Sidney Saylor Farr, circa 1980

Sidney Saylor Farr (1931–2011) was an Appalachian author, editor, and folklorist from Rose Hill, Virginia, whose work celebrated the voices and traditions of mountain people. Raised in a coal-mining community, she became one of the first prominent female Appalachian writers to document the region’s everyday life and culture. Farr served as editor of Appalachian Heritage, a literary journal published by Berea College, where she promoted the work of emerging and established Appalachian authors. Her books, including My Appalachia: A Reminiscence (2007) and More Than Moonshine: Appalachian Recipes and Recollections (1983), combine memoir, folklore, and foodways to preserve regional history through storytelling and lived experience. Deeply committed to cultural preservation, Farr used her writing to challenge stereotypes about Appalachia and to portray its people with dignity, humor, and authenticity, leaving a lasting impact on Appalachian literature and women’s writing. (Written with AI assistance, 2025)