Past Public Programs

2020-2021 Public Programs

Serpent Handling and Religious Expression: A Discussion Between Dr. Thomas Burton and Dr. Ron Roach
online live webinar: Tuesday December 1, 2020, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
This live webinar centered on Dr. Burton's research into the religious rituals and practices of southern Appalachia, particularly of "signs following" Holiness Pentecostal churches, about which Burton has written two books: 1993's Serpent Handling Believers and 2004's The Serpent and the Spirit.

A portion of Burton's research is featured in the documentary film Alabama Snake, which premiered on HBO on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. The film explores the story of Glenn Summerford, a serpent-handling Pentecostal minister who was accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake in Alabama in 1991.
A video of the event is available.

2019-2020 Public Programs

The Beautiful Music All Around Us: A Presentation and Discussion with Stephen Wade
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was cancelled.

Stephen Wade (folk musician, writer, and researcher) will lead a presentation and discussion based on his decades of research into vernacular musicians of southern Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta. The presentation will highlight his ongoing work to draw attention to largely unheralded individuals--farm laborers, state prisoners, schoolchildren, cowboys, housewives and mothers, loggers and miners--whose music has become part of the wider American sonic soundscape.  Wade is author of the acclaimed 2012 book The Beautiful Music All Around Us: Field Recordings and the American Experience. He is widely known for his record-breaking run of stage performances in “Banjo Dancing,” a one-person show focused on folk narrative, traditional music, and the people who made it.

To Live Here, You Have to Fight: How Women Led Appalachian Movements for Social Justice
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was cancelled.
Dr. Jessica Wilkerson (Asst. Prof. of History and Southern Studies, Univ. of Mississippi) will give a lecture on the central but overlooked contributions of working class women in Appalachian resistance movements of the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting the roles women played in shaping and sustaining programs, engaging in ideological debates, offering fresh visions of democratic participation, and facing personal political struggles.

Preserving Your Family Diaries and Letters | Archives of Appalachia (Sherrod, room 422)
November 16, 2019, 10 a.m. - noon
Do you have diaries and letters from your family that you want to pass on to future generations? This free, hands-on workshop will teach you how to preserve and care for these treasured papers.
A brief video from the event is available.

Cleaning and Caring for Your Record Collection | Archives of Appalachia (Sherrod, room 422)
October 26, 2019, 10 a.m. - noon
Are you new to collecting and playing records? This free, hands-on workshop will cover turntable care, proper use of styli, and best practices for cleaning and storing discs.
A brief video from the event is available.

Johnson City’s 1929 Recording Sessions: Presenting the Story, Performing the Sound | Archives of Appalachia (Sherrod, room 422)
October 9, 2019, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
ETSU's Dr. Ted Olson, Roy Andrade, and Ryan Bernard will discuss the historic 1929 Johnson City recording sessions.  Dr. Olson will highlight his work producing and writing original liner notes for recent reissues of the recordings, and Mr. Andrade and Mr. Bernard will present new performances of music from the original sessions.


 
Preserving Your Family Photographs | Archives of Appalachia (Sherrod, room 422)
September 28, 2019, 10 a.m. - noon
Do you have photographs and scrapbooks from the past that you want to preserve? This free, hands-on workshop will give you practical advice on storing, displaying, and digitizing your family's photographic legacy.
A brief video from the event is available.

2018-2019 Public Programs

Open House Celebrating the Archives' 40th Anniversary
Tuesday, November 13, 2018, 5 - 7 p.m.
The Archives of Appalachia invites you to an open house celebrating 40 years (1978-2018).  Light refreshments will be served.
A brief video of the event is available.

40+ Photographs: A Preservation Workshop | Archives of Appalachia
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 9 a.m. - Noon
Participants will learn about physical preservation of photographs older than 40 years and walk away with recommendations about scanning and managing digital files. Participants are encouraged to bring a photograph or photograph album. Limited to 10 participants. Reserve a seat by emailing archives@etsu.edu  or calling 423-439-4338. 

Songs of Love & Friendship in the Archives | Archives of Appalachia
Thursday February 14, 2019, 1 - 4 p.m.
Be inspired for Valentine's Day by browsing and listening to old-time, bluegrass, and country music vinyl albums about love & friendship. 

The Films of Thomas Burton & Jack Schrader | B. Carroll Reece Museum 
Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 7 p.m.
This film screening features the work of two ETSU professors, Thomas G. Burton (professor emeritus, Department of English), and the late Jack Schrader (professor, Department of Art). Featured films include: "The Gandy Dancers," "A Film about Ray Hicks," and "They Shall Take Up Serpents."

Readings from Visionary Women | Archives of Appalachia
Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Women's History Month 2019 celebrates the nation's visionary women who worked to restore respect, establish justice, and reduce conflict in pursuit of peaceful communities. On March 19, the Archives of Appalachia joins in this celebration by highlighting women from the region who participated in and often documented their experiences affecting change in local communities. Scholars from diverse fields of study at ETSU and beyond will provide readings from the Archives' collections that highlight women's personal struggles, hard-earned victories, and daily rhythms of life in the southern Appalachian region. Featured presenters include Becky Fletcher, Tom Lee, Marat Moore, Jean Rushing, and Marie Tedesco.  

Basic Cleaning & Preservation of 78s and Vinyl Records | Archives of Appalachia
Saturday, April 13, 2019, 10 a.m. - Noon
New to collecting and playing record albums? This beginner's level, hands-on workshop will cover turntable care, proper use of needles, and best practices for cleaning and storing records. Limited to 10 participants. Reserve a seat by emailing archives@etsu.edu or calling 423-439-4338. 

Archives Jukebox | Borchuck Plaza
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 1 - 4 p.m.
Are you an ETSU student who needs a break from your final exam preparation? Check out this pop-up event on Borchuck Plaza to find something new by browsing and listening to some "old" old-time, bluegrass, and country music vinyl records! The Archives of Appalachia will have a selection of LPs from our nearly 85,000 sound recordings available to hear on ETSU's Borchuck Plaza from 1:00-4:00 p.m.