John C. Inscoe, circa 1988

John C. Inscoe (1940–2020) was an American historian and professor at the University of Georgia, widely recognized for his scholarship on Southern history, Appalachian studies, and African American history. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky and dedicated much of his career to teaching and researching the cultural, political, and social history of the American South, with a particular focus on Georgia and the Appalachian region. Inscoe authored and co-authored several influential books, including Mountain Masters: Slavery and the Sectional Crisis in Western North Carolina (1989) and The American South: A History (co-authored with others), which are widely used in academic settings. His research examined the intersections of slavery, economic development, political conflict, and regional identity, making significant contributions to the understanding of Southern history. Additionally, Inscoe was active in promoting public history and community engagement, helping make scholarly work accessible beyond the academy while mentoring generations of students in Appalachian and Southern studies. (Written with AI assistance, 2025)