John C. Campbell Folk School Historic District | |
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| Location | Off U.S. Route 64, Brasstown, North Carolina |
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| Coordinates | 35°02′14″N 83°57′52″W / 35.0372°N 83.9645°W |
| Area | 300 acres (120 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001839[1] |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1983 |
The John C. Campbell Folk School, also referred to as "The Folk School", is located in Brasstown, North Carolina. It is the oldest and largest folk school in the United States.[2][3] It is a non-profit adult educational organization based on non-competitive learning. The Folk School offers classes year-round in over fifty subject areas including art, craft, music, dance, and nature studies. Established in 1925, the Folk School's motto is "I sing behind the plow".[4]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a national historic district in 1983.[1] The district encompasses 19 contributing buildings. Notable buildings include the Farm House (pre-1925), Keith House (1926-1928), Log House Museum (19th century, 1926), Mill House (1928), (Former) Milking Barn (now Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop, c. 1930), Hay Barn (1931), Tower House (1933), Rock House (c. 1932), and Hill House (c. 1932).[5]
The Folk School has more than 800 week-long and weekend classes year-round in traditional and contemporary arts, including blacksmithing, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography, storytelling, and writing.[6] The 300-acre campus includes a history museum, craft shop, nature trails, lodging, campground, and cafeteria.[7] The school also holds a regular concert series and community dances. The Folk School engages the community through a variety of dance teams including: Rapper Magic Sword, StiX in the Mud Border Morris, Dame's Rocket Northwest Clog, Rural Felicity Garland, and the JCCFS Cloggers.
The Folk School hosts more than 6,000 adult students and 100,000 visitors per year.[8]
The Fall Festival is the Folk School’s largest annual event, attracting thousands of people to the campus for crafts, food, and folk demonstrations. The festival has been held every year since 1974, except for 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Since at least 1954, the Folk School has also hosted an annual summer arts program for children called Little Middle. The Folk School launched its annual Friends & Family Day in 2022 for the community to tour studios and see demonstrations.[10]
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ Eiben, Vicky (2015). "A brief history of folk schools". Folk Education Association of America. Folk School Alliance.
The John C. Campbell Folk School founded in 1925 in Brasstown, North Carolina is the largest folk school in the U.S. today.
- ^ "region: Brasstown, Hayesville". Great Smoky Mountains North Carolina.
Nation's oldest folk school founded in 1925.
- ^ Fariello, M. Anna. "Making History: John C. Campbell Folk School". Craft Revival: Shaping Western North Carolina Past and Present. Western Carolina University. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Michael Tesh Southern (September 1982). "John C. Campbell Folk School Historic District" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ "25 Inspiring Folk Schools Rooted in Community and Traditional Know-How". Best Choice Schools.
The more than 860 weekend and weeklong class offerings cover 48 subject areas.
- ^ "John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown NC". Project 543. VisitNC.com.
The school's 300-acre campus straddles Cherokee County and Clay County and includes a history center that includes visual art, fine and folk craft, music, historic film footage and photographs.
- ^ "Craft Today: John C. Campbell Folk School". Craft Revival: Shaping Western North Carolina Past and Present. Western Carolina University. 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Grand, Robert (September 6, 2023). "Folk School Fall Festival returning to Brasstown". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, N.C.: Community Newspapers, Inc.
- ^ Slucher, Morgan (May 1, 2024). "Friends & Family Day Saturday at John C. Campbell Folk School". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 9B.