Thanks so much for sharing that album of some long-lost history.

from knoxnews.com
Reading Appalachia: Library system, history center exhibit focuses on children's literature
UT thesis provides basis for collection
By Kelsey Keny
June 16, 2014

(excerpt)
Knox County Public Libraries and the East Tennessee History Center opened their newest exhibit Sunday, “Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature.”

Osborn researched Appalachian literature as a graduate student in the University of Tennessee’s School of Information Sciences.

“I decided to do a bibliography of Appalachian children’s literature ... and I became angry. I was like, ‘I’m a child of Appalachia, I grew up in western Virginia and eastern Kentucky ... and I came across all these titles and authors that no one had ever pointed out to me,’ ” Osborn said. “For me the whole project from beginning to end was important because I didn’t want anyone else to go through that.”

Little did she know her thesis would have the chance to reach an even bigger audience....

MORE at http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/jun/16/reading-appalachia-library-system-history-center/

The only Appalachian writer I can remember knowing about when I was a child was Jesse Stuart, but fortunately the oral tradition was alive and well in my family. I think Appalachian culture was conveyed more that way, as well as through music and through hands-on learning, than through books, at least for previous generations. I am glad that Osborn has compiled these resources.

For those who may not be familiar with Jesse Stuart (and I will start crying in a minute if I think about his short story "The thing you love&quot :

http://www.jsfbooks.com/who-we-are/jesse-stuart-s-legacy.html