Browsing Items (72 total)


Bits of Mountain Speech<br />

Paul Fink’s Bits of Mountain Speech is a dictionary of “folk speech.” In this work Fink has provided a glossary of terms that are often considered the language of the less educated people of the mountains of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. They are sometimes archaic, sometimes quaint, and almost always idiomatic. The language Fink examines is a holdover of earlier times when the Scots, Irish, and Welsh settled the region, therefore many of the pronunciations are reminiscent of Celtic languages. Not only does he list unusual words that he has come across, but he also uses them in sentences in order to interpret the word or phrase and clarify its meaning.

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Appalachian Land Ownership Task Force, Volume IV, North Carolina Final Report

These two files contain the final report on land ownership for the twelve Appalachian counties in the state of North Carolina which were part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey conducted in 1979. There are profiles for each county and three case studies—on Henderson, Swain, and Watauga Counties—in the report.

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Appalachian Land Ownership Task Force, Volume I, Land Ownership Patterns and Their Impacts on Appalachian Communities Final Report and an Addendum

These files contain the report (divided into four files) and an addendum (the fifth file) on land ownership patterns and their impacts based on the results from the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey conducted in 1979. This report and addendum were submitted to the Appalachian Regional Commission by the Appalachian Land Ownership Task Force in February 1981.

The study was conducted in these six states and counties:

Alabama: Blount, Cherokee, Cleburne, Cullman, Dekalb, Etowah, Fayette, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Marshall, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston

Kentucky: Bell, Breadthitt, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Letcher, Martin, Perry, and Pike Counties

North Carolina: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, and Watauga

Tennessee: Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Hamilton, Marion, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Van Buren, and White

Virgina: Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe

West Virginia: Braxton, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Mingo, Ohio, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, and Wayne

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Appalachian Land Ownership Survey Key, 1978-1979

This document is the key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey conducted between 1978 -1979. The study covered counties in six states within Appalachia: Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. To view the digital collection of the survey for each county, see the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey Records, 1936-1985.

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North Carolina: Alleghany County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Alleghany County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Ashe County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Ashe County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Avery County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Avery County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Burke County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Burke County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Clay County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Clay County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Haywood County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Haywood County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Henderson County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Henderson County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Jackson County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Jackson County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Madison County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Madison County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Mitchell County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Mitchell County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Swain, and Watauga Counties - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This document contains additional entries to the land ownership surveys of Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Swain, and Watauga Counties in North Carolina. The surveys were conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Swain County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Swain County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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North Carolina: Watauga County - Land Ownership Survey, 1979

This land ownership survey of Watauga County, North Carolina was conducted in 1979 as part of a larger Appalachian Land Ownership Survey. To interpret the survey codes, use the Key to the Appalachian Land Ownership Survey.

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Virginia: Bland, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Counties - Land Ownership Survey, 1979 <br />
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North Carolina: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga Counties - Land Ownership Survey, 1979
Ralph Fickel&#039;s Mountain Notes, Book 2 and White-Water Notes

Ralph Fickel's journal as he crosses portions of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and South Carolina, including detailed stories, illustrations, and maps.

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Interview with Wallace &amp; Nell Buchanan  [January 10, 1976]

Wallace Buchanan, born in 1892 and a resident of Minneapolis, North Carolina has been a teacher for most of his life. He talks about his early education at Berea College, his time in the air force, and his time at Appalachian Training School. It was located exactly where Appalachian State University stands today, only smaller and exclusively for training teachers. He had many jobs, namely as a history teacher at Riverside School.

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Interview with Hal Eaton  [Feburuary 19, 1976]
Interview with Dewey E. Helms  [January 10, 1976]

Dewey Helms, born in 1903, talks about working in McDowell County, North Carolina, in the early twentieth century. He came from a family of farmers and carpenters, and when he was old enough he began working in the furniture factory for eleven cents an hour between school terms. In 1923 he began working at the mill because the pay was better. He said the only other job you could get besides furniture and mill was the railroad, which didn't pay very well either. He eventually began weaving and repairing looms as a career.

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Interview with Carter Rupard  [June 17, 1974]

Carter Rupard talks about growing up on a farm in Cove Creek with his many siblings. He says that they "lived better than we can now" and that "we hardly ever went to buy anything unless it would be a poke of flour ever once in awhile." His family was totally self-sufficient with their farm, and they had to work very hard every day of the week.

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Interview with Jenny Horton [June 17, 1984]

Jenny Horton, a black woman living in Boone, talks about working as a cook most of her life. She worked in a hospital for a few years, but had to stop after she developed arthritis. She talks about the rationing of sugar, flour, meat, coffee, and other foods during the Depression and the different views on medicine people used to have. People were much more likely to use home remedies than go to the doctor. She also explains there was "a lot of tension between whites and blacks."

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Ted Potter was born in Tamarack, NC in 1908 and throughout his life was a logger, mail carrier, and farmer.

Mr. Potter recalls childhood memories of Christmas, moonshining, and the Great Depression. He discusses the schoolhouse experience from his childhood as well as farming during the Great Depression.

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Mrs. Richards was born March 5, 1902 in Silverstone, NC where she was raised on a farm. Mr. Richards was born in Caldwell County in 1897. He worked many different jobs including sawmilling and carpentry.

Mr. and Mrs. Richards recall their childhoods growing up on farms and their small amount of schooling. Mr. Richards talks about the hard time he had finding jobs and describes his working experience in his different career paths. He worked for four years in Cleveland, Ohio. The couple talks about the community and the changes it has experienced in transportation and religion.

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James Calvin Greer was born in Triplett, NC in 1908. Vera Greer was born in Caldwell County in 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. Greer both recall very hard childhoods and growing up in the Triplett area. Mr. Greer worked at the local sawmill during the Great Depression. They recall collecting herbs and bark to pay for groceries and clothes.

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C.K. Norris was born in 1891 in Meat Camp, North Carolina where he grew up on a farm.

Mr. Norris talks mostly about growing up on the farm, such as raising crops and livestock. His family would haul their produce to Lenior, Hickory, and Morganton to be sold. Mr. Norris talks a lot about food throughout the interview including how to dry fruits and vegetables, make sauerkraut, use spices properly, grind coffee, salt meat, and make maple syrup. He also describes other aspects of his childhood including church, school, and the Great Depression. Mr. Norris also talks about WPA's affect in the Meat Camp area.

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L.E. Tuckwiller was born September 16, 1908 in West Virginia. He graduated from Berea College in 1934 and was the Watauga County extension agent for the past 30 years.

Mr. Tuckwiller talks mostly about his career as an extension agent throughout the interview. He explains his academic career and what lead him to the job. Mr. Tuckwiller was born and raised in West Virginia, so he describes the history of that area and compares the land to Boone. He also talks about his childhood on the farm and stories he heard of the Native Americans and the Civil War. For a large portion of the interview, Mr. Tuckwiller talks about farming in Boone and how he has worked with farmers. He also discusses the loss of farming land to development.

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James Edwards was born in Bladwin, North Carolina in 1890 where he grew up on a farm. His occupations included painting and carpentry. Mr. Edwards built his own house in 1912 in West Jefferson.

Mr. Edwards spends a large portion of the interview talking about growing up on the farm. He also talks about cooking and producing food such as molasses and drying fruits. Mr. Edwards also talks briefly about his mother's cooking and recalls some memories from holidays as a child such as Easter and Christmas. He recollects childhood memories of courting, school, church, the Great Depression, and fun activities children did at his age. He also briefly mentions helping with work projects during the Great Depression.

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This scrapbook documents the history of New River Light & Power (NRLP) through historical documents and photos.

Blanford Barnard and Dauphin Disco Dougherty established the New River Light and Power Company in 1915 to provide hydroelectric power to Appalachian Training School and the local community. On March 23, 1923, a fire destroyed the power plant and machinery. The structure was repaired and resumed operation on July 12, 1923. On October 30, 1924 a new power plant with a 26 foot concrete dam located on the Middle Fork of the New River began operation. The complex was located three miles outside of Boone near the Old Blowing Rock Road at Devil's Gate. This power plant remained in operation through 1972. In 1972, NRLP stopped generating power and started bringing in electricity exclusively from Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation.

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Recorded from May 7 through July 17, 1936, by Andrew Jackson Greene, this diary includes personal reflections from Greene, updates on events of the time, and valuable information about the communities in Watauga County and the Appalachian State Teachers College. Throughout the diary he mentions spending time with his grandson James, Henry Brinkley, Jack Harmon, Nancy Egger, and many more.

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The ledger and some loose documents include various advertisements, handwritten notes, cancelled checks, letters, legal documents, and account records (possibly from a day book), dated 1853-1917, and undated. The 616-page ledger documents the business activity of the Taylor and Moore General Store of Valle Crucis, North Carolina, primarily during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, with some early twentieth-century notations as well. Entries indicate payments were made in cash or by bartering goods. Products sold include dry goods, groceries, shoes, and hardware.

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This 1936 H. Lee Waters film of Boone, NC includes scenes from downtown Boone, Appalachian State University, and Watauga County. Featured are many historical buildings including the old Boone post office, courthouse, Farmer's Hardware, and Cove Creek High School. Many Boone and Watauga County residents are on the film as well as Appalachian State University faculty, staff, and students. If you know any of the residents or buildings on the film, please send us a comment, and we will add the items to our description.

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Buncombe County Deputy Sheriff Certificate for Leo Finkelstein, 1934

Leo Finkelstein's 1934-36 Buncombe County, North Carolina, Deputy Sheriff certificate.

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Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts a mountain in rural Watauga County, North Carolina taken by Episcopal minister Reverend J. Norton Atkins in the early 20th century.

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River, Watauga County, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This is a photograph of a river scene located in Watauga County, North Carolina taken by Episcopal minister Reverend J. Norton Atkins in the early 20th century.

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River Scene, Watauga County, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts a river scene in Watauga County, North Carolina taken by Episcopal minister Reverend Norton J. Atkins in the early 20th century.

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View of Grandfather Mountain, Linville, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts a view of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina with carriage horse in foreground taken by Episcopal minister Reverend J. Norton Atkins in the early 20th century.

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Reverend J. Norton Atkins [?] Traveling by Buggy, Watauga County, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts a man, possibly the Episcopal minister Reverend J. Norton Atkins, with horse and buggy on a rural Watauga County, North Carolina road in the early 20th century.

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Foscoe Valley Farm Scene, Watauga County, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts a farm in the Foscoe Valley in Watauga County, North Carolina taken by Episcopal minister Reverend J. Norton Atkins in the early 20th century.

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Episcopal Mission House, Valle Crucis, North Carolina, Early 20th Century

This photograph depicts the Episcopal Mission House in Valle Crucis, Watatuga County, North Carolina, taken by Reverend J.Norton Atkins in the early 20th century.

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Robert Randall, U.S. Army, born on December 15, 1939. In this interview, Robert Randall discusses how his inability to obtain an education led to his decision to join the military. He goes on to further discuss his overall experience in the military. He specifically mentions his involvement in Vietnam as well as his career with the military after Vietnam.

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Steven Wilkins, Lt. Colonel, US Army, was born on March 27th, 1960. In this Interview Steven Wilkins describes some of the places he has been stationed outside the U.S. during his military career. He talks about being in Korea, Central America, and the Middle East. He mentions his specific job while in the Army. He also discusses his decision and influences to enter the Army and specifically mentions experiences as a child and going through ROTC.

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This letter to Fannie starts with several pages written by Julia Everett, Fannie Kirby's cousin. Julia talks about the weather, which has been -22° Fahrenheit. She goes on to talk about domestic life and marriage, as well as horses. Julia's husband, C. S. Everett, finishes out the letter by writing about how he wishes to visit North Carolina and see friends and family.

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This letter from Ruth to her grandmother, Ada Kirby, discusses how the weather is improving and Ruth hopes to travel soon if the muddy road allows.

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This is an envelope addressed to Elizabeth Eller.

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This is an envelope addressed to Elizabeth Eller.

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This letter from Fannie Kirby to her aunt Elizabeth talks about Christmas and events in her and her friends’ and family’s lives.

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