "Greater Memphis" region.

Every day, this newspaper essentially answers questions about crime, government, sports and so on through its reporting. But Know Your 901 will function as a forum for queries about topics, past and present, that aren't generally deadline concerns.

In other words: Readers, we want your queries and your input! All subject matter is welcome: Culture, art, history, geography, celebrity, TV, music, food, and et cetera. Send questions to knowyour901@commercialappeal.com and we will try to give you an answer in a future column.

Today, we start with a question that is about as "Memphis" as it gets, numerically, at least...

What is the origin of '901 Day'?

Local artist Quantavious Worship sprays paint onto a canvas during the 901 Day Exposure event at the FedExForum courtyard on Sept. 1, 2021.
Local artist Quantavious Worship sprays paint onto a canvas during the 901 Day Exposure event at the FedExForum courtyard on Sept. 1, 2021.

An unofficial celebration of Memphis culture, creativity and community, 901 Day is Sept. 1. The date was chosen because the city's area code is 901, and Sept. 1 can be written as 9/01. As snarkier readers are no doubt saying right now: Duh.

901 Day began as a grassroots, internet-fueled campaign in 2012. But in terms of nomenclature, we can trace its existence back to the gung-ho growth America experienced in the wake of World War II.

In 1947, the telephone company, AT&T, established the area code system to boost the speed and efficiency of long-distance dialing (which at the time required the assistance of telephone operators). Under this "Nationwide Numbering Plans," 68 three-digit area codes were assigned, mostly to states, although some cities with large populations received their own codes (212 for New York, 312 for Chicago, and so on). All of Tennessee was assigned 901.

In 1954, Tennessee got a second area code, 615, which covered the Eastern half of the state, while the West, including Memphis, retained 901. Of course, the state's population continued to grow, and more codes were added. Currently, with the Federal Communications Commission administering what is known as the "North American Numbering Plan," Tennessee has seven area codes, with 901 covering Memphis and Shelby County, along with suburbs in Tipton and Fayette counties, and a portion of Hardeman County.

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Somewhat melodic, if almost staccato, nine-oh-one — "I'm from the 901, I'm from the 901," Yo Gotti raps on his recording "Collect Calls" — became shorthand for "Memphis" on social media, in promotional campaigns, and in music recordings. By the time "901 Day" was organized as what The Commercial Appeal called "a grass roots, hater-free Memphis holiday" in 2012, the numeric name required no explanation.

The Commercial Appeal once called 901 Day "a grass roots, hater-free Memphis holiday."
The Commercial Appeal once called 901 Day "a grass roots, hater-free Memphis holiday."

Originally a joke between friends, 901 Day essentially was founded by Jen Clarke and Kerry Crawford, longtime Memphis boosters/ web designers/ community promoters/ and more who have worked at such Memphis-identified outlets as The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Tourism. In 2012, a 901day.com website (no longer extant) was established to be a sort of clearing-house for would-be participants in a day that would "celebrate being in Memphis and being happy about being here and being excited about where we live," Crawford told The Commercial Appeal.

Businesses, vendors, "creatives" and others were eager to participate, and now "901 Day" is a marketing opportunity as well as a celebration: The 9/01 date functions as a big tent for whatever Memphis-affirming menu special, live-music event, athletic contest or public party one wants to affix with the 901 Day label.

Participating organizations now include some of Memphis' heaviest hitters and most purposeful entities. For example, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital notes that 9/01 is the beginning of "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month," and asks website visitors to clink on a link at stjude.org to donate $9.01 to its fight against childhood disease.

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Meanwhile, to name only two more 901 specials: A "marketplace" of Memphis-made goods will be set up at Railgarten at 2166 Central; and Broad Avenue is hosting its own "901 Day" fair along the street.

But the message of 901 Day seems even more "broad" than that. Apparently, anything you do in Memphis on Sept. 1 makes an appropriate observance of 901 Day, as long as you do it with a positive spirit, for the good of Memphis.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What is 901 Day in Memphis: The origin of the Bluff City 'holiday'