Buckhorn Children's Center Records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: BCA 0045-SAA 045

Staff Only

Abstract

This collection consists of photographs and microfilmed records documenting the establishment and operation of Buckhorn Children's Center and its predecessor institutions, Witherspoon College and Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency, located in Perry County, Ky. Selected Records 1874-1979; Selected Photographs 1900-1980.

Dates

created: 1874-1980

Creator

Buckhorn Children's Center (Buckhorn, Ky.). (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Restrictions regarding Records

Buckhorn Children’s Center records were collected and organized in 1982. Those having administrative, legal or historical value were microfilmed at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and all then returned to Buckhorn. The resultant microfilm master negative is owned by Berea College. A user copy is available for researchers. Berea College does not own the copyright for the manuscripts or printed documents included in this microfilm edition. Therefore, it is the researcher’s responsibility to secure permission to publish from the Buckhorn Children’s Center or its successors and assigns.

Records containing personal information may be restricted.

Restrictions regarding Photographs

In 1985 selected Buckhorn Children’s Center photographs were organized and copied. The copy negatives and a set of copy prints are owned by Berea College. A second set of copy prints and all originals were returned to Buckhorn Children’s Center. Permission has been granted by Buckhorn Children’s Center for Berea College to reproduce all or part of the school’s photographs and to use them in slide or film presentations, display them or loan them for displays, and to allow their use by researchers for reproduction and publication. The proper credit line for all of the above uses shall be, “Buckhorn Children’s Center Photographic Collection, Berea College Southern Appalachian Archives.” Records and photographs can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College. Scans of microfilmed records (in CD format) are available, see Box List, Box 2B.

Historical Note

In 1902, Reverend Harvey Murdoch came to Buckhorn, Perry County, Kentucky as the Field Secretary of the E. O. Guerrant Society of Soul Winners. It was Rev. Murdoch’s dream to develop a Christian school to serve the area's isolated residents. There were no public or private educational facilities for miles around, and local residents were eager to help.

Murdoch named his school “Witherspoon College” after the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence. He wanted students in their twenties and thirties to have the dignity of attending college. The “College” part of Murdock’s dream never was actualized. However, by the time of his death in 1935, an extensive educational enterprise had been established. It included grades one through twelve, dormitories, gym, farm and dairy herd for over 200 resident boys and girls, and a full time staff. There was also a hospital that at the time, was the only one within a radius of 100 miles.

Reverend Elmer Gabbard succeeded Murdoch and for twenty years continued Buckhorn School’s development. During this first fifty years, Buckhorn provided an education for some 2,500 boys and girls.

The 1950’s saw many changes for Buckhorn and the surrounding region. Paved roads were built and a public school was established by the Perry County Board of Education. As a result, Buckhorn’s focus shifted from education to care for dependent children as reflected in the organizational name change to, Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency (later Buckhorn Children’s Center).

At the time of this writing (1980s), Buckhorn Children’s Center offers an open campus setting for the care and treatment of boys and girls from ages eleven to fifteen. The Center’s program is designed for children considered not to be a threat to themselves or others and otherwise able to function in a normal classroom setting. Center staff includes an executive director, one or more social workers; house-parents; and other support personnel in the areas of education, recreation and health.

(Abridged from Jim Stokely’s To Make a Life: Settlement Institutions of Appalachia)

Extent

2.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged in two parts:

Part A: Selected Records

Series 1: Presbyterian Orphan’s Home Society of Louisville (Presbyterian Synod Home for Children), 1874-1956

Series 2: Buckhorn Association, 1902-1960

Series 3: Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency, 1954-1979

Part B: Selected Photographs

Series 1: Witherspoon College School, c.1900-c.1940

Series 2: Buckhorn Children’s Center, c. 1950 – c. 1980

Other Descriptive Information

This collection was compiled by the Settlement Institutions of Appalachia / Berea College Research Resources Project, which was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The project was developed in 1979 for the purpose of organizing and preserving the original records and photographs of the Settlement Institutions of Appalachia (SIA) and copying those of historical value to form a central research collection at Berea College.

Collection Number: BCA 0045 SAA 045

Processing Information

The collection was compiled and processed by the Settlement Institutions of Appalachia / Berea College Research Resources Project (1979-1986) funded by the Appalachian Fund and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Project Staff for Part A: Archivist Director: Mary L. Zimmeth; Assistant Archivist: Diana L. Hays; Student Assistants: V. Hensley, J. S. Speight, P. Tucker, and E. Workman.

Project Staff for Part B: Archivist Director: William Richardson; Assistant Archivist: Shannon Wilson; Project Photographer: Patricia Ayers; Assistants: Key Ho Lee, L. Wilson, and S. Thampi.