Southern Appalachian Studies Records (1962 Survey), 1956-1962 | Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

Collection Overview

Title: Southern Appalachian Studies Records (1962 Survey), 1956-1962

Predominant Dates:1962

Primary Creator: Appalachian Studies Association.

Other Creators: Brewer, Earl D.C., Ford, Thomas R., Vance, Rupert Bayless -- 1899-1975, Weatherford, W. D. -- (Willis Duke) -- 1875-1970

Extent: 80.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: Arrangement is in twenty-two series.

Subjects: Agriculture -- Appalachian Region, Southern., Appalachian Region, Southern -- Religion., Appalachian Region -- Economic Conditions., Appalachian Region., Education -- Appalachian Region, Southern., Folk art -- Appalachian Region, Southern., Migration, Internal -- Appalachian Region, Southern., Public health -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Case studies., Tourism -- Appalachian Region, Southern., Welfare recipients -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Case studies.

Languages: English

Abstract

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.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

General administrative records of the study can be found in Series 1 through 4 and cover the conception, planning, and organizational material of the Board of Directors (the largest portion of the of the files consisting of the correspondence of W.D. Weatherford, Sr.) The project's records can be found in Series 5 through 14 and include records of each area of research, raw survey data, and associated correspondence. Series 15 through 21 include the more general aspects of the study such as clippings, card files, oversized tabulation sheets, general finance, and research coding. The collection also contains tape recordings of the research on religion, placed at the end of the collection in Series 22. Transcriptions of the tapes can be found in Series 5.

Subject/Index Terms

Agriculture -- Appalachian Region, Southern.
Appalachian Region, Southern -- Religion.
Appalachian Region -- Economic Conditions.
Appalachian Region.
Education -- Appalachian Region, Southern.
Folk art -- Appalachian Region, Southern.
Migration, Internal -- Appalachian Region, Southern.
Public health -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Case studies.
Tourism -- Appalachian Region, Southern.
Welfare recipients -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Case studies.

Administrative Information

Repository: Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

Access Restrictions: Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.

Use Restrictions:

The major restriction placed upon the collection involves the protection of confidentiality of the survey interviewees: written acknowledgement of responsibility in honoring confidentiality will be required of all researchers before access to the survey collection can be given.

Personnel records included in the collection may be restricted. All material protected by federal copyright law. Please cite all information.

Acquisition Method: The records of the Southern Appalachian Studies (1962 Regional Survey) were given to Berea College by various survey participants during the period 1962- 1977 and were opened for research in 1980.

Preferred Citation: [Object identification], Records of the Southern Appalachian Studies 1972 Regional Survey, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, KY.

Processing Information: The collection was processed by John McCleery with the assistance of Joseph Shields and Maria Stephens. The original finding aid was edited by J. Hurst. The finding aid was updated in January 2015. The collection was open for research in 1980.

Other Note:

Materials from this collection have been digitized and are located here:

https://berea.access.preservica.com/archive/sdb%3AdeliverableUnit%7C25db22fc-a6d9-4790-853d-de73d1386e99/

Collection Number: BCA 0004 SAA 003

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Interdenominational Conference 1956-1957],
[Series 2: Weatherford Files],
[Series 3: Board of Directors Correspondence 1958-1962],
[Series 4: Ford Foundation],
[Series 5: Religion],
[Series 6: Writers' Conference],
[Series 7: Urban Planning],
[Series 8: Education],
[Series 9: Health, Welfare, and Local Government],
[Series 10: Agriculture],
[Series 11: Industrialization],
[Series 12: Folk Arts],
[Series 13: Tourism and Attitude Survey],
[Series 14: Household Survey],
[Series 15: Codes],
[Series 16: Finance],
[Series 17: Miscellaneous Papers],
[Series 18: Newspaper Clippings],
[Series 19: Card Files],
[Series 20: Highway Maps],
[Series 21: Tabulation sheets and IBM cards],
[Series 22: Non-Manuscript Materials - Recordings (Open Reel Tapes)],
[All]

Series 2: Weatherford Files

This series is comprised of Weatherford’s correspondence 1958-1965; alphabetical file of administrative business and plans covering most important topics of the study; correspondence of the administrative secretary and contributors; and documents of Appalachian source material. This series is arranged chronologically, then alphabetically. Note: Certain miscellaneous documents have become separated from the original Weatherford correspondence they were once matched with—particularly items ranging from A-G. Reference to these items may be made in the Weatherford correspondence. These materials have been collected and are located in Box 14.

Box 5

Folder 1: A, 1958
Folder 2: B, 1958
Folder 3: C, 1958
Folder 4: D, 1958
Folder 5: E-F, 1958
Folder 6: G, 1958
Folder 7: H, 1958
Folder 8: J-K, 1958
Folder 9: L-M, 1958
Folder 10: N-P, 1958
Folder 11: R-S, 1958
Folder 12: T, 1958
Folder 13: V-W, 1958
Folder 14: X-Z, 1958

Box 6

Folder 1: A, 1959
Folder 2: B, 1959
Folder 3: C, 1959
Folder 4: D, 1959
Folder 5: E, 1959
Folder 6: F, 1959
Folder 7: G, 1959
Folder 8: H-I, 1959
Folder 9: J-K, 1959
Folder 10: L-M, 1959
Folder 11: N-P, 1959
Folder 12: R-S, 1959
Folder 13: T-U, 1959
Folder 14: V-W, 1959
Folder 15: X-Z, 1959

Box 7

Folder 1: A, 1960
Folder 2: B, 1960
Folder 3: C, 1960
Folder 4: D, 1960
Folder 5: E, 1960
Folder 6: F, 1960
Folder 7: G, 1960
Folder 8: H, 1960
Folder 9: J-K, 1960
Folder 10: L-M, 1960
Folder 11: N-Q, 1960
Folder 12: R-S, 1960
Folder 13: T-U, 1960
Folder 14: V-W, 1960

Box 8

Folder 1: A, 1961
Folder 2: B, 1961
Folder 3: C, 1961
Folder 4: D, 1961
Folder 5: E, 1961
Folder 6: F, 1961
Folder 7: G, 1961
Folder 8: H-I, 1961
Folder 9: J-K, 1961
Folder 10: L-M, 1961

Box 9

Folder 1: N-Q, 1961
Folder 2: R-S, 1961
Folder 3: T, 1961
Folder 4: V-W, 1961
Folder 5: X-Z, 1961

Box 10

Folder 1: A, 1962
Folder 2: B, 1962
Folder 3: C, 1962
Folder 4: D, 1962
Folder 5: E, 1962
Folder 6: F-G, 1962
Folder 7: H-I, 1962
Folder 8: J-K, 1962

Box 11

Folder 1: L-M, 1962
Folder 2: N-Q, 1962
Folder 3: R-S, 1962
Folder 4: T-U, 1962
Folder 5: V-W, 1962
Folder 6: X-Z, 1962

Box 12

Folder 1: A, 1963
Folder 2: B, 1963
Folder 3: C, 1963
Folder 4: D, 1963
Folder 5: E, 1963
Folder 6: F-G, 1963
Folder 7: H-I, 1963
Folder 8: J-K, 1963
Folder 9: L-M, 1963
Folder 10: N-P, 1963
Folder 11: R-S, 1963
Folder 12: T-U, 1963
Folder 13: V-W, 1963
Folder 14: X-Z, 1963

Box 13

Folder 1: A, 1964
Folder 2: B, 1964
Folder 3: C, 1964
Folder 4: D, 1964
Folder 5: E, 1964
Folder 6: F-G, 1964
Folder 7: H-I, 1964
Folder 8: J-K, 1964
Folder 9: L-M, 1964
Folder 10: N-P, 1964
Folder 11: R-S, 1964
Folder 12: T-U, 1964
Folder 13: V-W, 1964
Folder 14: X-Z, 1964

Box 14

Folder 1: A-E Separated Materials, 1958-1964
Folder 2: F-Z Separated Materials, 1958-1964

Box 15

Folder 1: Ayer, P.F. (CSM) correspondence, 1958-1964
Folder 2: Ayer, P.F. and Urban Adjustment, 1946-1961
Folder 3: Ayer, P.F. and Urban Adjustment, 1962-1966
Folder 4: Ayer, P.F. and Council of the Southern Mountains, 1957-1966
Folder 5: Area Redevelopment Administration- Appalachian region, 1962-1964
Folder 6: Board of Directors, budget, 1958-1962
Folder 7: Board of Directors, meeting reports, 1958-1959
Folder 8: Brewer, Earl D. -correspondence, 1958-1959

Box 16

Folder 1: Brewer, Earl D. Correspondence, 1960-1964
Folder 2: Brewer, Earl D. Miscellaneous, n.d.
Folder 3: Book Orders- Life and Religion in Southern Appalachia, 1962-1963
Folder 4: Book Orders- Studies in Christian Experience, 1962-1963
Folder 5: Book Orders- Southern Appalachian Region: A Survey, 1962-1964
Folder 6: Bills, paid, 1962-1964
Folder 7: Bishops, 1958-1962
Folder 8: Comfort, Richard O., 1958-1962
Folder 9: County Information, 1958-1962
Folder 10: Denbo, Bruce, 1959-1962

Box 17

Folder 1: Denbo, Bruce, 1963-1964
Folder 2: Disposition of Southern Appalachian Studies material to Berea College, 1962
Folder 3: Ford, Thomas R., 1958-1963
Folder 4: Friendship Press (R. Elfero), 1961-1963
Folder 5: Governors (Appalachian), 1960-1964
Folder 6: Industrialization, 1959-1960
Folder 7: Implementation of Southern Appalachian Studies, 1959
Folder 8: Implementation of Southern Appalachian Studies, 1959-1961

Box 18

Folder 1: Implementation conference, 1959
Folder 2: Implementation conference, transcript, 1959
Folder 3: Junaluska reports, 1962-1963
Folder 5: Merlino, George, 1963-1965
Folder 6: Mt. Mitchell, 1963-1964
Folder 7: News Clippings, 1956-1960
Folder 8: News Clippings, 1961-1963
Folder 9: North Carolina Industrialization facts, ca. 1956-1957
Folder 10: North Carolina Industrialization facts, ca. 1956-1957

Box 19

Folder 1: Publications, 1959
Folder 2: Publications, 1959-1962
Folder 3: Ranck, Dr. J. Allan - correspondence, 1959-1962
Folder 4: Releases-explaining Southern Appalachian Studies goals, ca. 1958
Folder 5: Research reports (tables, graphs, survey, staff meetings, 1957-1958
Folder 6: Research reports (tables, graphs, survey, staff meetings, 1959-1961
Folder 7: Research staff minutes of June12-13, n.d.
Folder 8: Review of Southern Appalachia Studies by G. K. Flora, 1962
Folder 9: Sanford, Governor Terry, 1962-1964
Folder 10: The Tall Woman, 1962-1964
Folder 11: Thompson, Lorin A., 1958-1960

Box 20

Folder 1: Tour correspondence (photographs, participants), ca. 1959
Folder 2: Vance, Dr. Rupert, 1958-1962
Folder 3: Writer's Conference, 1958-1959
Folder 4: Writer's Conference, 1958-1959
Folder 5: Writer's Conference, 1958-1959
Folder 6: Ylvisaker, Dr. Paul (Ford Foundation), 1958-1963

Box 21

Folder 1: Foundations, 1961
Folder 2: Foundations, 1961
Folder 3: Foundations, 1962
Folder 4: Foundations, 1962
Folder 5: Foundations, 1962
Folder 6: Foundations, 1962
Folder 7: Foundations, 1962
Folder 8: Foundations, 1963- 1964
Folder 9: Foundations (royalties and grants)

Box 22

Folder 1: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan-Mar 1959
Folder 2: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Apr 1959
Folder 3: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), May- Jul 1959
Folder 4: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence)
Folder 5: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Oct- Dec 1959
Folder 6: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan- Feb 1960
Folder 7: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Mar-Apr 1960
Folder 8: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), May- Jul 1960
Folder 9: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence)
Folder 10: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Oct- Dec 1960

Box 23

Folder 1: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan-Mar 1961
Folder 2: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence)
Folder 3: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jun- Aug 1961
Folder 4: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Sep- Oct 1961
Folder 5: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Nov-Dec 1961
Folder 6: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan 1962
Folder 7: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Feb 1962
Folder 8: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Mar 1962
Folder 9: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence)
Folder 10: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jun- Jul 1962
Folder 11: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Aug-Sep 1962
Folder 12: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Oct- Dec 1962

Box 24

Folder 1: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan- Feb 1963
Folder 2: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence)
Folder 3: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jun- Aug 1963
Folder 4: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Oct-Dec 1963
Folder 5: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan- Mar 1964
Folder 6: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Apr- Jun 1964
Folder 7: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jul- Dec 1965
Folder 8: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Jan- Jul 1965
Folder 9: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), Aug-Dec 1965
Folder 10: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), 1966
Folder 11: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), 1967
Folder 12: Wyckoff, Elizabeth (administrative secretary- correspondence), 1968
Folder 13: Wyckoff, Elizabeth - appointment books ("3" loose), 1959-1961

Box 25

Folder 1: Brown, James: "Migration in Appalachian"
Folder 2: Cole, William: "Social Welfare in Appalachia"
Folder 3: Ford, Thomas R.: "Attitude Survey"
Folder 4: Ford, Thomas R.: "Religion in Mountains"
Folder 5: Giffin, Roscoe: "Cincinnati Appalachian Mountains"
Folder 6: Graff, Orin B. "Education in the Southern Appalachians"
Folder 7: Graff, Orin B. "Education in the Southern Appalachians"
Folder 8: Proctor, Roy E. and T. Kelley White: "Agriculture in Appalachia"
Folder 9: Quittmeyer, Charles L.: "Marketing in Appalachia"
Folder 10: Smith, Frank H.: "Appalachia Folk Culture"
Folder 11: Taylor, Vernon H.: "Music in Southern Appalachia"
Folder 12: Wager, Paul: "Government in Appalachia"

Box 26

Folder 1: Presbyterian Study Guide of Southern Appalachia, 1961
Folder 2: Staff Conference of Southern Appalachian Studies authors, n.d.
Folder 3: L.A. Thompson: "Southern Renaissance", n.d.
Folder 4: U.S. Bureau of Agriculture and Economics references on mountaineers, 1935
Folder 5: Appeal to the Ford Foundation, 1961
Folder 6: J.W. Morris: "Tourism in Southern Appalachia", n.d.
Folder 7: Nicholls: "Low Income Farm Families", 1955
Folder 8: Final outlines of researchers, 1959
Folder 9: General Introduction to Southern Appalachian Studies, ca. 1957

Box 27

Folder 1: Governors' Conference, 1960-1963
Folder 2: Methodist Church Conference on Appalachia, 1961
Folder 3: Hayes: "Social Trends in S.E. States", ca. 1950s
Folder 4: Buncombe Count, North Carolina- Workshop of Social Development, 1961
Folder 5: Consultation on implementation, 1960
Folder 6: G.K. Floro: "Appalachian Development", n.d.
Folder 7: Berea Alumnus- articles on Southern Appalachian Studies, 1959

Box 28

Folder 1: Belcher, John, University of Georgia contributor, 1958-1961
Folder 2: Brewer, E.D.C., Director of Research, 1957-1958
Folder 3: Brewer, E.D.C. Director of Religious Research, 1959-1961
Folder 4: Cole, William E., University of North Carolina, 1958-1962
Folder 5: Finkner, A.L., North Carolina State, 1958-1959
Folder 6: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey
Folder 7: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey
Folder 8: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey
Folder 9: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey, Jan-Jun 1960
Folder 10: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey, Jul-Dec 1960
Folder 11: Ford, Thomas R., Editor of the 1962 survey, 1961-1962, 1964-1965

Box 29

Folder 1: Gibbard, Harold A., West Virginia University, 1958-1961
Folder 2: Giffen, Roscoe, Berea College, 1958, 1960-61
Folder 3: Graff, Orin, University of Tennessee, 1958-1961
Folder 4: Gray, A.J., TVA community planner, 1958-1961
Folder 5: Hamilton, C. Horace, North Carolina, 1958-1961
Folder 6: Monroe, John, University of North Carolina, 1958- 1959
Folder 7: Morris, Johnson W., Peabody College, 1958-1962
Folder 8: Peck, Elizabeth, Berea College, 1960-1961
Folder 9: Proctor, Roy, University of Georgia, 1958-1961
Folder 10: Smith, Frank, recreation director in Appalachia, 1960-1962
Folder 11: Stevens. Bernice A., crafts authority, 1958-1960
Folder 12: Taylor, Vernon, George Peabody College, 1958, 1960-61
Folder 13: Thompson, Lorin A., University of Virginia, 1958-1961
Folder 14: Vance, Rupert B., University of North Carolina, 1957-1958
Folder 15: Vance, Rupert B., University of North Carolina, 1959-1962
Folder 16: Wager, Paul W., University of North Carolina, 1957-1958

Box 30

Folder 1: Additional Correspondence, 1957-1958
Folder 2: Additional Correspondence, 1959-1960
Folder 3: Additional Correspondence, 1961-1962