Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Nancy Conseen

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  • Nancy Conseen (1929-1997) was born in Cherokee, North Carolina on the eve of the Great Depression. When she was just six years old, she learned to weave white oak and honeysuckle baskets from her mother, Caroline Conseen. In school she learned to make rivercane baskets from Lottie Stamper. In this photograph, Conseen is weaving a basket as part of the ground breaking ceremony for the Folk Art Center. The photograph was made on June 7, 1977 at the Folk Art Center site on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC. Attending the event was Joan Mondale, wife of Vice President Mondale. Mondale was accompanied by the wife of the U.S. Senator from North Carolina, Robert B. Morgan, and Lana Gudger, wife of Vonno Lamar Gudger, a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina's 11th District. The photograph was likely taken by David Gaynes.