Congress for Appalachian Development: Gordon Ebersole Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: AppMs-0074

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Congress of Appalachian Development portion of the collection includes correspondence, transcripts of members' testimony at government hearings, and articles and clippings about CAD and other Appalachian organizations (such as the Council of Southern Mountains, Appalachian Volunteers, and the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund). The Series relating to Ebersole's personal career include papers generated during his tenure at the United States Department of the Interior and work with the Area Redevelopment Administration. These include a number of river basin studies, materials pertaining to United States technical training of foreign nationals, and reports of federal projects in Appalachia. These materials are of value to students of Appalachian social movements, begun during the 1960s under programs initiated by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Files include correspondence with, speeches and reports by and biographical information on key activists and important regional organizations. Among these are Harry Caudill and Tom Gish; Paul Kaufman, U. S. Senator from West Virginia; John Fetterman, and Milt Ogle. Organizations represented include Congress of Appalachian Development, the Council of the Southern Mountains, the Appalachian Volunteers, Council on Religion in Appalachia, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund, and the Appalachian South Folklife Center.

The addition to the Congress for Appalachian Development/Gordon Ebersole Collections (CAD) consists primarily of photocopies of correspondence between Ebersole and Harry Caudill, Paul Kaufman, Ann Pollard, Lewis Smith, and David Whisnant, along with reports, speeches, and clippings related to activities of the Congress for Appalachian Development and other Appalachian-related concerns shared by the correspondents.

Dates

1929-1977

Creator

Congress of Appalachian Development (Organization)
Ebersole, Gordon Keith, 1910-2004 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Extent

36.50 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection includes maps, publications, and numerous photographs. Maps have been stored with the archives' map collection and photographs in the photographic storage area. Frequently used publications have been placed in the archives' vertical file for more immediate accessibility. Other publications remain with the collection.

The addition contains material which falls within the following existing series/subseries: Subseries 1.3, Congress for Appalachian Development Activities and Series 4, Gordon Ebersole Personal Correspondence. Material is arranged by subject and then chronologically within folders.

Method of Acquisition

The papers of the Congress for Appalachian Development and of Gordon K. Ebersole were donated to the Archives of Appalachia in March 1980 by Gordon Ebersole. The collection was opened for research on March 1, 1981. For several years the papers were housed in a Pennsylvania mill which Ebersole restored. During this period the papers generated during Ebersole's career in government service and those arising from his personal involvement in southern Appalachia became interfiled. The sorting process was complicated by the interrelatedness of Ebersole's duties and his personal interests. The processing staff has tried as much as possible to preserve the integrity of the collection, dividing the papers into series according to organization or office of origin.

Accruals and Additions

The addition to the Congress for Appalachian Development/Gordon Ebersole Collection was donated by Gordon Ebersole on March 19, 1993 and opened to researchers in December 1996.