Union College News Release 10-28-08: Author Invites Stories, Memories About One-Room Schoolhouses

Author Invites Stories, Memories About One-Room Schoolhouses

A Kentucky author and former professor will visit Union College in Barbourville to meet with area residents about their stories and memories of one-room schoolhouses.

Dr. Lynwood Montell will hold an open meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. in the lower-level of Union’s student center. Anyone who can share memories or stories about one-room school houses is invited to attend.

Montell is gathering information about one-room schoolhouses for a forthcoming book. He has written 22 major books and works extensively in the field of oral history and folk life. Montell has served as a history, folk life and humanities consultant to museums, living history programs, and federal, state and regional agencies.

Those who share stories and memories with Montell will receive credit in the book if their story is used. The author is especially interested in thoughts about the quality of the one-room school era and in photographs of one-room schools.

Diana Mills, a Union staff member who arranged Montell’s visit, believes this is a chance for southeastern Kentuckians to help chronicle an important part of the region’s history.

“There are so many teachers and former students with first-hand memories of one-room schoolhouses, but we risk losing those stories if they aren’t captured and chronicled,” she said. “Union wanted to support Dr. Montell’s work because we know those stories are out there. Union has served the teachers in this area for a very long time, and we know they’re a treasure-trove of historical information about education in the region.”

Mills hopes residents will help tell others about the project. “Spreading the word about Dr. Montell’s visit is important so that we reach people with stories. If you know someone who taught in or attended a one-room schoolhouse, please take the time to tell them about this meeting.”

For more information about Montell’s visit, call Diana Mills at Union at 606-546-1620.