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The Foxfire 40th Anniversary Book: Faith, Family, and the Land
An anthology of Appalachian crafts, culture, and wisdom of simple living.
In 1966, an English teacher and students in Northeast Georgia founded a quarterly magazine, not only as a vehicle to learn the required English curriculum, but also to teach others about the customs, crafts, traditions, and lifestyle of their Appalachian culture. Named Foxfire after a local phosphorescent lichen, the magazine became one of the most beloved publications in American culture. For four decades, Foxfire has brought the philosophy of simple living to readers, teaching creative self-sufficiency, home crafts, and the art of natural remedies, and preserving the stories of Appalachia. This anniversary edition brings us generations of voices and lessons about the three essential Appalachian values of faith, family, and the land. We listen to elders share their own memories of how things used to be, and to the new generations eager to preserve traditional values in a more complicated world. There are descriptions of old church services, of popular Appalachian games and pastimes, and of family recipes. Rich with memories and useful lessons, this is a fitting tribute to this inspiring and practical publication that has become a classic American institution.
In 1966, an English teacher and students in Northeast Georgia founded a quarterly magazine, not only as a vehicle to learn the required English curriculum, but also to teach others about the customs, crafts, traditions, and lifestyle of their Appalachian culture. Named Foxfire after a local phosphorescent lichen, the magazine became one of the most beloved publications in American culture. For four decades, Foxfire has brought the philosophy of simple living to readers, teaching creative self-sufficiency, home crafts, and the art of natural remedies, and preserving the stories of Appalachia. This anniversary edition brings us generations of voices and lessons about the three essential Appalachian values of faith, family, and the land. We listen to elders share their own memories of how things used to be, and to the new generations eager to preserve traditional values in a more complicated world. There are descriptions of old church services, of popular Appalachian games and pastimes, and of family recipes. Rich with memories and useful lessons, this is a fitting tribute to this inspiring and practical publication that has become a classic American institution.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
512 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2006
7 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Wigginton
88 books71 followersEliot Wigginton (born Brooks Eliot Wigginton) is an American oral historian, folklorist, writer and former educator. He was most widely known for developing the Foxfire Project, a writing project that led to a magazine and the series of best-selling Foxfire books, twelve volumes in all. These were based on articles by high school students from Rabun County, Georgia. In 1986 he was named "Georgia Teacher of the Year" and in 1989 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Wigginton was born in West Virginia on November 9, 1942. His mother, Lucy Freelove Smith Wiggington, died eleven days later of "pneunomia due to acute pulmary edema," according to her death certificate. His maternal grandmother, Margaret Pollard Smith, was an associate professor of English at Vassar College and his father was a famous landscape architect, also named Brooks Eliot Wiggington. His family called him Eliot. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from Cornell University and a second Master's from Johns Hopkins University. In 1966, he began teaching English in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, located in the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Georgia.
Wigginton began a writing project based on his students' collecting oral histories from local residents and writing them up. They published the histories and articles in a small magazine format beginning in 1967. Topics included all manner of folklife practices and customs associated with farming and the rural life of southern Appalachia, as well as the folklore and oral history of local residents. The magazine began to reach a national audience and became quite popular.
The first anthology of collected Foxfire articles was published in book form in 1972, and achieved best-seller status. Over the years, the schools published eleven other volumes. (The project transferred to the local public school in 1977.)
In addition, special collections were published, including The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery, Foxfire: 25 Years, A Foxfire Christmas, and The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games. Several collections of recorded music from the local area were released.
Wigginton was born in West Virginia on November 9, 1942. His mother, Lucy Freelove Smith Wiggington, died eleven days later of "pneunomia due to acute pulmary edema," according to her death certificate. His maternal grandmother, Margaret Pollard Smith, was an associate professor of English at Vassar College and his father was a famous landscape architect, also named Brooks Eliot Wiggington. His family called him Eliot. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from Cornell University and a second Master's from Johns Hopkins University. In 1966, he began teaching English in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, located in the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Georgia.
Wigginton began a writing project based on his students' collecting oral histories from local residents and writing them up. They published the histories and articles in a small magazine format beginning in 1967. Topics included all manner of folklife practices and customs associated with farming and the rural life of southern Appalachia, as well as the folklore and oral history of local residents. The magazine began to reach a national audience and became quite popular.
The first anthology of collected Foxfire articles was published in book form in 1972, and achieved best-seller status. Over the years, the schools published eleven other volumes. (The project transferred to the local public school in 1977.)
In addition, special collections were published, including The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery, Foxfire: 25 Years, A Foxfire Christmas, and The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games. Several collections of recorded music from the local area were released.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 18, 2020
This book is absolutely wonderful. All the richness of oral tradition, stories of a day and time not so long ago in the scheme of history but essentially gone now. But the mountains remain, and the people are still kind and independent and ornery and full of faith. Highly recommend and I plan to track down the rest of this series.
August 1, 2018
This book struck me as white, white, white. Really white. And very Christian in a way that perhaps I should have expected, but faith comes in many forms - I guess not in them thar hills though. Was nice to read it outside and feel my connection with the land as folks talked about theirs'. Like another reviewer, I think I may enjoy the journals more - will check one out as soon as I can!
July 7, 2008
While this one did less for me than other books in the series, owing to the centrality of religion in the subject matter, I still enjoyed this book.
Mostly, I like the anecdotes and the recipes. I've gotten some great ones from this book, like scratch biscuits and basic applesauce.
Since sustainable living is my current goal, it behooved me to check these out again, if only as a refresher course in the basics of gardening, canning, sewing, home-keeping, etc.
Definitely worth your while, if you're more into off-the-grid living and living from the the land. These people have done, and seen, it all.
Mostly, I like the anecdotes and the recipes. I've gotten some great ones from this book, like scratch biscuits and basic applesauce.
Since sustainable living is my current goal, it behooved me to check these out again, if only as a refresher course in the basics of gardening, canning, sewing, home-keeping, etc.
Definitely worth your while, if you're more into off-the-grid living and living from the the land. These people have done, and seen, it all.
February 7, 2016
The Foxfire 40th Anniversary Book: Faith, Family, and the Land by Eliot Wigginton (Anchor 2006) (917.58). After forty years of the Foxfire publications, this volume focuses on three core values: faith, family, and the land. The older generation provides descriptions of how things used to be, and the new generation eagerly listens and learns the old trades and traditions. My rating: 7/10, finished 2007.
March 22, 2014
I think I would like reading the actual Foxfire journals more than reading the snippets of these conversations. As an oral historian, this book seemed great for the casual reader looking for quotes - but I want a holistic viewpoint.
February 26, 2009
This American Life that We Live in the Appalachian Mountains. Heavy on the Jesus.
April 18, 2011
Another on my list of starts....started it...
March 1, 2012
Excerpts from interviews with Southern Appalachian elders about the topics of land, family and faith.
July 29, 2012
This book is great. I especially love the home remedies, they made me howl! Totally worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews