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 22: Non-Manuscript Materials - Recordings (Open Reel Tapes)

The tapes were recorded as part of the religion survey. The tapes include church meetings, layperson discussion, and minister discussions. Transcriptions of these tapes are located in Series V, and box 62 contains the codes and listings for these taped interviews. Additionally, other tapes of general interest include central staff and research staff meetings, implementation meetings, the Appalachian tour briefing, Writer's Conference, and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in America meeting.

Note: The tapes were recorded as part of the religious survey. The tapes of general interest include central staff and research staff meetings, implementation meetings, the Appalachian tour briefing, Writer's Conference, and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in America meeting. Additionally, other tapes include church meetings, layperson discussion, and minister discussions. Transcriptions of these tapes are located in Series 5, and box 62 contains the codes and listings for these taped interviews. Not all recording have transcripts.

Box 165

Item 1: 01-1: Research Staff Meeting 06-12-59
Item 2: 01-2: Research Staff Meeting 06-12-59
Item 3: 01-3: Research Staff Meeting 06-12-59
Item 4: 01-4: Research Staff Meeting 06-12-59
Item 5: 01-5: Research Staff Meeting 06-12-59
Item 6: 02-1: Tour Briefing 07-13-59
Item 7: 02-2: Tour Briefing 07-13-59
Item 8: 02-3: Tour Briefing 07-14-59
Item 9: 02-4: Tour Briefing 07-14-59
Item 10: 03-1: Writer's Conference Jul 20-21, 1959
Item 11: 03-2: Writer's Conference Jul 20-21, 1959
Item 12: 03-3: Writer's Conference Jul 20-21, 1959
Item 13: 03-4: Writer's Conference Jul 20-21, 1959
Item 14: 03-5: Writer's Conference Jul 20-21, 1959
Item 15: 04-1: Implementation Meeting 09-18-59
Item 16: 04-2: Implementation Meeting 09-18-59

Box 166

Item 1: 04-3: Implementation Meeting 09-18-59
Item 2: 04-4: Implementation Meeting 09-18-59
Item 3: 04-5: Implementation Meeting 09-18-59
Item 4: 05-1: Tape Missing; Central Staff Meeting 07-15-60
Item 5: 05-2: Central Staff Meeting 07-15-60
Item 6: 05-3: Central Staff Meeting 07-15-60
Item 7: 05-4: Central Staff Meeting 07-15-60
Item 8: 06-1: Implementation Consultation 09-19-59
Item 9: 06-2: Implementation Consultation 09-19-59
Item 10: 12-1 G: Sample Area 12, Church 1- Group
Item 11: 12-1 L: Sample Area 12, Church 1- Layperson
Item 12: 12-1 M: Sample Area 12, Church 1- Minister
Item 13: 12-2 G: Sample Area 12, Church 2- Group
Item 14: 12-2 L: Sample Area 12, Church 2- Layperson
Item 15: 12-2 M: Sample Area 12, Church 2- Minister

Box 167

Item 1: 12-3 G: Sample Area 12, Church 3- Group
Item 2: 12-3 L: Sample Area 12, Church 3- Layperson
Item 3: 12-3 M: Sample Area 12, Church 3- Minister
Item 4: 22-1 G: Sample Area 22, Church 1- Group
Item 5: 22-1 L: Sample Area 22, Church 1- Layperson
Item 6: 22-1 M: Sample Area 22, Church 1- Minister
Item 7: 22-2 G: Sample Area 22, Church 2- Group
Item 8: 22-2 L: Sample Area 22, Church 2- Layperson
Item 9: 22-2 M: Sample Area 22, Church 2- Minister
Item 10: 22-3 G: Sample Area 22, Church 3- Group
Item 11: 22-3 L: Sample Area 22, Church 3- Layperson
Item 12: 22-3 M: Sample Area 22, Church 3- Minister
Item 13: 23-2 G: Sample Area 23, Church 2- Group
Item 14: 23-2 M: Sample Area 23, Church 2- Minister

Box 168

Item 1: 23-3 G: Sample Area 23, Church 3- Group
Item 2: 23-3 L: Sample Area 23, Church 3- Layperson
Item 3: 23-3 M: Sample Area 23, Church 3- Minister
Item 4: 30-1 G: Sample Area 30, Church 1- Group
Item 5: 30-1 M/L: Sample Area 30, Church 1- Minister/ Layperson
Item 6: 30-2 G: Sample Area 30, Church 2- Group
Item 7: 30-2 L/M: Sample Area 30, Church 2- Layperson/ Minister
Item 8: 30-2 M: Sample Area 30, Church 2- Minister
Item 9: 30-3 G: Sample Area 30, Church 3- Group
Item 10: 30-3 L: Sample Area 30, Church 3- Layperson
Item 11: 30-3 M: Sample Area 30, Church 3- Minister
Item 12: 32-1 G: Sample Area 32, Church 1- Group
Item 13: 32-1 L: Sample Area 32, Church 1- Layperson
Item 14: 32-1 M: Sample Area 32, Church 1- Minister

Box 169

Item 1: 32-2 G: Sample Area 32, Church 2- Group
Item 2: 32-2 L: Sample Area 32, Church 2- Layperson
Item 3: 32-2 M: Sample Area 32, Church 2- Minister
Item 4: 32-3 M: Sample Area 32, Church 3- Minister
Item 5: 33-1 G: Sample Area 33, Church 1- Group
Item 6: 33-1 L: Sample Area 33, Church 1- Layperson
Item 7: 33-1 M: Sample Area 33, Church 1- Minister
Item 8: 33-2 G: Sample Area 33, Church 2- Group
Item 9: 33-2 L: Sample Area 33, Church 2- Layperson
Item 10: 33-2 M1: Sample Area 33, Church 2- Minister (part 1)
Item 11: 33-2 M2: Sample Area 33, Church 2- Minister (part 2)
Item 12: 33-3 L: Sample Area 33, Church 3- Layperson
Item 13: 33-3 M: Sample Area 33, Church 3- Minister
Item 14: 40-2 M: Sample Area 40, Church 2- Minister

Box 170

Item 1: 42-1 G: Sample Area 42, Church 1- Group
Item 2: 42-1 L: Sample Area 42, Church 1- Layperson
Item 3: 42-1 M: Sample Area 42, Church 1- Minister
Item 4: 42-2 L: Sample Area 42, Church 2- Layperson
Item 5: 42-2 M: Sample Area 42, Church 2- Minister
Item 6: 42-3 G: Sample Area 42, Church 3- Group
Item 7: 42-3 L: Sample Area 42, Church 3- Layperson
Item 8: 42-3 M: Sample Area 42, Church 3- Minister
Item 9: 43-1 G: Sample Area 43, Church 1- Group
Item 10: 43-1 L: Sample Area 43, Church 1- Layperson
Item 11: 43-1 M: Sample Area 43, Church 1- Minister
Item 12: 43-2 G: Sample Area 43, Church 2- Group
Item 13: 43-2 L: Sample Area 43, Church 2- Layperson
Item 14: 43-2 M1: Sample Area 43, Church 2- Minister (part 1)

Box 171

Item 1: 43-2 M2: Sample Area 43, Church 2- Minister (part 2)
Item 2: 43-3 G: Sample Area 43, Church 3- Group
Item 3: 43-3 L: Sample Area 43, Church 3- Layperson
Item 4: 43-3 M: Sample Area 43, Church 3- Minister
Item 5: 50-1 G: Sample Area 50, Church 1- Group
Item 6: 50-1 G: Sample Area 50, Church 2- Group
Item 7: 50-1 L: Sample Area 50, Church 2- Layperson
Item 8: 50-1 M: Sample Area 50, Church 2- Minister
Item 9: 50-1 G: Sample Area 50, Church 3- Group
Item 10: 50-1 L: Sample Area 50, Church 3- Layperson
Item 11: 50-1 M: Sample Area 50, Church 3- Minister
Item 12: 51-1 G: Sample Area 51, Church 1- Group
Item 13: 51-1 L: Sample Area 51, Church 1- Layperson
Item 14: 51-1 M: Sample Area 51, Church 1- Minister

Box 172

Item 1: 51-2 G: Sample Area 51, Church 2- Group
Item 2: 51-2 L: Sample Area 51, Church 2- Layperson
Item 3: 51-2 M: Sample Area 51, Church 2- Minister
Item 4: 51-3 G: Sample Area 51, Church 3- Group
Item 5: 51-3 L: Sample Area 51, Church 3- Layperson
Item 6: 51-3 M: Sample Area 51, Church 3- Minister
Item 7: 52-1 G: Sample Area 52, Church 1- Group
Item 8: 52-1 L: Sample Area 52, Church 1- Layperson
Item 9: 52-1 M: Sample Area 52, Church 1- Minister
Item 10: 52-3 G: Sample Area 52, Church 3- Group
Item 11: 52-3 L: Sample Area 52, Church 3- Layperson
Item 12: 52-3 M: Sample Area 52, Church 3- Minister
Item 13: 53-1 G: Sample Area 53, Church 1- Group
Item 14: 53-1 L: Sample Area 53, Church 1- Layperson

Box 173

Item 1: 53-1 M: Sample Area 53, Church 1- Minister
Item 2: 53-2 G: Sample Area 53, Church 2- Group
Item 3: 53-2 L: Sample Area 53, Church 2- Layperson
Item 4: 53-2 M: Sample Area 53, Church 2- Minister
Item 5: 54-1 G: Sample Area 54, Church 1- Group
Item 6: 54-1 L: Sample Area 54, Church 1- Layperson
Item 7: 54-1 M: Sample Area 54, Church 1- Minister
Item 8: 54-2 G: Sample Area 54, Church 2- Group
Item 9: 54-2 L: Sample Area 54, Church 2- Layperson
Item 10: 54-2 M: Sample Area 54, Church 2- Minister
Item 11: 54-3 G: Sample Area 54, Church 3- Group
Item 12: 54-3 L: Sample Area 54, Church 3- Layperson
Item 13: 54-3 M: Sample Area 54, Church 3- Minister
Item 14: 60-1 G: Sample Area 60, Church 1- Group

Box 174

Item 1: 60-1 L: Sample Area 60, Church 1- Layperson
Item 2: 60-1 M: Sample Area 60, Church 1- Minister
Item 3: 60-2 G: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Group
Item 4: 60-2 L: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Layperson
Item 5: 60-2 M1: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Minister (part 1)
Item 6: 60-2 M2: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Minister (part 2)
Item 7: 60-3 G: Sample Area 60, Church 3- Group
Item 8: 60-3 L: Sample Area 60, Church 3- Layperson
Item 9: 60-3 M: Sample Area 60, Church 3- Minister
Item 10: 62-1 G: Sample Area 62, Church 1- Group
Item 11: 62-1 L: Sample Area 62, Church 1- Layperson
Item 12: 62-1 M: Sample Area 62, Church 1- Minister
Item 13: 62-2 G: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Group
Item 14: 62-2 M: Sample Area 60, Church 2- Minister

Box 175

Item 1: 62-3 M: Sample Area 62, Church 3- Minister
Item 2: 63-1 G: Sample Area 63, Church 1- Group
Item 3: 63-1 L: Sample Area 63, Church 1- Layperson
Item 4: 63-1 M: Sample Area 63, Church 1- Minister
Item 5: 63-2 G: Sample Area 63, Church 2- Group
Item 6: 63-2 L: Sample Area 63, Church 2- Layperson
Item 7: 63-2 M: Sample Area 63, Church 2- Minister
Item 8: 63-3 G: Sample Area 63, Church 3- Group
Item 9: 63-3 L: Sample Area 63, Church 3- Layperson
Item 10: 63-3 M: Sample Area 63, Church 3- Minister
Item 11: 64-1 G: Sample Area 64, Church 1- Group
Item 12: 64-1 M: Sample Area 64, Church 1- Minister
Item 13: 64-2 G: Sample Area 64, Church 2- Group
Item 14: 64-2 L: Sample Area 64, Church 2- Layperson

Box 176

Item 1: 64-2 M: Sample Area 64, Church 2- Minister
Item 2: 64-3 G: Sample Area 64, Church 3- Group
Item 3: 64-3 L: Sample Area 64, Church 3- Layperson
Item 4: 64-3 M: Sample Area 64, Church 3- Minister
Item 5: 65-1 L: Sample Area 65, Church 1- Layperson
Item 6: 65-1 M: Sample Area 65, Church 1- Minister
Item 7: 65-2 G: Sample Area 65, Church 2- Group
Item 8: 65-2 L: Sample Area 65, Church 2- Layperson
Item 9: 65-2 M: Sample Area 65, Church 2- Minister
Item 10: 65-3 G: Sample Area 65, Church 3- Group
Item 11: 65-3 L: Sample Area 65, Church 3- Layperson
Item 12: 65-3 M: Sample Area 65, Church 3- Minister
Item 13: 70-1 G: Sample Area 70, Church 1- Group
Item 14: 70-1 L: Sample Area 70, Church 1- Layperson

Box 177

Item 1: 70-1 M: Sample Area 70, Church 1- Minister
Item 2: 70-2 G: Sample Area 70, Church 2- Group
Item 3: 70-2 L: Sample Area 70, Church 2- Layperson
Item 4: 70-2 M: Sample Area 70, Church 2- Minister
Item 5: 70-3 G: Sample Area 70, Church 3- Group
Item 6: 70-3 L: Sample Area 70, Church 3- Layperson
Item 7: 70-3 M: Sample Area 70, Church 3- Minister
Item 8: 72-1 G: Sample Area 72, Church 1- Group
Item 9: 72-2 G: Sample Area 72, Church 2- Group
Item 10: 72-2 L: Sample Area 72, Church 2- Layperson
Item 11: 72-2 M: Sample Area 72, Church 2- Minister
Item 12: 72-3 G: Sample Area 72, Church 3- Group
Item 13: 72-3 L: Sample Area 72, Church 3- Layperson
Item 14: 72-3 M: Sample Area 72, Church 3- Minister

Box 178

Item 1: 73-1 G: Sample Area 73, Church 1- Group
Item 2: 73-1 L: Sample Area 73, Church 1- Layperson
Item 3: 73-1 M: Sample Area 73, Church 1- Minister
Item 4: 73-2 G: Sample Area 73, Church 2- Group
Item 5: 73-2 L: Sample Area 73, Church 2- Layperson
Item 6: 73-2 M: Sample Area 73, Church 2- Minister
Item 7: 73-3 G: Sample Area 73, Church 3- Group
Item 8: 73-3 L: Sample Area 73, Church 3- Layperson
Item 9: 73-3 M: Sample Area 73, Church 3- Minister
Item 10: 74-3 G: Sample Area 74, Church 3- Group
Item 11: 74-3 L: Sample Area 74, Church 3- Layperson
Item 12: 74-3 M: Sample Area 74, Church 3- Minister
Item 13: 75-1 G: Sample Area 75, Church 1- Group
Item 14: 75-1 L: Sample Area 75, Church 1- Layperson

Box 179

Item 1: 75-1 M: Sample Area 75, Church 1- Minister
Item 2: 75-2 G: Sample Area 75, Church 2- Group
Item 3: 75-2 L: Sample Area 75, Church 2- Layperson
Item 4: 75-2 M: Sample Area 75, Church 2- Minister
Item 5: 75-3 G: Sample Area 75, Church 3- Group
Item 6: 75-3 L: Sample Area 75, Church 3- Layperson
Item 7: 75-3 M: Sample Area 75, Church 3- Minister