App State Curator Highlights Watauga's Rare Books and Forgotten Histories

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

App State curator Emily Kader recently presented a talk highlighting rare books, manuscripts, and other historical objects from the university's Distinctive Collections. The items, which include a Sunday school record book, a photo album of the Shull's Mill town, and a 1942 thesis on Black life in Watauga County, offer a window into the region's past that is often overlooked in textbooks.

Why it matters

Kader's presentation underscores the importance of preserving and sharing lesser-known local histories, which can provide valuable insights into the lived experiences and communities that have shaped the High Country over time. By making these archival materials accessible to the public, the university is helping to uncover and amplify voices and perspectives that have been marginalized or forgotten.

The details

Kader showcased several items from App State's Belk Library collections, including a Sunday school record book with an attached lock of a child's hair, the Shull's Mill photo album documenting late 19th/early 20th century life, and a 1942 thesis by Frazier Robert Horton on the Black communities of Watauga County. Horton's work, written while he was a teacher in Boone, aimed to educate other North Carolinians about the region's diversity. Kader emphasized that these types of rare and archival materials can reveal histories that have not been widely told.

• Kader presented the items at a recent talk hosted by Digital Watauga, a collaborative project to preserve the High Country's archives and history.
• Horton completed his thesis on Black life in Watauga County in 1942.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Special Collections Research Center at Appalachian State University has the rare books, manuscripts, and other historical objects presented by Emily Kader available for the public to view by appointment.