Appalachian Studies Association
Encyclopedia
The Appalachian Studies Association is an organization of scholars and activists interested in Appalachian studies
.
According to its web site, “The Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) was formed in 1977 by a group of scholars, teachers, and regional activists who believed that shared community has been and will continue to be important to those writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia. The Appalachian Studies Association's mission is to encourage study, advance scholarship, disseminate information, and enhance communication between Appalachian peoples, their communities, governmental organizations, and educational institutions.”
The organization hosts an annual academic conference
. It also publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Appalachian Studies, maintains a website, serves as a community for persons interested in writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia
, and acts as a clearinghouse for information about the Appalachian region.
, an initial “Appalachian Conference” at Clinch Valley College in 1970, and a 1976 gathering at Appalachian State University
in Boone, North Carolina
, in honor of Appalachian scholar and folklorist Cratis Williams. (Brown et al. 2003)
The 1976 meeting at Boone, which became known as the Cratis Williams Symposium, gathered scholars from a variety of academic disciplines, and it proved to be a watershed meeting in the development of Appalachian studies. “For the first time,” wrote Appalachian scholar and activist Steve Fisher, “academicians who had felt isolated in fighting the battle for Appalachian Studies…realized that there was a network of people fighting the same battle” (Brown et al. 2003)
The Cratis Williams Symposium led to a planning session the following year at Berea College
in Berea, KY. This meeting identified seven objectives for future conferences:
The first conference was held in 1978 at Berea College, and Appalachian studies conferences have been held every year since. Originally founded as the “Appalachian Studies Conference” in December 1978, the organizational name was changed to its current “Appalachian Studies Association” in 1993.(Brown et al. 2003)
A timeline of the ASA’s history is available on the Appalachian Studies Association website.
Appalachian studies
Appalachian studies is the area studies field concerned with the Appalachian region of the United States.-Scholarship:In 1966, West Virginia University librarian Robert F...
.
According to its web site, “The Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) was formed in 1977 by a group of scholars, teachers, and regional activists who believed that shared community has been and will continue to be important to those writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia. The Appalachian Studies Association's mission is to encourage study, advance scholarship, disseminate information, and enhance communication between Appalachian peoples, their communities, governmental organizations, and educational institutions.”
The organization hosts an annual academic conference
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
. It also publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Appalachian Studies, maintains a website, serves as a community for persons interested in writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
, and acts as a clearinghouse for information about the Appalachian region.
History
Prior to 1977, Appalachian activism, scholarship, and service manifested itself in many ways, including the activities of the Council of the Southern MountainsCouncil of the Southern Mountains
Council of the Southern Mountains was a non-profit organization, active from 1912 to 1989, concerned with education and community development in southern Appalachia.-Origins:...
, an initial “Appalachian Conference” at Clinch Valley College in 1970, and a 1976 gathering at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
, in honor of Appalachian scholar and folklorist Cratis Williams. (Brown et al. 2003)
The 1976 meeting at Boone, which became known as the Cratis Williams Symposium, gathered scholars from a variety of academic disciplines, and it proved to be a watershed meeting in the development of Appalachian studies. “For the first time,” wrote Appalachian scholar and activist Steve Fisher, “academicians who had felt isolated in fighting the battle for Appalachian Studies…realized that there was a network of people fighting the same battle” (Brown et al. 2003)
The Cratis Williams Symposium led to a planning session the following year at Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
in Berea, KY. This meeting identified seven objectives for future conferences:
- To encourage Appalachian studies through an annual conference, newsletter, and ad hoc meetings.
- To provide a forum for exchange of research information.
- To coordinate analysis across interdisciplinary lines.
- To increase and spread the knowledge of things Appalachian.
- To be an advocate for Appalachian research.
- To relate scholarship to regional needs and concerns of the Appalachian people.
- To support other organizations’ efforts in harmony with the purposes of the conference.
The first conference was held in 1978 at Berea College, and Appalachian studies conferences have been held every year since. Originally founded as the “Appalachian Studies Conference” in December 1978, the organizational name was changed to its current “Appalachian Studies Association” in 1993.(Brown et al. 2003)
A timeline of the ASA’s history is available on the Appalachian Studies Association website.