Appalachian Craftspeople: A Stained Glass Artist and a Woodturner

Creator: Craig, Alex

: Shearer, Kathy

: Clark, Terry A.

In this project, Alex Craig spoke with Kathy Shearer, who runs the Cave House Craft Shop in Abingdon, Virginia. Ms. Shearer spoke of the history of the Cave House, told a ghost story, spoke about stained glass, and explained how the shop operates. When asked for a referral to one of the craftspeople participating in the shop, she gave the name of Terry Clark, a woodturner who lives in Troutdale, Virginia. Mr. Clark provided a detailed summary of his life and both demonstrated and explained the craft or woodturning. This interview is among projects created by students enrolled in English 446 (initially English 452), “Appalachian Folklore,” 1981-2019, and in graduate level counterparts English 548 and 648 “Appalachian Folk Culture(s)” offered 17 fall semesters between 1987 and 2009. Minimally contain collector’s introduction and analysis, transcribed informant interviews, and excerpted and labeled examples of oral, customary, and/or material folklore/folklife collected primarily within the Appalachian region. Most include also tables of contents, informant information, indexes (outlines) of interviews, photographs, miscellaneous paper items, and indexes of informants, genres, and geographic locations. Accompanying audio recordings (several minutes to 2+ hours). Transferred to McConnell Library Archives & Special Collections from Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center, Fall 2013.