The Southern Appalachian Studies 1972 Regional Survey resulted from the 1956 Interdenominational Conference of Religious Workers' determination that there was inadequate information available to develop an effective course of action addressing the broad problems plaguing the Appalachian region and its people.  The original conference of representatives from major church bodies were called together by Dr. Willis D. Weatherford, Sr. to discuss problems and plan programs orientated to upgrading the quality of education and religion in Appalachia.  The conference delegates approached Dr. Francis Hutchins, President of Berea College, to ask for the use of office facilities for the purpose of establishing headquarters and gathering data on the Appalachian region.  With Dr. Hutchins’ approval, Dr. Weatherford and Dr. Rupert Vance compiled a comprehensive list of Southern Appalachian Studies research projects and recruited staff members from the region's universities, colleges, and government agencies to implement the project.  Financed primarily by a $250,000 grant from the Ford Foundation, the research was also supported by monetary and non-monetary donations contributed by area churches and educational institutions.

The main purpose of the project was to gather, analyze, and publish data relating to the region in order to (1) allow people of the Appalachian area a better understanding of their worth and ability; and (2) inform the federal government about the level of poverty and lack of economic opportunity in the region.  The studies were to: (1) examine the changes in Appalachia since the 1935 United States Department of Agriculture study of the area; (2) determine the educational, religious, and social influences of the region; (3) study church conditions and differences between urban and rural churches; (4) study attitudes towards increased industrialization; (5) assess the immediate needs of the people; and (6) contribute toward the capability of social agencies to meet the needs of the people.

The organization of the Southern Appalachian Studies consisted of a sponsoring committee, the central staff, and the research staff.  The sponsoring committee became the Board of Directors upon incorporation, and was made up of denominational representatives, university representatives, a Berea College representative, and a representative of the Council of the Southern Mountains.  The central staff consisted of: W.D. Weatherford, Sr., Director of Administration; Howard Beers (and later Thomas R. Ford), Director of General Research; Earl D.C. Brewer, Director of Religious Research; and Rupert Vance, Research Consultant.  The research staff was headed by project directors for each section of the survey who worked somewhat independently of the central staff and each other.  In the words of Thomas R. Ford, "The guiding philosophy was to find a good scholar, give him a fairly clear idea of the problems to be investigated, and turn him loose."

The results of the study were published in the form of two books, The Southern Appalachian Region: A Survey (1962), edited by Thomas R. Ford, and an accompanying "layman's interpretation," Life and Religion in Southern Appalachia (1962), by W.D. Weatherford, Sr., and Earl Brewer.  The Ford publication was divided into five topical areas: "The Passing of Provincialism," "The Changing Population," "The Changing Economy," "The Changing Society," "Folk Arts in Transition."  The Weatherford and Brewer book was designed for use by church discussion groups of various denominations to promote awareness of these problems and opportunities of the region.