The Appalachian region of the United States has long been a source of conversation, myth and often controversy. The people of the region have served as the poster children for the war against poverty within various political administrations. Despite the existing stereotypes imbedded in our minds by old and contemporary media, it is also a region rich with natural resources, communities with strong heartstrings attached to their heritage and a deep love for the mountainous land that is difficult for outsiders to comprehend. It is a region that gives Kentucky much of its identity.

The Filson Historical Society will look into the history, the present and the future of Appalachia. We will learn about the struggles and tribulations of the community and its people, the battles with big businesses over land use and the creation of jobs at the sacrifice of the environment. We will wrestle with the idea that after about 40 years, billions of dollars and hours poured into the region, has much changed at all? Other questions and discussions will be about change, what is happening and how the region has often been a bellwether in cultural preservation, environmental activism and education. What are the solutions to overcoming an exhausted economy after the boom and bust of extractive industries? WIth issues around drug addiction, education and health care, we will discover Appalachia as a possible microcosm for the rest of the nation.

Thursday, November 12 - 5:15 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception; 6 p.m. Lecture
Keynote Address by Dr. Ron Eller
$5 for Filson & KFTC members/$10 for non-members

The Filson welcomes our Thursday night keynote speaker - author, educator and historian Dr. Ron Eller. Originally from southern West Virginia, Eller has spent the last 30 years writing and teaching about the Appalachian region. A descendent of eight generations of families from Appalachia, Dr. Eller is the former director of the Appalachian Center and Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, where he coordinates research and service programs on a wide range of Appalachian policy issues including education, health care, economic development, civic leadership and the environment. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of North Carolina.
Eller will apply his vast knowledge of the region to provide a compelling and comprehensive introduction to Appalachia and the upcoming weekend’s topics. He will also discuss his book, Uneven Ground: Appalachia Since 1945, which examines the politics of development in Appalachia since World War II.

Friday, November 13
Free for Filson & KFTC members/$5 for non-members
2 p.m. - “Stranger with a Camera”

“Stranger with a Camera” will be shown in its entirety, followed by a dialogue by director Elizabeth Barret and the co-producer and historical researcher Judi Jennings. On the surface, the film tells the story of an Appalachian landowner who killed a Canadian filmmaker while filming on location. This acclaimed documentary explores many issues, including the war on poverty, stereotypes, distrust of outsiders and, most importantly, what the media’s responsibility is with the images that they capture.

Elizabeth Barret of Appalshop is a filmmaker and native of Hazard, Kentucky. She joined Appalshop in 1973 and in 1997-8 was the recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation film/video/multimedia fellowship. Throughout the process of making “Stranger with a Camera,” she ultimately examined her own role as both a maker of media and a member of the Appalachian community she portrays. She received her B.A. in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Kentucky.

 Dr. Judi Jennings is a historian with deep Appalachian roots and was the chief researcher for “Stranger with a Camera.” She will discuss the challenges and rewards of putting history on film, bridging academic knowledge and lived experience of “Appalachianess,” and what it means to be an urban Appalachian. Jennings earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in British History and is Executive Director of the Kentucky Foundation for Women.

Both Barret and Jennings have a history with Appalshop and will speak about the non-profit multi-disciplinary arts and education center in the heart of Appalachia producing original films, video, theater, music and spoken word recordings, radio, photography, multimedia and books. Started in 1969 as an economic development project of the War on Poverty, Appalshop has grown into a nationally recognized media center that is dedicated to the proposition that the world is immeasurably enriched when local cultures garner their resources, including new technologies, to tell their own stories and to listen to the unique stories of others. Barret and Jennings are especially interested in how viewers “read” and react to the past and present images of Appalachians in “Stranger with a Camera” - they welcome all thoughtful and respectful dialogue from interested participants.

4 p.m. - A response to Diane Sawyer’s
“A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains”

Nyoka Hawkins will discuss Kentucky native Diane Sawyer’s “A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains.” In comparison to “Stranger with a Camera,” this is a more contemporary and, possibly for some, controversial piece. Hawkins will also show excerpts of the program, which originally aired on ABC in February 2009. Hawkins is a PhD candidate in American History at the University of Kentucky, specializing in Appalachian History, Women’s History and Modern France. She completed her B.A. in Film at Vassar College and her M.A. in American History at the University of Kentucky. Hawkins has also served as Assistant Director of UK’s Appalachian Center and Coordinator of the governor’s task force on Appalachia.

5 p.m. - Preserving “Abundant Life and Wisdom”

Writer/Photographer and Kentucky native Phyllis EagleTree will discuss her book, Roll The Wheel: The Abundant Life and Wisdom of Mae Phillips. In short essays and vivid photographs, EagleTree captures the richness and depth of the life of Harlan County native Mae Phillips - a life lived simply but fully in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. She was introduced to Mae Phillips and spent many hours sitting on Mae’s porch in Evarts, Kentucky, listening to her stories and recording them. Her photographs have appeared in Architectural Digest, Louisville Magazine, Horizon and in various annual report publications and brochures. She has an M.A. in Comparative Culture and Literary Studies from the University of Arizona and an M.A.T. from Bellarmine University. She presented “Inward to Mae Phillips” at the Appalachian Studies Conference.

6 p.m. - An optional boxed dinner will be offered for $10
6:30 p.m. - Clack Mountain String Band
Free for Filson and KFTC members/$5 for non-members

Clack Mountain String Band captures the rich and vibrant musical traditions of eastern Kentucky. The band is vastly influenced by the mountains and rolling hills of the region, as well as the living masters of Kentucky music such as Lee Sexton, George Gibson, Paul David Smith, John Harrod, Roger Cooper and many others who are passing on the music of our mountain forefathers to a new generation. Based in Morehead, Kentucky, Clack Mountain String Band reflects the diverse and exciting  old-time mountain music scene of east Kentucky.

Saturday, November 14
$5 for Filson & KFTC members/$10 for non-members
9 a.m. - Environment vs. Economic Development

Tom FitzGerald (an environmentalist) and J. Steven Gardner (a representative of “Big Coal”) will debate pros and cons of the presence of the coal industry in Appalachia. This controversial issue has plagued the region for decades as it has provided many with jobs while also having a severely negative effect on many aspects of the region’s environmental health.

Tom FitzGerald has been Director of the Kentucky Resources Council (KRC) since 1984. KRC is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the conservation and prudent use of Kentucky’s resources. From 1980 until 1984, FitzGerald was a staff attorney and environmental specialist with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky’s Lexington office. He received his B.A. in American Studies from Roger Williams College and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

J. Steven Gardner is the incoming President of the Kentucky Coal Association. He is currently the President/CEO of Engineering Consulting Services, Inc., a consulting practice focusing on energy, natural resources, environmental, health and safety, sensitive land issues, and industrial heritage projects. He attended the University of Kentucky where he received a B.S. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, an M.S. in Mining Engineering and a graduate level Environmental Systems Certificate.

Saturday, November 14 (continued)
11 a.m. - Songs Weaving Social Fabric

Jack Wright, a professor at Ohio University, will discuss music of the region and how it relates to various historical subjects. He is an artist whose work is strongly inspired by the culture of the Appalachian mountains. A founding member of the Appalshop media collective in Kentucky, he is an actor, documentary filmmaker, and musician whose work has appeared on National Public Radio, PBS, June Appal recordings and in Hollywood films.  Wright received his M.A. in Film Studies from Ohio University.  He is the founder of June Appal Recordings and produced more than 60 LP record albums including a historical two cd anthology titled “Music of Coal:  Mining Songs from the Appalachain Coalfields”.

Noon - An optional boxed lunch will be offered for $10
12:30 p.m. - A Younger Perspective on Contemporary Issues

The Appalachia Media Institute (AMI) is an Appalshop program that places the camera into the hands of Appalachian teenagers. The young film makers produce 10-15 minute biographical glimpses addressing topics both personal and community based. Program Director Rebecca O’ Doherty who has a B.A. in International Studies from University of North Carolina will share videos on the culture, traditions and current issues in their Appalachia communities and discuss how young people understand and contribute to the region.

2 p.m. - Present Initiatives Addressing Drugs and Education

Karen Engle will discuss Operation UNITE and other programs dedicated to the betterment of life conditions for Appalachians, including “Hooked on Fishing” and “Shoot Hoops, Not Drugs.” Engle is the founding President/CEO of Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a non-profit organization combating the ravages of illegal drug use in Eastern Kentucky. UNITE incorporates grassroots community efforts with cutting edge law enforcement, treatment initiatives, and education programs to fight drug addiction. Engle is also the Executive Director of PRIDE - Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment - and will discuss its initiatives. She received her B.S. in Management from Union College.

3 p.m. - “Will Someone Please Tell Me Why We’re Still Talking about Appalachian Problems?”

Dr. Chad Berry who serves as Director of the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center and Associate Professor of History at Berea College will explain some of the reasons behind the challenges as well as lesser-known assets for Appalachia. In 1965, Congress passed the Appalachian Redevelopment Act, which created the Appalachian Regional Commission, designed to promote economic development in Appalachia. Almost half a century later, after more than $4 billion in appropriations and countless human hours spent trying to improve the quality of life for mountaineers, many who study Appalachia believe that some parts of the region - particularly Central Appalachia - are no better off in 2009 than they were in 1965. How could this be so? Why do we still speak about and concentrate on persistent problems in the region?

Berry is published widely in the area of Appalachia studies and international education. He received his B.A. in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an M.A. in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in U.S. History from Indiana University.