A brief history of the Encyclopedia of Appalachia project

1995

• The Center decides to produce a reference work on Appalachia.
• Executive co-editors are selected; advisory and editorial boards are assembled.
• Federal Express, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provide initial funding.
• Appalachian Studies leaders meet in Roanoke, Va., to discuss the project.

1996-1997

• Encyclopedia focus groups gather in 11 Appalachian states.
• University of Tennessee Press is selected as publisher.
• Advisory and editorial boards convene in Washington, D.C.
• ARC, University of Tennessee Press, State of Ohio, ETSU Foundation, advisory board members, and others provide further funding.

1998-1999

• Associate editors, section editors, and managing editor are selected.
• Editorial staff meets in Abingdon, Va.
• Center is awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant.
• Entries are assigned to writers.

1999-2000

• Entries start arriving.
• Editorial staff meets in Knoxville, Tenn.
• Additional funding is obtained from NEH, ETSU, and ARC.

2000-2005

• Entries continue to arrive.
• Final editing completed.
• Layout design and indexing begun.