Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

History of weaving in the southern Appalachian mountains

  • wcu_craft_revival-1533.jpg
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Item
  • This historical summary of traditional weaving in the southern Appalachian mountains was written by Frances Goodrich in March of 1926. This essay describes weaving as she found it during her mission work in western North Carolina during the 1890s. Goodrich explains how weaving drafts that traveled from Europe were still in use in the southern mountains, but "the craft was dying out." She talks about how the names of weaving patterns reflect the time period and location of the various weavers. Goodrich also provides some comparative information about weaving in New England during this time. A handwritten note at the beginning of the document reads "Written for Eng. woman who wrote to Mrs. Obenchain - March, 1926 - by F.L.G." It is possible that Mrs. Obenchain was connected to the Shuttle-Craft School of Weaving which is listed at the end of this document.
Object
  • This historical summary of traditional weaving in the southern Appalachian mountains was written by Frances Goodrich in March of 1926. This essay describes weaving as she found it during her mission work in western North Carolina during the 1890s. Goodrich explains how weaving drafts that traveled from Europe were still in use in the southern mountains, but "the craft was dying out." She talks about how the names of weaving patterns reflect the time period and location of the various weavers. Goodrich also provides some comparative information about weaving in New England during this time. A handwritten note at the beginning of the document reads "Written for Eng. woman who wrote to Mrs. Obenchain - March, 1926 - by F.L.G." It is possible that Mrs. Obenchain was connected to the Shuttle-Craft School of Weaving which is listed at the end of this document.