Black Asheville History Project Relaunches!
After two long years of near stagnation, the Black Asheville History Project reignited during an event at the East Asheville Library on May 20. Together with the Buncombe County Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) team, BCSC staff hosted an informational luncheon.
The luncheon brought together a wide variety of community members including staff from the Buncombe County and City of Asheville equity and inclusion teams. It was encouraging to see dozens of community members gathered to learn about how they can support and contribute to our efforts to curate a more inclusive community archive.
Special thanks to the Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections who provided funding to ensure all attendees left with their own copy of our book, Hidden History of Asheville and a one year membership to the Friends of BCSC.
Although we have not been able to host community archives programs like we had planned over the past two years BCSC staff have found ways to continue to push toward our goal of increasing our African American collections and promoting access to existing collections.
Work continues on updating catalog records to ensure accuracy and clarity, focusing on processing or re-processing collections relevant to the history of Black people in WNC, and working with organizations like the YMI Cultural Center to facilitate the development of an archives as they undergo renovations. For more information about the Black Asheville History Project and our goals reach out to BCSC staff.
Asheville is not so handsome a village as I suspected, there are four pretty good brick buildings […] The foundation of the court house is laid which will also be of brick. When that is finished the village will look much better, however it being surrounded on all sides by mountains gives it all the beauty, and that is enough…
Louisa Rodgers of Athens GA, July 1824.
from letter held at UNC CHapel Hill, Southern Historical Collection [ID-2082-Z]
Copy in BCSC vertical file “Rogers”
Upcoming Events
BCSC is gearing up for summer fun! We’re excited about an upcoming programming partnership with the Asheville City Schools Foundation! Over the summer, BCSC and ACSF will host screenings of vintage Asheville High School football films.
Get ready to gear up for football season by joining us at the library to cheer on Cougars from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s! It’s sure to be a blast (from the past!).
For more information about these programs and to make sure you don’t miss out on other BCSC fun, keep an eye on our events calendar by following the link below.
Buncombe County Special Collections Events Calendar
Featured Resource
Brews and Chews
Looking for some ideas on what to have during those holiday and weekend cookouts? Come in and look at our collection of books on cooking and spirits. Our cookbooks range from regional cuisine, both old and new, to farm-to-table, to local restaurants, such as Tupelo Honey and the High Tea Café, a popular gathering place for artists and downtown business owners and workers that closed in 1984. If you need refreshment ideas, look at our collection of books on moonshine, beer, and other spirits.
Featured in the images below are recipes from the Three Mountaineers Here’s How mixed drinks recipe collection. Their book is filled with unique illustrations encased in stylized wooden covers. Mountain Cooking by John Parris is an Appalachian classic that includes recipes for just about any occasion, like ‘Possum and Sweet Potatoes, Roast Pheasant, Christmas Ambrosia, and Egg Butter (which, according to our Collections Manager Katherine Cutshall, is quite good with biscuits).
From the Friends
The Friends of BCSC help us go above and beyond when providing programs and services to our patrons. As we enter the summer months, we’re looking forward to hosting more programs and expanding our circle of friends!
In 2022, your membership as a Friend of the Buncombe County Special Collections will help support special new initiatives including a partnership with the YMI Cultural Center and the development of a new exhibit featuring the history of the land we now call Pack Square.
Our goal is to raise $15,000 to support this work in the coming year. We hope you will join us in meeting and exceeding that goal.
The next meeting of the Board of the Friends of Special Collections will be held Wednesday July 20, 2022 at 4:00 pm in the BCSC reading room. All dues-paying members of the Friends are always welcome to attend. We kindly ask that you RSVP.
To RSVP to the meeting or for questions about The Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections, please reach out to friendsbcsc@gmail.com.
