Loyal Jones (January 5, 1928 – October 7, 2023) was an American folklorist, Appalachian culture scholar, and writer.[1][2]

Biography

Loyal Jones was born in Marble, North Carolina, on January 5, 1928,[3] one of eight siblings in a farming family.[4] At the age of 12, his family moved to Brasstown, North Carolina, in proximity to the John C. Campbell Folk School established in 1925.[4] After completing high school, he served in the U.S. Navy towards the end of World War II.[4]

Jones pursued higher education upon recommendation from an individual associated with the folk school.[4] Jones earned his B.A. in English from Berea College and an M.A. from the University of North Carolina.[4] Before joining Berea College as a faculty member, he taught in the U.S. Army and at Jefferson County Public Schools.[4]

Jones began working at the Council of the Southern Mountains in 1958 and served as the organization's executive director from 1967 until 1970.[3] From 1970 to 1993, Jones directed Berea College's Appalachian Center.[4] He was considered the "father of modern Appalachian studies".[3] In 2008, the center was named the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center after him.[5] Jones was inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame in 2022.[6]

Loyal Jones died in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on October 7, 2023, at the age of 95.[3]

Bibliography

  • Appalachia: A Self-Portrait (1979)[4]
  • Radio's 'Kentucky Mountain Boy' Bradley Kincaid (1980)[4]
  • Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1984)[4]
  • Reshaping the Image of Appalachia (1986)[4]
  • Appalachian Values (1995)[4]
  • Faith and Meaning in the Southern Uplands (1999)[4]
  • Country Music Humorists and Comedians (2008)[7]
  • My Curious and Jocular Heroes: Tales and Tale-Spinners from Appalachia (2017)[4]

References

  1. ↑ Copley, Rich (October 24, 2010). "Rich Copley: 'The grandfather of Appalachian studies' receives honor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ Barker, Ricki (October 26, 2017). "Loyal Jones introduces a new generation to the pioneers of Appalachian study". Richmond Register. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Thompson, Richard (October 10, 2023). "Loyal Jones passes". Bluegrass Today.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Loyal Jones". The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  5. ↑ "About Loyal Jones". Berea College. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ Rogers, Steve (January 14, 2022). "Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame inductees for 2022 announced". ABC 36 News.
  7. ↑ "Appalachian Entertainer And Actor Randall Franks Receives Independent Country Music Hall Of Fame Induction". Chattanoogan.com. April 30, 2013.

Further reading

  • Gregory, Ron (1992). "Jones, Writer, Teacher, Folklorist". The Appalachian Log. 1.3.
  • Haukebo, Kirsten (1993). "Mr. Appalachia". The Courier-Journal.
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