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Born in Indiana and raised in Wisconsin, John C. Campbell studied education and theology in New England. Like many other idealistic young people of his generation, he felt a calling to humanitarian work.
At the turn of the century, the Southern Appalachian region was viewed as a fertile field for educational and social missions. With his new bride, Olive Dame of Massachusetts, John undertook a fact-finding survey of social conditions in the mountains in 1908-1909. The Campbells outfitted a wagon as a traveling home and studied mountain life from Georgia to West Virginia.
While John interviewed farmers about their agricultural practices, Olive collected ancient Appalachian ballads and studied the handicrafts of the mountain people. Both hoped that education could improve the quality of life, and in turn wanted to preserve and share with the rest of the world the wonderful crafts, techniques and tools that the mountain people used in every day life.
The folkehojskole (folk school) had long been a force in the rural life of Denmark. These schools for life helped transform the Danish countryside into a vibrant, creative force. The Campbells talked of establishing such a school in the rural southern United States as an alternative to the higher education facilities that drew young people away from the family farm.
After John died in 1919, Olive and her friend Marguerite Butler traveled to Europe and studied folk schools in Denmark, Sweden and other countries. They returned to the U.S. determined to start such a school in Appalachia. They realized, more than many reformers of the day, that they could not impose their ideas on the mountain people. They would need to develop a genuine collaboration. Several locations were under consideration for the experimental school. On an exploratory trip, Miss Butler discussed the idea with Fred O. Scroggs, Brasstown's local storekeeper, and said she would be back in a few weeks to see if anyone had any interest. She returned to a meeting of over 200 people at the local church. The people of Cherokee and Clay counties pledged labor, building materials and other support.
In 1925, the Folk School began its work. Instruction at the Folk School has always been noncompetitive; there are no credits and no grades. The Folk School offers a unique combination of rich history, beautiful mountain surroundings, and an atmosphere of living and learning together.
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