Operational and Vital Records, 1902 - 1975

13 Reels of Microfilm
The Hindman Settlement School Records includes records of the school dating from the earliest work of Katherine Pettit and May Stone (summers of 1899-1901) to the last year of Raymond McLain’s tenure as Settlement School Director (1971). Some files contain post –1971 material, but that material is fragmentary and rare. In all, the years 1899-1971 are documented by correspondence, financial records, board meeting minutes and treasurers’ reports to the board; newsletters, brochures, newspaper articles, pamphlets, and other publications; and a file of ballads and folksongs. Even so, the collection is not complete, as there are record gaps in the areas of directors’ files, student case files, and personnel records.

Documentation for the pre-incorporation years (prior to 1902) exist in the form of detailed records or “diaries” that report the activities and impressions of Katherine Pettit, May Stone, and others as they established and ran Camp Industrial at Hindman (summer, 1900) and Sassafras (summer, 1901). Also supporting the pre-incorporation record are various reports and papers such as “Kentucky Mountain Folk” (February 1899) by Katherine Pettit and typescripts of important pre-1900 historical events relating to Knott County.

Post-incorporation records include newsletters and brochures (1902-1979) which report the activities and concerns of the staff and student body and give an overview of the school’s general administrative policies and operational procedures. The financial records (audit reports, ledgers, and miscellaneous reports), board meeting minutes, and treasurers’ reports to the board complete and strengthen the historical record for the years covering 1920-71. Although pre-1920 board meeting minutes and financial ledgers kept by May Stone are included in the collection, other documentation for the years 1902-1920 is minimal. A series of fires at the settlement school between the years 1902-1914 most likely account for the paucity of early records. The general correspondence file (1902-1971) is routine and offers more information on the latter years, particularly the early fifties through the mid-sixties period.

Other important non-operational records of the Hindman Settlement School Collection are ballads, folksongs and the material which documents staff and student activities and creative ventures. Of particular importance is a collection of poetry written by Ann Cobb, teacher and poet, who taught at Hindman for over forty-five years. In addtion to this, the collection includes the work of other well known writers associated with the school, such as Josiah Combs, Lucy Furman, and James Still. Also included are a few student and alumni writings ranging from basic classroom assignments to more sophisticated work, such as Una Ritchie’s one-act plays. Furthermore, the collection contains newspaper clippings and other publications giving biographical information on various staff members as well as data on various families from Knott County. Lastly, documentation of the Hindman Settlement School is supported by publications generated from outside the school, specifically newspapers and clippings, magazines and journals, and pamphlets discussing the school as well as broader subjects important to Appalachian sudies.

The manuscript collection is divided into five series: 1. Narrative Reports and Publications, 1879-1979; 2. Operational and Vital Records, 1902-75; 3. Biographies and Works, 1900-80; 4. Ballads and Folksongs; 5. Appalachian Studies Reference File, 1902-75.