Center for Appalachian Studies

Research Projects

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Research Projects
Professor Alex Hooker playing “Cotton Eyed Joe” on the banjo for his Appalachian Strings class. Feb. 14, 2024. Hooker demonstrates how the song is supposed to sound before guiding his students along. Photo by Devon Richter

Strings of legacy: Alexander Hooker’s 25-year impact on App State
Apr 16, 2024

Alexander Hooker’s journey to old-time folk music started gradually, then suddenly. He has been a professor of Appalachian Strings here at...

This 1758 map, authored by English cartographers Emanuel Bowen and John Gibson, shows the “Apalachaen Mountains” region of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and part of Virginia. According to App State’s Dr. Sandra Ballard, professor in the Department of English and the Center for Appalachian Studies, 16th century mapmakers splayed the word ‘Apalche’ (and other spellings) — indicating the homeplace of Native Americans called Apalachee — across large inland areas of the U.S., leading others to take it

'Appalachian' — how do you say it?
Nov 1, 2023

BOONE, N.C. — At Appalachian State University, Mountaineers have a preference in the pronunciation of Appalachian: “appa-latch-un.”...

Appalachian studies graduate students Camden Phillips, Kevin Freeman, Sammy Osmond, Megan Hall and Yndiana Montes met with MountainTrue's High Country Watershed Coordinator, Hannah Woodburn, as part of their microplastics project.

App State's Center for Appalachian Studies prepares for AppalachiaFest
Mar 6, 2023

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University's Center for Appalachian Studies is preparing for the 46th Annual Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) C...

Cover image of the Appalachian Journal, its first special edition on Appalachian music.

Appalachian Journal
Jun 25, 2021

Appalachian Journal has published its first special edition on Appalachian music. This double issue (vol. 42, nos. 3-4) is the largest one in the jour...

International links
Jun 19, 2021

The Center for Appaachian Studies has been developing international links to focus on collaborative opportunities to address the challenges to sustain...

After Coal documentary

After Coal
Jun 17, 2021

After Coal profiles inspiring individuals who are building a new future in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and South Wales. This hour long document...

Ashe County Barn Quilt Tour Guide cover image.

Study Guides
Jun 18, 2020

During the fall semester of 2020 graduate students in our Appalachian studies program collaborated with the Ashe County Arts Council to develop a seri...

Interviewee Bill Alexander, right, instructs Appalachian State University graduate student Chelsey Johnson, of Knoxville, Tennessee, in how to strip hickory bark for lacing baskets and weaving chair bottoms. Johnson interviewed Alexander for her South Arts-funded grant project documenting living folk traditions in Appalachia. Johnson is an M.A. candidate in Appalachian State University’s Appalachian studies program. Photo by Jesse Barber

South Arts supports App State documentary on living folk traditions in Appalachia
Oct 30, 2019

Living folk traditions practiced by the people of diverse cultures in Western North Carolina will be preserved for generations to come thanks to the d...

North Carolina Arts Council Eric Ellis Banjo Recording Grant
Jun 28, 2016

Emily Schaad and Leila Weinstein, Co-PIsEric Ellis was born in 1958 and grew up in Wilkes County. Ellis learned to play thorugh self-tuition and famil...

Documentary Research Program
Jun 28, 2015

Teaching The Center for Appalachian Studies actively engages students in documenting regional culture and history as well as recording efforts to...

Subscribe