Educational Outreach
Since the Center's establishment in 1984, it has supported ETSU faculty and staff in developing hundreds of successful educational programs and presentations, sharing accurate information about the diverse histories and cultures of Appalachia with tens of thousands of people.
The Governor’s School for Tennessee History & Environmental Studies
Each summer since 1987, the Regional Resources Institute has administered a month-long residential Tennessee Governor’s School program. This program has introduced over 1300 students to Tennessee’s cultural and natural history through a place-based and hands-on approach. Students experience Tennessee history through class lectures, research and writing seminars, hands-on activities, and field trips. Together, these introduce students to historic preservation, cultural interpretation, and histories of human interaction with the region’s natural environment.
Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative
Each fall semester since 2001, the RRI has also administered the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (formerly the Appalachian Teaching Project), which is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). During that time, the program has trained over 3,000 students from more than 30 colleges and universities in Appalachia in methodologies for community-engaged learning that facilitate economic development initiatives in local communities.
Exhibition Development and Programming
Since becoming a part of the Center in 1984, Reece Museum exhibitions and programming have been developed as culturally specific representations of Appalachian identity. The Reece Museum regularly collaborates with Appalachian scholars and artists to showcase and share their work through museum-produced exhibitions that creatively explore sociohistorical and artistic topics. Exhibition spaces host tours, lectures, artist talks, and events that are educational and community building, and that provide the public with opportunities for reading, writing, and research. Artifacts in the Museum's permanent collection are made accessible to researchers and visitors through scheduled appointments, and an online collections portal was launched in 2021 to provide digital access to the permanent collection. The Museum also acts as a training ground for emerging museum professionals by hosting a student staff, facilitating internships and a volunteer organization, and acting as a resource for students.
Independent Research
Over the past four decades, the Archives of Appalachia has hosted an average of 2,000 patrons each year for in-depth research into the region. Researchers have published hundreds of celebrated articles, books, films, and creative projects that provide new insight into the region's music, folklore, labor history, industry, health and medical practices, religious traditions, linguistic practices, and more. This groundbreaking critical research has collectively provided accurate and nuanced perspectives on the range of people and institutions who have contributed to Appalachia over the years.
Additional Programming
In addition to these recurring annual programs, the Center has also funded hundreds of successful one-time programs and events that have provided accurate and nuanced perspectives on the region to a range of new audiences. With the formation of the Institute for Appalachian and Music and Culture in 2023, the Center is poised to further enhance its tradition of innovative and effective community programming.