Abstract:
I have long had a personal interest in craft-work. As well, the Appalachian Mountains have won my heart over again and again during visits. The following study resulted from my initial attempt to combine those two interests. As I began research, it became apparent that southern Appalachia has a rich and interesting history in relation to craftwork. Moving beyond my personal pastimes, I wanted to explore a part of that history. People often consider southern Appalachia to be a stagnant region and overlook its role as a region in America; I believe this norm should be reconsidered in light of information uncovered.At the turn of the last century, a craft revival took place in Southern Appalachia. This may sound trivial, but in truth, by exploring the factors that initiated the craft revival, one uncovers some very interesting issues, not only about Southern Appalachia but also about the American mindset. One of the most interesting matters that influenced not only the craft revival but also culture as a whole in southern Appalachia was the role of women. Women from the northeast and Bluegrass Kentucky arrived in Appalachia as missionaries, teachers, and reform workers. They are intricately tied to the craft revival, for without their work, there would not have spread a renewed interest in traditional crafts, nor would there have been such impetus to make the products to satisfy these interests. Before discussing specific personalities and the work they did, however, I first detail several issues that are of chief importance when trying to understand the craft revival. These were not randomly chosen, rather through researching, various themes surfaced that were present in all work done in southern Appalachia. I propose it is the convergence of these themes that made it possible for the Craft Revival to take place in Southern Appalachia.
