The Archives of Appalachia contains significant resource material for folklore research, especially for the southern Appalachian region. Such material examines a variety of topics, including folk music, Jack tales and other forms of storytelling, folk dance, customs, arts and crafts, religious beliefs, oral history, folk medicine and home remedies, food preservation, farming, as well as many other aspects of life in the area.

Browse our Suggested Reading List for books of interest.

Manuscripts

Appalachian-Scottish Studies Collection
Includes materials related to Scottish folklore, Appalachian and Scottish folk music, folk dance, Jack tales and storytelling from presentations, lectures, and course work as part of the studies program. Restriction: Recordings may not be duplicated without the permission of the donor.

Barnicle-Cadle Collection
Nearly 600 recordings of folk music and culture, including spirituals, folk tunes, sermons, bawdy and political songs gathered between the 1930's-1950's. Restriction: May not be used for the production of commercial recordings.

Richard Blaustein Collection
Includes photographs, recordings, clippings, and correspondence related to the study and teaching of the history of country music (1945-1981). Restriction: Recordings may not be duplicated without the permission of the donor.

Broadside Television Records
Collection includes videotape documentaries on a variety of Appalachian topics, including regional politics, environmental issues, economic development, traditional arts and crafts, and religion.

Helen Bullard Collection
Microfilmed copy of Bullard materials at the Tennessee State Library and Archives concerning doll making and folk art.

Thomas G. Burton Collection
Contains personal papers, photographs, and audio/video tapes related to serpent-handling, Jack tales, folk music and medicine, food preservation, and storytelling. Restriction: Recordings may not be duplicated without the permission of the donor.

Burton-Headley Collection
Consists of audio/video tapes related to serpent-handling and to violence in the South. Restriction: Recordings may not be duplicated without the permission of the donor.

Burton-Manning Collection
Consists of nearly 400 audio and/or video recordings related to the folklore and culture of the region, including folk music, religious worship, storytelling, and oral narratives of family and Appalachian history. Restriction: Recordings may not be duplicated without the permission of the donor.

Charles R. Gunter, Jr. Collection
Consists of audio recordings of interviews conducted with residents of the region regarding such topics as midwifery, farming, musical instrument making, and horse trading.

Nat E. Hyder Papers
Includes account books of medical services Hyder provided in late 19th century Carter Co., TN, with information on folk medicine and home remedies.

John A. Jones Almanac Collection
Consists of nearly 100 almanacs (1849-1929) produced by a variety of companies and touching on such topics as farming, health, patent medicines, and literature.

Barbara McDermitt Collection
Consists of audio recordings of McDermitt field trips with storytellers Frank Proffitt, Jr., Hattie Presnell, Ray and Stanley Hicks, reports of the trips, and photographs of tellers.

David Larry Nave Collection
Consists of video recordings, manuscripts, and slides depicting Appalachian residents demonstrating toy making, quilting, and old- time country music.

Appalachian Publications Files

The Appalachian Publications Vertical Files contain several periodicals related to the study of folklore, including Folk Art News, Folklore Newsletter, Kentucky Folklore Record, North Carolina Folklore Journal,Now and Then, Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, Virginia Folklore Society.

Appalachian Vertical Files

These files contain clippings, pamphlets, and other printed material on topics such as Folk Art; Folk Dancing; Folk Drama; Folk Medicine; Folk Music; Folk Songs; Manners & Customs; Southern Highland Handicraft Guild.

Suggested Reading from Special Collections

The following is a list of selected titles relating to folklore. For a complete listing, please consult Sherrod Library Online Catalog.

Blaustein, Richard. Traditional Music and Social Change: the Old Time Fiddlers Association Movement in the United States. 1975.

Burton, Thomas G. and Ambrose N. Manning, eds. Collection of Folklore by Undergraduate Students of East Tennessee State University. 1966.

Cooper, Horton. North Carolina Mountain Folklore and Miscellany. 1972.

Faulkner, Charles N. and Carol K. Buckles. Glimpses of Southern Appalachian Folk Culture... 1978.

Gainer, Patrick W. Witches, ghosts and signs: folklore of the Southern Appalachians. 1975.

Goehring, Eleanor. Tennessee Folk Culture: an annotated bibliography. 1982.

Kephart, Horace. Our Southern Highlanders. 1913.

Lofaro, Michael A., ed. The Tall Tales of Davy Crockett... 1987.

Mathes, Charles Hodge. Tall Tales from Old Smoky. 1952.

Maurer, B. B., ed. Mountain Heritage. 1980.

Miles, Emma Bell. The Spirit of the Mountains. 1975.

Montell, William Lynwood. Ghosts Along the Cumberland... 1975.

Sharp, Cecil James, comp. Eighty English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. 1968.

Sheppard, Muriel. Cabins in the Laurel. 1935.

Waggoner, Tim. The Poor Man's Medicine Bag: (home remedies and helpful hints). 1984.

Wigginton, Eliot, ed. Foxfire. The nine volumes in this series (1972-86) are very useful in studying various folklore topics.