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 14: Household Survey

The survey questionnaire and raw data collected in the household survey are contained in this series. A brief summary report of the survey is also included. Material is organized by state, county, and/or city, and date.

Box 115

Sub-Series 1: Alabama

Box 115

Folder 1: Blount County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Blount County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Dekalb County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Dekalb County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Jackson County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Jackson County (Bridgeport), Aug 1958

Box 116

Folder 1: Jackson County (Scottsboro), Aug 1958
Folder 2: Jackson County (Scottsboro), Aug 1958
Folder 3: Jackson County (Scottsboro), Summer 1958

Sub-Series 2: Georgia

Box 116

Folder 4: Polk County (Cedartown), Aug 1958
Folder 5: Polk County (Cedartown), Aug 1958
Folder 6: Floyd County (Celanese Village), Aug 1958

Box 117

Folder 1: Floyd County (Celanese Village), Aug 1958
Folder 2: Chattooga County, Jun 1958
Folder 3: Chattooga County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Chattooga County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Chattooga County, Summer 1958
Folder 6: Murray County, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Murray County, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Walker County, Jul 1958
Folder 9: Walker County (Rossville), Jul 1958

Box 118

Folder 1: Walker County (Rossville), Jul 1958
Folder 2: Walker County (Rossville), Aug 1958
Folder 3: Whitfield County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Whitfield County, Aug 1958

Sub-Series 3: Kentucky

Box 118

Folder 5: Ashland, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Ashland, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Ashland, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Carter County, Aug 1958

Box 119

Folder 1: Carter County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Clay County, Sep 1958
Folder 3: Clay County, Sep 1958
Folder 4: Estill County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Estill County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Estill County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Greenup County, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Greenup County (Raceland), Aug 1958

Box 120

Folder 1: Greenup County (Raceland), Aug 1958
Folder 2: Greenup County (Russell), Aug 1958
Folder 3: Greenup County (Russell), Aug 1958
Folder 4: Harlan County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Harlan County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Harlan County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Johnson County, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Leslie County, Sep 1958

Box 121

Folder 1: Morgan County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Morgan County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Morgan County, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 4: Morgan County, Sep 1958
Folder 5: Perry County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Perry County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Perry County, Sep 1958
Folder 8: Pike County, Aug 1958

Box 122

Folder 1: Pike County, Aug 1958

Sub-Series 4: North Carolina

Box 122

Folder 2: Asheville, Sep 1958
Folder 3: Asheville, Sep 1958
Folder 4: Avery, Jul 1958
Folder 5: Avery, Jul 1958
Folder 6: Avery, Jul-Aug 1958
Folder 7: Avery, Aug 1958

Box 123

Folder 1: Avery, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Avery, Oct 1958
Folder 3: Avery, Summer 1958
Folder 4: Caldwell, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Caldwell, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Caldwell, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Grovement, Sep 1958
Folder 8: Hendersonville, Aug 1958
Folder 9: Hendersonville, Aug 1958

Box 124

Folder 1: Hendersonville, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Hendersonville, Aug 1958
Folder 3: McDowell, Aug 1958
Folder 4: McDowell, Aug 1958
Folder 5: McDowell, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Swannanoa, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Transylvania County, Aug 1958

Box 125

Folder 1: Transylvania County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Weaverville, Sep 1958

Sub-Series 5: Tennessee

Box 125

Folder 3: Carter County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Carter County, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 5: Carter County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Carter County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Chattanooga, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Chattanooga, Aug 1958

Box 126

Folder 1: Chattanooga, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Chattanooga, Aug 1958
Folder 3: East Ridge, Jul 1958
Folder 4: East Ridge, Jul 1958
Folder 5: East Ridge, Jul 1958
Folder 6: East Ridge, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Greenville, Aug 1958

Box 127

Folder 1: Greenville, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Grundy County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Grundy County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Hamblen County, Sep 1958
Folder 5: Hamblen County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Kingsport, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Knox County, Jul 1958

Box 128

Folder 1: Knox County, Jul 1958
Folder 2: Knox County, Jul 1958
Folder 3: Knox County, Jul 1958
Folder 4: Knox County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Knox County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Knox County, Jul-Aug 1958
Folder 7: Knox County, Sep 1958
Folder 8: Knox County (Norwood Community), Jul 1958
Folder 9: Knox County (Norwood Community), Aug 1958

Box 129

Folder 1: Knox County (Norwood Community), Aug 1958
Folder 2: Knox County (Norwood Community), Jul-Aug 1958
Folder 3: Knox County (Norwood Community), Sep-Oct 1958
Folder 4: Knoxville, Jul 1958
Folder 5: Knoxville, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Knoxville, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Knoxville, Jul-Aug 1958
Folder 8: Knoxville, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 9: Lenoir City, Aug 1958

Box 130

Folder 1: Lenoir City, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Monroe County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Monroe County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Monroe County, Sep 1958
Folder 5: Monroe County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Monroe County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Morgan County, Aug 1958

Box 131

Folder 1: Morgan County, Sep 1958
Folder 2: Sullivan County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Sullivan County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Sullivan County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Sullivan County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Union County, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Union County, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 8: Union County, Sep 1958

Box 132

Folder 1: Washington County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Washington County, Aug 1958

Sub-Series 6: Virginia

Box 132

Folder 3: Augusta County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Augusta County, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 5: Augusta County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Augusta County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Augusta County, Sep 1958

Box 133

Folder 1: Augusta County (Churchville), Sep 1958
Folder 2: Augusta County (Craigsville), Sep 1958
Folder 3: Bristol, Sep 1958
Folder 4: Bristol, Sep 1958
Folder 5: Buchanan, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Buchanan, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Christiansburg, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Christiansburg, Aug 1958
Folder 9: Floyd County, Aug 1958

Box 134

Folder 1: Floyd County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Grayson County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Grayson County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Lee County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Lee County (Pennington Gap), Aug 1958
Folder 6: Roanoke, Jul 1958
Folder 7: Roanoke, Jul 1958

Box 135

Folder 1: Roanoke, Jul 1958
Folder 2: Roanoke, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Roanoke, Jul-Sep 1958
Folder 4: Roanoke, Jul-Sep 1958
Folder 5: Roanoke, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Rockingham County, Sep 1958
Folder 7: Rockingham County, Sep 1958
Folder 8: Rockingham County (Broadway), Sep 1958
Folder 9: Russell County, Aug 1958

Box 136

Folder 1: Scott County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Scott County, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Winchester, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Winchester, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Winchester, Aug 1958

Sub-Series 7: West Virginia

Box 136

Folder 6: Bluefield, Aug 1958

Box 137

Folder 1: Bluefield, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Bluefield, Summer 1958
Folder 3: Boomer, Sep 1958
Folder 4: Boomer- Harewood, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Boomer- Harewood, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Buckhannon County, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Buckhannon County, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Buckley, Aug 1958
Folder 9: Calhoun County, Sep 1958
Folder 10: Charleston, Jul 1958

Box 138

Folder 1: Charleston, Sep 1958
Folder 2: Charleston, Sep 1958
Folder 3: Charleston, Sep 1958
Folder 4: Charleston, Sep 1958
Folder 5: Gilmer County, Sep 1958
Folder 6: Gilmer County (Rosedale), Sep 1958

Box 139

Folder 1: Gilmer County (Shock), Sep 1958
Folder 2: Gilmer County (Troy), Aug 1958
Folder 3: Grant Town, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Grant Town, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Greenbrier, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Greenbrier, Aug 1958
Folder 7: Hampshire County, Jul 1958

Box 140

Folder 1: Hampshire County, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Huntington, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Huntington, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Huntington, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Jefferson County, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Kanawha County, Aug 1958

Box 141

Folder 1: Kanawha County, Sep 1958
Folder 2: Kanawha County, Sep 1958
Folder 3: Kanawha County, Summer 1958
Folder 4: McDowell County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: McDowell County, Summer 1958
Folder 6: McDowell County (Cucumber), Aug 1958
Folder 7: McDowell County (Newhall Community), Aug 1958
Folder 8: McDowell County (Panther Community), Aug 1958
Folder 9: Madison, Sep 1958

Box 142

Folder 1: Madison, Sep 1958
Folder 2: Martinsburg, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Mercer County, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Mercer County, Aug 1958
Folder 5: Monongalia, Aug 1958
Folder 6: Monongalia, Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 7: Monongalia, Sep 1958
Folder 8: Morgantown, Jul 1958
Folder 9: Morgantown, Jul-Aug 1958
Folder 10: Morgantown, Aug 1958
Folder 11: Morgantown, Summer 1958

Box 143

Folder 1: Raleigh County, Sep 1958
Folder 2: Raleigh County (Beckley), Sep 1958
Folder 3: Raleigh County (Beckley), Sep 1958
Folder 4: Raleigh County (Beckley), Sep 1958
Folder 5: Raleigh County (Beckley), Sep 1958
Folder 6: Raleigh County (Beckley), Aug-Sep 1958
Folder 7: Randolph County, Aug 1958
Folder 8: Randolph County (Monterville), Aug 1958
Folder 9: Randolph County (Pickens), Aug 1958

Box 144

Folder 1: Salem, Aug 1958
Folder 2: Shinneston, Aug 1958
Folder 3: Squire, Aug 1958
Folder 4: Wayne County, Aug 1958

Sub-Series 8: Miscellaneous

Box 144

Folder 5: Survey fragments, Summer 1958
Folder 6: Summary of Brief Reports from Research Workers, Sep 1958