You can get a quick overview of her life in the history section of the website for the John C. Campbell Folk School she helped to found, and named for her husband, in NC. "www.folkschool .org or .com"

I had a great time working there for part of a summer several years ago. I was lucky enough to get some fascinating glimpses into local life, as well as local pro and con attitudes towards the school, by acting as sound tech. for the school's resident folklorist on his collecting trips.

Particularly memorable were interviews with the garralous mayor, who recalled as a boy drying fruit on the tin roof of his house prior to transporting it out of the mountains for sale, and with an old woman whose gnarled hands testified to the many hours she'd spent carving animals (sold thru the school) all day and well into the night in order to support her young family when her husband's tobacco crop repeatedly failed in the depleted soil.

I admire alot of the principles behind the school and was impressed by the contributions made by the Brasstown community. The school wasn't imposed on them, they voted for it, contributed the land, embraced the idea of co-ops (bank, dairy)etc. Of course it's often hard to bring in new ideas and people without some of that "white man's burden" attitude of condescention creeping in as well as unwanted influences.

Nowadays it's a great place for outsiders like us to go for a week or a weekend of music, dance, and crafts in a beautiful setting. You might enjoy going there yourself EJ.