Tucked away on the fourth floor of the Charles C. Sherrod Library, with a sprawling view of Borchuck Plaza and the 48-foot-tall ETSU Foundation Carillon, sit delicate handwritten letters, vintage photographs capturing mountain life, and rare recordings of Appalachian music, all part of the Archives of Appalachia.
These artifacts tell a story of resilience, creativity, and deep community ties.
Less than a two-minute walk away stands the Reece Museum, a beautifully restored brick building that serves as a hub for Appalachian art, history, and culture. It’s home to roughly 22,000 artifacts – fine art works, religious artifacts, vinyl recordings, agricultural tools, and even a Mountain Dew collection, all showcasing the innovation and resourcefulness of the region’s people.
Then there’s the Regional Resources Institute, charged with promoting research and service related to Appalachia, and the relatively newly formed Institute for Appalachian Music and Culture, a center intended to highlight, preserve, and extend the rich diversity of music and culture in the Appalachian Mountains.
Each of these four components makes up the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University, part of the renowned Department of Appalachian Studies.
The center is celebrating an incredible 40 years during the 2024-25 academic year.
“The center was born from a vision to preserve and uplift the voices and traditions of Appalachia and to serve the people of the region,” said Dr. Ron Roach, Chair of the Department of Appalachian Studies and Director of the center. “Forty years later, that mission remains at the heart of everything we do, but it has evolved into something far greater – an effort to share Appalachia’s global significance while remaining deeply rooted in its communities.”
The Power of Preservation
From the intricate weaving of Appalachian music to its unparalleled storytelling traditions, Appalachia embodies a way of life that is both unique and influential.
Few places in the world offer as deep and nuanced a window into Appalachian life as the Archives of Appalachia.
Housing over two miles of rare manuscripts, 300,000 photographs, and 100,000 audio and video recordings, the Archives is a living repository of the region’s stories.
“Preservation is about more than safeguarding artifacts or documents – it’s about honoring the stories, voices, and cultures that shape who we are,” said Dr. Jeremy Smith, Director of the Archives.
“Through preservation, we ensure that future generations can connect with the richness and complexity of Appalachia’s heritage, learning from its past to inspire its future.” Preservation at the Archives, in other words, goes beyond mere storage.
It’s an act of renewal.
Through digitization, these treasures of Appalachia now transcend borders, allowing people worldwide to connect with its distinct culture and celebrate its enduring legacy.
Recent grants, such as the $170,000 “Save America’s Treasures” award, underscore the importance of this work. The grant enables archivists to process and rehouse materials that were once at risk of physical deterioration, safeguarding them for future generations.
“This collection represents an unparalleled source of original materials that provide nuanced depictions of Appalachia,” said Smith. “Preserving these records is about fostering cultural understanding and ensuring that the voices of Appalachia continue to be heard.”
At the Reece Museum, tremendous behind-the-scenes work goes into every exhibit that opens to the public, as well as the care and intentional development of the museum’s distinguished permanent collection. The Reece has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1973. Museum staff apply rigorous professional standards to exhibition development, collections care, and educational programming offered to the public.
Established in 1965, the museum was to be “a storehouse of knowledge” and continues to be an educational resource for students, faculty and staff, and the region. Since becoming part of the center, museum educational content has focused on exploring Appalachian identity and culture from a variety of perspectives.
Recent and award-winning exhibitions include “Suffrage in Southern Appalachia,” “Exuberant Spirit: the Sammie L. Nicely Collection,” “Blighted Pine: Appalachian Ancestors,” “Illustrating Dante’s Divine Comedy,” and “Local Art in the Age of the 2020 Global Pandemic.”
Officials have likewise recognized the Reece Museum for its SPARK! program, an ongoing interactive experience for people living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers, presented in partnership with Alzheimer’s Tennessee.
“Something we spend a lot of time thinking about is how we transmit memory and story through material artifacts. The historical record is full of writing about wealthy landowners, powerful political figures, and influential citizens who owned capital,” said Rebecca Proffitt, the museum’s Director. “How do we find and remember the stories of people who are not typically represented in those official narratives, people who had no political power or social influence?”
It’s a picture of a region rich with culture and also deeply complex.
By Suzanne Stryk
By Andrew Moore
The Reece Museum showcases a vibrant collection of Appalachian art, highlighting the creativity and diversity of the region’s artists. These works spark conversations about the evolving identity of Appalachian art, exploring themes of tradition, innovation, and representation. Selections represent the museum’s dedication to preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of Appalachia, offering visitors a window into the region’s unique cultural tapestry.
Recognized Success
The center has earned its place as a national leader in Appalachian scholarship, thanks in no small part to its success in securing competitive grants and awards.
Over the years, the center has attracted millions in funding, enabling groundbreaking projects that preserve and promote the region’s heritage. Since 2001, the center has directed the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative, funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Students from across the region carry out community-based research projects and present their research in Washington, D.C., each December.
Among the center’s recent accomplishments is a nearly $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to develop an online, open-access version of the Encyclopedia of Appalachia. This monumental project builds on the success of the 2006 print edition, which featured over 2,000 articles contributed by more than 1,000 scholars. By moving the encyclopedia online, the center is expanding access to reliable information about Appalachia, ensuring that its rich history and culture reach a global audience.
“This project exemplifies the mission of the center,” said Roach. “We’re not only preserving Appalachia’s heritage but also sharing its stories in innovative ways that engage new audiences.”
In 2021, the Archives of Appalachia and the Reece Museum secured an impressive $225,000 NEH grant to enhance online access to collections highlighting diverse voices in Southern Appalachia. From oral histories and vernacular music recordings to artifacts representing marginalized communities, these collections challenge stereotypes and enrich the narrative of what it means to be Appalachian.
The grant funded three professional staff members to purchase equipment to digitize and provide free online access to thousands of rare and unique materials.
Nationally recognized projects extend to different disciplines.
Dr. Ted Olson, a professor in Appalachian Studies, co-produced the critically acclaimed Stars in
the Southern Sky, a three-CD set celebrating the life and music of Appalachian-born
singer-songwriter Steve Young.
A pioneering figure in the three music subgenres of country-rock, outlaw country, and Americana, Young recorded many critically acclaimed albums. The Eagles, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Billy Strings, Alan Jackson, Del McCoury, and Hank Williams, Jr. are among those who have performed and recorded Young’s songs.
And at the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass
Conference, one of the most significant bluegrass events in the world, ETSU faculty
and alumni secured many honors.
Among them was Tony Watt, who earned the Momentum Mentor of the Year Award.
Watt studied bluegrass at ETSU in the early 2000s. Alumna Grace van’t Hof captured the IBMA Graphic Designer of the Year award for the fourth year straight. Since 2013, students, faculty, and alumni have been nominated for more than 300 music industry awards, winning more than 100.
Arts and Appalachia
The arts are a cornerstone of Appalachian culture.
Leaders at ETSU have long been champions of preserving and elevating the region’s creative traditions.
At the heart of this mission is the university’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program. This unit has helped shape the sound of a region while challenging the world’s perceptions of Appalachia.
One of the program’s most notable alumni is Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, whose fearless exploration of race, identity, and personal experience has garnered national acclaim. Her song “Black Myself “offers a poignant critique of exclusion within some circles, while her album Wary + Strange has been celebrated for redefining the genre. The New York Times declared: “Amythyst Kiah found her powerful voice. Now she has a sound to match it.”
Alumni like Tray Wellington, whose album “Black Banjo” broke traditional boundaries in bluegrass, and Becky Buller, a celebrated fiddler and songwriter who gave the keynote address at the 2024 IBMA conference, highlight the program’s reach. Other famous alumni include Tim Stafford, Barry Bales, and Adam Steffey, who were members of the original Alison Krauss and Union Station band, among many other accomplishments.
“ETSU’s commitment to the arts is rooted in our responsibility to celebrate and elevate the voices of Appalachia,” said Roach. “Through our programs and alumni, we’re not only preserving the region’s cultural heritage but also showcasing its vibrancy and relevance to the world.”
Legacy of Leadership
When the university established the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, its mission was clear: to preserve, celebrate, and amplify the voices and traditions of Appalachia and to serve the people and communities of the region.
Over the past four decades, the center has become synonymous with academic excellence, cultural stewardship, and community engagement, fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s heritage and its global significance.
A core part of this legacy is the role ETSU has played in redefining Appalachian music through its pioneering Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program.
Founded in 1982 by legendary bluegrass musician Jack Tottle, the program was the first of its kind at a four-year university.
Tottle’s vision extended beyond preserving Appalachian music.
He aimed to create a space where innovation and tradition could coexist, and where students could explore and expand the boundaries of a genre deeply rooted in regional identity. His efforts laid the foundation for what many consider to be one of the most influential bluegrass programs in the world.
As the Raleigh News & Observer noted: “When it comes to collegiate bluegrass programs, the nationwide gold standard is East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music program.”
A 2022 concert celebrating the program’s 40th anniversary drew one of the program’s and university’s most famous graduates, Kenny Chesney, whom ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland awarded with an honorary doctorate.
“It cannot be overstated the influence ETSU has had on American music over these past 40 years,” said Dan Boner, program Director and ETSU alumnus. “ETSU students and alumni have impacted the music world, performing on the largest international stages and garnering hundreds of industry awards.”
Encyclopedia of Appalachia
ETSU’s Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services is bringing the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Appalachia into the digital age.
In collaboration with the University of Tennessee Press and an advisory board of regional scholars, ETSU is ensuring that this updated resource will continue to serve as the definitive guide to Appalachian history, culture, and society.
With support from a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the team is transforming the 2006 print edition into an online, open-access platform. This monumental project will make over 2,000 articles – crafted by more than 1,000 scholars – accessible to a global audience.
The Center's Future
Although Appalachia has made much progress over the past decades, the region still lags behind the rest of the nation in key economic, education, and health indicators. As the center marks 40 years, its leaders remain focused on expanding its impact while honoring its founding vision. The coming decades hold immense promise as the center continues to aid the region and evolve as a hub of scholarship, preservation, and community engagement.
“The strength of the center lies in its ability to adapt while staying true to the core values that define Appalachia,” said Roach. “Appalachia has always been home to resilient people who rise to meet challenges and who help one another, as we have seen in the response to the Hurricane Helene disaster. The work that we do here is part of that tradition. We’re not just preserving the past – we’re helping communities and creating pathways for Appalachia’s stories, traditions, and voices to thrive in the future.”
From the ongoing digitization of the Archives of Appalachia to groundbreaking scholarship emerging from the Department of Appalachian Studies, the center is positioned to remain a leader in Appalachian research and education.
“Appalachia is often overlooked, underestimated, generalized, and homogenized,” Noland said. “But those of us who call this region home know the truth: nestled within these mountains are some of the most vibrant and complex cultural enclaves in the nation. The Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services helps deepen our understanding of a region that for centuries has been mischaracterized and misunderstood. It celebrates the unique soul of the region while also confronting its challenges, forging a bright future from the embers of the past.”
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