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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 28.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 23,000 items) |
Abstract | The John C. Campbell Folk School, founded in 1925 by Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler, was organized on the model of folk and craft schools common in Scandinavia. The original purpose of the School was to preserve the indigenous culture of the southern highlands and to transmit these traditions to young people. Records of the John C. Campbell Folk School relate to maintenance and administration of the School as well as to the activities and programs conducted there. Included is correspondence and other items about day-to-day activities, with a large number of letters describing individual programs and events, including an internship program that brought college students to live and work at the School while working on social, cultural, and environmental issues; proposals for workshops and courses from craftspeople; materials relating to maintenance of the School grounds, construction of new buildings, personnel, food preparation, and other operational topics; reports from meetings of the Board of Directors about general School policies; items relating to the School's relations with outside agencies, including state agencies and colleges and universities in the area; solicitation lists and other fundraising materials; grant proposal materials; general planning materials; and financial records, including auditors' reports, ledgers, and accounting sheets. |
Creator | John C. Campbell Folk School. |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
Language | English. |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
The John C. Campbell Folk School was founded in 1925 by Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler. The School was organized on the model of folk and craft schools common in Scandinavia. The original purpose of the School was to preserve the indigenous culture of the southern highlands and to transmit these traditions to young people. For an extensive history of the John C. Campbell Folk School, see Pat McNelley, The First 40 Years: The John C. Campbell Folk School (1966) and Laura O'Keefe, Growing is the Reason for Being: An Experiment in Education at the John C. Campbell Folk School (1992).
Back to TopThe records of the John C. Campbell Folk School folk and craft school relate to maintenance and administration of the School as well as to the activities and programs conducted there. Included is correspondence and other items about day-to-day activities, with a large number of letters describing individual programs and events, including an internship program that brought college students to live and work at the School while working on social, cultural, and environmental issues; proposals for workshops and courses from craftspeople; materials relating to maintenance of the School grounds, construction of new buildings, personnel, food preparation, and other operational topics; reports from meetings of the Board of Directors about general School policies; items relating to the School's relations with outside agencies, including state agencies and colleges and universities in the area; solicitation lists and other fundraising materials; grant proposal materials; general planning materials; and financial records, including auditors' reports, ledgers, and accounting sheets.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Primarily correspondence between officials at the John C. Campbell Folk School and parties interested in either general information about the School or in particular programs or events. Also included is some correspondence among people either employed by, or otherwise connected with the School, including Esther Hyatt, John Ramsay, Maggie Masters, and Robert Fink. The letters discuss various day-to-day operations at the School, as well as prospective events and fund raising.
Folder 1 |
1969 |
Folder 2-4
Folder 2Folder 3Folder 4 |
1970 |
Folder 5-6
Folder 5Folder 6 |
1971 |
Folder 7-8
Folder 7Folder 8 |
1972 |
Folder 9-12
Folder 9Folder 10Folder 11Folder 12 |
1973 |
Folder 13-14
Folder 13Folder 14 |
1974 |
Folder 15-19
Folder 15Folder 16Folder 17Folder 18Folder 19 |
1975 |
Folder 20 |
1976 |
Folder 21-26
Folder 21Folder 22Folder 23Folder 24Folder 25Folder 26 |
1978 |
Folder 27-29
Folder 27Folder 28Folder 29 |
1979 |
Folder 30-35
Folder 30Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33Folder 34Folder 35 |
1980 |
Folder 36-38
Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38 |
1981 |
Folder 39-73
Folder 39Folder 40Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44Folder 45Folder 46Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49Folder 50Folder 51Folder 52Folder 53Folder 54Folder 55Folder 56Folder 57Folder 58Folder 59Folder 60Folder 61Folder 62Folder 63Folder 64Folder 65Folder 66Folder 67Folder 68Folder 69Folder 70Folder 71Folder 72Folder 73 |
1982 |
Folder 74-79
Folder 74Folder 75Folder 76Folder 77Folder 78Folder 79 |
1983 |
Folder 80 |
1984-1985 |
Folder 81 |
1986-1988 |
Folder 82 |
Undated |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Materials relating to planning and daily operations of the John C. Campbell Folk School, including those used in general planning, supply ordering, maintenance, and food service operations. There are also items relating to the School's relations with outside agencies, including the Council of the Southern Mountains, the Commission on Religion in Appalachia, the Settlement Agencies of Appalachia, the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, and the Tennessee Valley Authority; solicitation lists and other materials relating to fundraising activities, such as the Second Half Century Campaign, the Distant Gifts Campaign, and the Capital Fund Campaign; mailing lists; and materials relating to brochure design and the planning and purchase of advertisements. Also included are grant proposal materials and items that document the School's work with state agencies, such as the North Carolina Humanities Committee and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. There are also address lists, guest books, phone logs, personnel materials, and planning and construction documents; extensive minutes from staff meetings and meetings of the School's Board of Directors; records of collaborative work with colleges and universities in the region, including Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Mississippi; and items relating to the death of Georg Bidstrup.
Note that original file folder titles have, for the most part, been retained.
Materials relating to programs and activities conducted by the John C. Campbell Folk School. Note that these materials relate to particular events and programs, rather than to the day-to-day operations of the institution found in Series 2.
Note that original folder order and original file folder titles have, for the most part, been retained.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
The internship program brought college students to live and work at the John C. Campbell Folk School, while simultaneously working on projects related to regional social, cultural, and environmental issues. Included is correspondence, some of which describes particular aspects of the program, but most of which involves requests for information about programs and scheduling. In addition, there are publications and other materials relating to administration and planning of the program, including cooperative work with various educational institutions and community organizations, among them the North Carolina Department of Human Resources, Western Carolina University, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Upper Hiwassee Watershed Development Association. There are also completed reports from some of the participants in the program.
Folder 461 |
External Publications, 1970-1972 |
Folder 462-475
Folder 462Folder 463Folder 464Folder 465Folder 466Folder 467Folder 468Folder 469Folder 470Folder 471Folder 472Folder 473Folder 474Folder 475 |
Intern Correspondence, 1966-1973 and undated |
Folder 476-478
Folder 476Folder 477Folder 478 |
Intern Program Administrative Materials, 1966-1972 |
Folder 479 |
Intern Program Calendars, 1970-1971 |
Folder 480-489
Folder 480Folder 481Folder 482Folder 483Folder 484Folder 485Folder 486Folder 487Folder 488Folder 489 |
Intern Project Reports, 1968-1972 and undated |
Folder 490 |
Trellised Tomato Project, 1970-1972 |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Records relating to a project conducted at the John C. Campbell Folk School intended to teach participants the requisite skills for homesteading, including home building, small plot farming, and cooking. Included is correspondence between officials at the Campbell Folk School and potential students and instructors, materials relating to planning the project, and publications by other groups and agencies used to provide context for the projet.
Folder P-5040/1 |
Photographs |
Folder 491-498
Folder 491Folder 492Folder 493Folder 494Folder 495Folder 496Folder 497Folder 498 |
Correspondence, 1980-1983 |
Folder 499 |
Educational Publications, 1980-1981 |
Folder 500-515
Folder 500Folder 501Folder 502Folder 503Folder 504Folder 505Folder 506Folder 507Folder 508Folder 509Folder 510Folder 511Folder 512Folder 513Folder 514Folder 515 |
External Publications, 1979-1982 |
Folder 516 |
Food Production Course, 1981 |
Folder 517-522
Folder 517Folder 518Folder 519Folder 520Folder 521Folder 522 |
Grant Materials, 1979-1982 |
Folder 523 |
Informational Materials, 1980-1981 |
Folder 524-527
Folder 524Folder 525Folder 526Folder 527 |
Instructional Materials, 1979-1981 |
Folder 528-529
Folder 528Folder 529 |
Planning Materials, 1978-1981 |
Folder 530 |
Press Releases, 1981 |
Folder 531 |
Promotional Materials, 1982 |
Folder 532 |
Resource Center, 1981 |
Folder 533 |
Schedules, 1981-1982 |
Folder 534 |
Tool Inventories, 1980 |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Materials relating to a yearly arts and crafts festival held at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Included is information relating to individual craftspeople; information about activities at the festivals, such as food preparation and activities for children; general planning materials; mailing lists; and evaluations of the festivals.
Folder 535 |
American Folklife Festival Publications, 1976-1978 |
Folder 536 |
Brasstown Community Booth, 1979 |
Folder 537 |
Budget, 1979 |
Folder 538 |
Childrens' Area, 1979 |
Folder 539 |
Childrens' Program, 1980 |
Folder 540-541
Folder 540Folder 541 |
Correspondence, 1979 |
Folder 542-545
Folder 542Folder 543Folder 544Folder 545 |
Craftsman Applications, 1979-1982 |
Folder 546 |
Craftsman Correspondence, 1981 |
Folder 547-548
Folder 547Folder 548 |
Demonstrators, 1979-1980 |
Folder 549-550
Folder 549Folder 550 |
Festival Evaluations, 1979-1980 |
Folder 551-552
Folder 551Folder 552 |
Entertainment, 1980-1981 |
Folder 553 |
Food Booths, 1981 |
Folder 554 |
Junior Craftsmen, 1979 |
Folder 555-556
Folder 555Folder 556 |
Mailing Lists, 1979-1980 |
Folder 557 |
Pig Roast, 1979 |
Folder 558-574
Folder 558Folder 559Folder 560Folder 561Folder 562Folder 563Folder 564Folder 565Folder 566Folder 567Folder 568Folder 569Folder 570Folder 571Folder 572Folder 573Folder 574 |
Planning Materials, 1979-1982 |
Folder 575 |
Printed Program, 1979 |
Folder 576-577
Folder 576Folder 577 |
Public Relations, 1979-1980 |
Folder 578-581
Folder 578Folder 579Folder 580Folder 581 |
Publicity Materials, 1979-1980 |
Folder 582-583
Folder 582Folder 583 |
Reception, 1979-1980 |
Folder 584-585
Folder 584Folder 585 |
Volunteers, 1979-1980 |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Materials either written about the John C. Campbell Folk School or used to publicize particular events there. Included are articles, flyers for individual course offerings, drafts for calendar listings, and brochures for events at similar institutions.
Folder 586-588
Folder 586Folder 587Folder 588 |
Articles, 1970-1980 |
Folder 589-590
Folder 589Folder 590 |
Calendar Listings, 1986-1987 |
Folder 591-592
Folder 591Folder 592 |
Course Flyers, 1970-1982 |
Folder 593 |
Dance and Music Flyers, 1981-1988 |
Folder 594 |
Dance Event Press Releases, 1986 |
Folder 595 |
Dance School Flyers, 1987 |
Folder 596 |
Event Listings, 1987 |
Folder 597-602
Folder 597Folder 598Folder 599Folder 600Folder 601Folder 602 |
External Event Brochures, 1978-1984 |
Folder 603-604
Folder 603Folder 604 |
Flyers, 1981, 1987 |
Folder 605 |
Folk School Promotion, 1988 |
Folder 606-612
Folder 606Folder 607Folder 608Folder 609Folder 610Folder 611Folder 612 |
Newspaper Clippings, 1970-1987 |
Folder 613-619
Folder 613Folder 614Folder 615Folder 616Folder 617Folder 618Folder 619 |
Press Releases, 1978-1982 |
Folder 620 |
Promotional Materials, 1985 |
Folder 621-629
Folder 621Folder 622Folder 623Folder 624Folder 625Folder 626Folder 627Folder 628Folder 629 |
Publicity Materials, 1972-1986 |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
The Craft Department was a unit within the John C. Campbell Folk School that organized craft sales and other events.
Folder 630 |
Bazaars, 1964 |
Folder 631 |
Craft Department Exploratory Study, ca. 1953 |
Folder 632-641
Folder 632Folder 633Folder 634Folder 635Folder 636Folder 637Folder 638Folder 639Folder 640Folder 641 |
Craft Department Inventories, 1954-1978 |
Folder 642-645
Folder 642Folder 643Folder 644Folder 645 |
Craft Department Reports to Directors, 1958-1969 |
Folder 646-647
Folder 646Folder 647 |
Craft Department Rural Youth Weekends, 1956-1958 |
Folder 648-649
Folder 648Folder 649 |
Craft Department Shops, Retail Sales, and Exhibits Records, 1953-1954 |
Folder 650 |
Craft Department Supplies, 1973 |
Folder 651 |
Craft Sale Correspondence, 1945-1952 |
Folder 652-653
Folder 652Folder 653 |
Craft Sales, 1945-1955 |
Folder 654-670
Folder 654Folder 655Folder 656Folder 657Folder 658Folder 659Folder 660Folder 661Folder 662Folder 663Folder 664Folder 665Folder 666Folder 667Folder 668Folder 669Folder 670 |
Craftsmens' Fairs, 1948-1977 |
Folder 671 |
Notes on Finishes, undated |
Folder 672 |
Potomac Old School Records, 1944-1953 |
Folder 673 |
Raleigh State Fair, 1953-1958 |
Folder 674-677
Folder 674Folder 675Folder 676Folder 677 |
Sales and Use Tax Reports, 1964-1970 |
Folder 678 |
Shops Requesting Carvings, 1961 |
Folder 679-686
Folder 679Folder 680Folder 681Folder 682Folder 683Folder 684Folder 685Folder 686 |
Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, 1939-1976 |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Items related to the planning and execution of events at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Included are materials from workshops, festivals, events, sales, parties, and dramatic productions.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Proposals by various craft instructors for courses at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Items relate to the particular instructor's skills, classes, and projects, rather than to personnel management (see Series 2). Included are descriptions of the proposed content of individual classes, materials establishing the creditials of individual instructors (reviews, articles, etc.), and lists of materials needed to facilitate instruction in particular courses.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Materials relating to the financial management of the John C. Campbell Folk School. Included are yearly auditors' reports detailing the financial position of the school, materials relating to agricultural projects, ledgers and loose sheets that track finances and transactions (loose sheets appear to overlap with those detailed in the primary general account ledgers both in time and in substance), and materials tracking receipts and payments that take up where the general account ledgers leave off (the latest of these are computer printouts, 1983-1985).
Folder 968-985
Folder 968Folder 969Folder 970Folder 971Folder 972Folder 973Folder 974Folder 975Folder 976Folder 977Folder 978Folder 979Folder 980Folder 981Folder 982Folder 983Folder 984Folder 985 |
Auditors' Reports, 1946-1983 |
Folder 986 |
Brasstown Credit Union, 1949-1958 |
Folder 987-991
Folder 987Folder 988Folder 989Folder 990Folder 991 |
Budget Materials, 1966-1982 |
Folder 992 |
Carving Receipt Book, 1952 |
Folder 993 |
Coble Dairy Products, Inc., 1963-1967 |
Folder 994 |
Crafts Accounts Receivable, 1983-1984 |
Folder 995-997
Folder 995Folder 996Folder 997 |
Crafts Receipt Books, 1932-1952 |
Folder 998 |
Craft Receipt Ledger, 1941-1944 |
Folder 999-1006
Folder 999Folder 1000Folder 1001Folder 1002Folder 1003Folder 1004Folder 1005Folder 1006 |
Farm Account Books, 1927-1946 |
Folder 1007-1008
Folder 1007Folder 1008 |
Farm Program Study, 1957 |
Folder 1009-1010
Folder 1009Folder 1010 |
Farm Records, Poultry Record Books, 1934-1935, 1940 |
Folder 1011 |
Farm Reports, 1938, 1965-1968 |
Folder 1012 |
Financial Analysis, 1946-1964 |
Folder 1013 |
Financial Papers, 1973 |
Folder 1014 |
Financial Reports, 1983 |
Folder 1015-1021
Folder 1015Folder 1016Folder 1017Folder 1018Folder 1019Folder 1020Folder 1021 |
General Account Ledgers, 1925-1962 |
Folder 1022-1024
Folder 1022Folder 1023Folder 1024 |
General Account Ledgers (Cash Receipts), 1931-1952 |
Folder 1025 |
Insurance Survey, 1952 |
Folder 1026-1028
Folder 1026Folder 1027Folder 1028 |
Investment Records, 1983 |
Folder 1029-1033
Folder 1029Folder 1030Folder 1031Folder 1032Folder 1033 |
Ledger Sheets, 1932-1940, 1946-1951, 1963-1967 |
Folder 1034 |
Monthly Accounting Reports, 1975 |
Folder 1035-1036
Folder 1035Folder 1036 |
Receipts and Payments, 1963-1967, 1983-1985 |
Folder 1037-1040
Folder 1037Folder 1038Folder 1039Folder 1040 |
Trial Balance Books, 1936-1951 |
Folder 1041 |
Student Account Book, 1947-1950 |
Folder 1042 |
Student Loan Fund Ledger, 1936-1961 |
Oversize Volume SV-5040/1-27
SV-5040/1SV-5040/2SV-5040/3SV-5040/4SV-5040/5SV-5040/6SV-5040/7SV-5040/8SV-5040/9SV-5040/10SV-5040/11SV-5040/12SV-5040/13SV-5040/14SV-5040/15SV-5040/16SV-5040/17SV-5040/18SV-5040/19SV-5040/20SV-5040/21SV-5040/22SV-5040/23SV-5040/24SV-5040/25SV-5040/26SV-5040/27 |
Volumes |
Separated items include 70 photographs (P-5040/folder 1-4) and 27 oversized volumes (V-5040/S 1-27).
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