Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Lillian Hirt

  • wcu_picturing-2923.jp2
  • This 1966 photograph taken by photographer Juanita Wilson shows Lillian Wyatt Hirt speaking at the 18th Annual Mountain Youth Jamboree. She was the Director of Publicity at Western Carolina College and wife of Julian Hirt. Founder and director of the Mountain Youth Jamboree, Hubert H. Hayes (1901-1964) auditioned and directed youth to perform in folk dance, music, and folk and ballad singing. The jamboree was held in the Asheville City Auditorium (now known as Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) from 1948 to 1973, and Hayes’ wife, Leona Trantham Hayes (1913-1989) continued to direct the program after his death in 1964. Hubert Hayes was an author, playwright, and alumni of Duke University.