Biographies and Works, 1900-1980

This series consists of publications, correspondence, and the writings of staff, students, and other individuals associated with the Hindman Settlement School. Also included in this series are genealogical data of various families from Knott County, miscellaneous short histories of Hindman, and a guest book listing visitors to the school for the period 1911-1948.



Of particular interest are a collection of poems by Ann Cobb and the works of Josiah Combs, Lucy Furman, Raymond McLain, Katherine Pettit, James Still, May Stone, and Elizabeth Watts. For the most part, this file does not begin to adequately reflect the intellectual creativity of these people but is only a sampling of their work. Specifically, the file consists of published creative writing pieces, papers on the settlement school and related topics, and unpublished essays and reports.



Additionally, this series also consists of student writings in the form of classroom assignments on the history of the school or biographies of key persons associated with Hindman. There are however, a few examples of creative writing done by Hindman Students and alumni; for example the series includes two plays, written by Una Ritchie, entitled A Homespun Romance, n.d. and A Mountain Play in One Act, n.d. (Una Ritchie also wrote the anniversary pageant. See Series II.)



Supporting materials include newspaper clippings giving biographical information on various staff and some correspondence files of staff and visitors to Hindman. Additional biographical data may be gleaned from the personal reminiscences of staff and students; for example, an entire portion of the Elizabeth Watts documentation deals with a celebration given in her honor on May 17, 1980. As part of this event, Miss Watts and alumni provided statements about their work and experiences at Hindman. This series is arranged alphabetically, with guest book, genealogies, and brief histories on the Hindman Settlement School at the end of the Series.