Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

John C. Campbell Folk School, no. 22 (May 1939)

  • wcu_craft_revival-3929.jpg
4 / 4
Item
  • John C. Campbell Folk School published a series of newsletters from 1926 to 1950. Written like a letter from the school's director, the newsletter is a source of information about the classes and activities at the Folk School and their impact on the surrounding community. This is the first issue without photographs, but illustrated with wood block prints depicting Folk School scenes by June Coolidge Cary, Olive Campbell's niece who worked at the school as a design instructor. The purpose of the school is restated as a year-long course for young people to live and work together to learn practical ways of improving rural life. Given the impoverished conditions of the Appalachian region, no tuition is charged and work hours are credited toward costs for tuition and board. The school strives to improve the "demonstration farm" by meeting state requirements for the production of whole milk and poultry. The crafts, especially wood-carving, continue to bring economic relief to the school and community. The Folk School serves the community in several ways, including the opening of the school library which serves as a "distributing center for TVA and WPA regional library services." The newsletter ends with a request for financial support, especially for work scholarships and additions to the dairy.
Object
  • John C. Campbell Folk School published a series of newsletters from 1926 to 1950. Written like a letter from the school's director, the newsletter is a source of information about the classes and activities at the Folk School and their impact on the surrounding community. This is the first issue without photographs, but illustrated with wood block prints depicting Folk School scenes by June Coolidge Cary, Olive Campbell's niece who worked at the school as a design instructor. The purpose of the school is restated as a year-long course for young people to live and work together to learn practical ways of improving rural life. Given the impoverished conditions of the Appalachian region, no tuition is charged and work hours are credited toward costs for tuition and board. The school strives to improve the "demonstration farm" by meeting state requirements for the production of whole milk and poultry. The crafts, especially wood-carving, continue to bring economic relief to the school and community. The Folk School serves the community in several ways, including the opening of the school library which serves as a "distributing center for TVA and WPA regional library services." The newsletter ends with a request for financial support, especially for work scholarships and additions to the dairy.