Writing the History We Forgot to Remember

Appalachia, Accurately Told

We are here to get the record right. AppalachianHistorian.org exists to publish the most accurate history we can, rooted in primary sources first and secondary sources second. Every claim is made in good faith and is traceable to the best of the author’s knowledge. Every correction is welcomed, and every solid lead makes the work better.

We piece together the stories most histories skim past: coal camps and company towns, tipples and tunnels, churchyards and schoolhouses, floodwalls and backroads where memory still lingers. Each article blends primary sources, maps, and field photography to make the region’s past legible to neighbors, students, genealogists, and researchers.

Our mission is simple and ambitious: build the largest open source, academically minded blog repository on Appalachia, open to all who want to learn about the region as a whole.

Explore by theme: Abandoned Appalachia, Appalachian History, Forgotten Appalachia, Repurposed Appalachia, Appalachian Figures, Appalachian Churches, Appalachian Folklore & Myths

How we work (Human-led, AI-assisted)

We sometimes use AI to surface archives, transcribe documents, cross-reference names and places, and spot gaps. Humans verify and interpret every result before it becomes history on this site.

Not all articles use AI or any other assistance.

Sources are cited in each article, and corrections and additions are folded back into the work so the record improves over time.

Collaboration, Photos, and Story Leads

This is collaborative work. Appalachia is big, and I cannot be in every hollow, courthouse basement, cemetery, or coal camp myself. Local knowledge and extra eyes matter.

If you can help with photos, I would love to hear from you. Helpful images include present-day site photos, historic buildings, plaques and inscriptions, headstones, streetscapes, bridges, mines, schools, churches, and landscape context shots that make a place understandable. Even quick documentation photos can be valuable if they are clear and labeled.

If you have article ideas, family documents, oral history leads, old newspaper clippings, company records, maps, letters, diaries, yearbooks, or even a “somebody should write about this” tip, please reach out. A single name, date, or location can unlock a whole story.

I am not actively looking for other writers right now, but if you are interested in writing a story or contributing research, you are welcome to contact me and we can discuss details and fit.

Use the Contact page to send corrections, leads, photo submissions, or story ideas.

Licensing and Use

License notice: Except where noted, original text and photos are licensed under CC BY 4.0. You may share and adapt with credit.

Third-party media note: Some images, maps, and archival items have different rights or restrictions. Check captions and linked collections before reuse.

Contributor line: By submitting material, you agree to CC BY 4.0 for your contribution (unless we agree otherwise in writing) and you consent to publication on a site that may display advertising.

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