Archives of Appalachia

Archives of Appalachia A repository of written words, images, and sounds that document life in southern Appalachia.

The Archives of Appalachia is a unit of the Center for Appalachian Studies & Services at East Tennessee State University.

An Act of Man or An Act of GodOn Saturday morning, February 26, 1972, a slag-held dam burst, sending a 20 to 30-foot-wal...
09/10/2026

An Act of Man or An Act of God

On Saturday morning, February 26, 1972, a slag-held dam burst, sending a 20 to 30-foot-wall of water onto unsuspecting residents killing 125 people, 1,121 were injured and over 4,000 were left homeless. The parent company in Buffalo, New York lay the blame directly on God saying, “there was nothing wrong with the gob pile, except it was incapable of holding the water God poured into it.”
The coal company called it “an act of God.” The people of Buffalo Creek called it “an act of man.” This photograph is on display in the Archives of Appalachia in a new digital exhibit titled “Perspective.”

This is now up in the Archives of Appalachia in a new digital exhibit titled "Perspective."

More about Jeanne M. Rasmussen Paper, 1947-2009:

https://archivesofappalachia.omeka.net/collections/show/228

More about The day They Buried Buffalo Hollow:

https://archivesofappalachia.omeka.net/exhibits/show/rasmussen/the-day-they-buried-buffalo-ho

The Archives of Appalachia will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. We will resume our regular hours on Tu...
09/06/2026

The Archives of Appalachia will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. We will resume our regular hours on Tuesday, September 8th.

Labor Day is a day that we recognize the hard work and lasting contributions of workers who strengthen our communities and economy. This image from our collections reminds us: “Let’s work today to build a better future tomorrow!”

https://archivesofappalachia.omeka.net/items/show/31484

More about Jeanne M. Rasmussen Papers:

https://archives.etsu.edu/repositories/2/resources/167

PERSPECTIVEA new physical display in the Archives of Appalachia featuring photographs from numerous collections will cha...
09/01/2026

PERSPECTIVE

A new physical display in the Archives of Appalachia featuring photographs from numerous collections will challenge your perspective. Hanging from a traditional clothesline, fastened with clothes pins, these ambiguous photographs trigger a pause and ponder response of "what am I seeing?" The Archives of Appalachia stewards over 300,000 photographs. Stop by today and see "Perspective."

We are saddened to hear about Wendell Berry's passing. A giant in the hearts of Kentuckians. A loss for the residents of...
09/01/2026

We are saddened to hear about Wendell Berry's passing. A giant in the hearts of Kentuckians. A loss for the residents of Appalachia and farmers around the world. Travel easy, good sir.

08/26/2026

🎉 Big news! Dr. Shara Lange's film, The Burden of Knowing, has officially secured fiscal sponsorship through the Southern Documentary Fund! 🎥

Securing an sponsorship is a massive milestone. It opens doors to grants, tax-deductible donations, and a powerful community of storytellers.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved achievement! 👇

Learn more about her films here: www.lightprojectsfilms.com

We will always love you, Dolly.The James H. Quillen Congressional Office, located on the fourth floor of Sherrod Library...
08/25/2026

We will always love you, Dolly.

The James H. Quillen Congressional Office, located on the fourth floor of Sherrod Library in the Archives of Appalachia, features a wall dedicated to photographs of Dolly Parton and James H. Quillen.

Photograph from the James H. Quillen Papers, 1918-1999. Learn more about the collection here: https://archives.etsu.edu/repositories/2/resources/439 #

Do you have a story you would like to share about making maple syrup? If so, we would love to add it to our collections...
08/21/2026

Do you have a story you would like to share about making maple syrup? If so, we would love to add it to our collections for preservation. If you have a good story about the history of maple syrup making in your family, please send it to [email protected]. Please know that by submitting this story to us, you are giving us permission to publish and retain the story in our collections for future research. Please be detailed and specific including names, locations, dates, the type of process and equipment used for making the maple syrup. These stories will be included in the Appalachian Foodways Series: Maple Syrup digital exhibit under the heading “Maple Syrup Stories from Around the Region.”

https://archivesofappalachia.omeka.net/exhibits/show/maplesyrup

The Archives of Appalachia will be closed on Wednesday, August 12th for a staff retreat. We will resume our regular hour...
08/11/2026

The Archives of Appalachia will be closed on Wednesday, August 12th for a staff retreat. We will resume our regular hours on Thursday, August 13th.

Thank you for your continued support!

Archive Staff

Address

344 J L Seehorn Road
Johnson City, TN
37614

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

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+14234394338

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