East Tennessee State University receives grant from National Endowment for the Humanities

East Tennessee State University’s Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services has been awarded funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funding, in the amount of $350,000, will support the center’s endeavor of revising and digitizing its celebrated Encyclopedia of Appalachia, a scholarly reference work that was first published in 2006. 

According to an article on East Tennessee State University’s website, Dr. Ron Roach, who serves as the director of the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services and the lead general editor of the revision project, explained the project. He is quoted as saying, “This is the only encyclopedia focused on Appalachia. The online version will allow people in every part of the world to access reliable content about this remarkable region for years to come. We are grateful to the NEH for its support of this important initiative.”

The online edition of the Encyclopedia of Appalachia will be produced in partnership with the University of Tennessee Press. Joining Roach on the project will be Dr. Jeremy Smith, who serves as the director of the Archives of Appalachia, Dr. Rebecca Adkins Fletcher, who is the assistant director of the Center, and Dr. Ted Olson, a professor of Appalachian Studies. The project will involve expanding upon the physical version’s nearly 2,000 entries and digitizing them for use and access by people all over the world.

Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, who serves as the provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at East Tennessee State University, said, “Reviving the ‘Encyclopedia of Appalachia’ is not only about preserving the past — it is about amplifying the voices and complexity of this region for a new generation. This project demonstrates the intellectual strength, creativity and regional leadership that define ETSU.”

The university’s Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services was launched in 1984 and includes the Regional Resources Institute, the Archives of Appalachia, the Reece Museum, and the Institute for Appalachian Music and Culture. The Center also publishes a digital magazine called Appalachian Places. The Center is part of the university's Department of Appalachian Studies which offers academic programs and cultural programs and opportunities.

Acting Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Michael McDonald, said, “The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to support the institutions and individuals who deepen our understanding of the past through rigorous scholarly research, enrich public knowledge through educational programs, exhibitions, and documentaries, and safeguard our nation’s cultural heritage for future generations.”

For more information about East Tennessee State University, visit the school’s website.