I am not sure how many who read this blog have ever heard of the Foxfire series of books. The concept began in 1966, with a Georgia teacher named Eliot Wigginton having his students write essays on Appalachian culture. The students interviewed relatives and older neighbors about lifestyles and skills from the turn of the last century. The papers were later published in magazine form, then in 1972, The Foxfire Book was published, which received widespread critical acclaim and popularity. The book proved so popular that another edition was published every few years, with the last being Foxfire 12 in 2004.
Subject matter is varied, including home remedies, snake lore, gourd banjos, blacksmithing, religion, soap making, and gardening, along with biographies and histories of unique places. Every story is written by the students, and is extremely enjoyable to read. Along with the twelve volumes, additional books on cooking, Christmas, and toys have been published.
I first came across one of the Foxfire books at a used book sale over 30 years ago, and through the years have picked up an additional volume whenever I came across one at a book or rummage sale. Along with being interesting reads, a few stories have been inspirational to me for writing a bluegrass song or two. I currently own the first nine volumes, and hope to collect Volumes 10-12 in the near future. Note that these books, even used, are not cheap. Used copies in fair to good condition go for around $12.00 or more on eBay. A complete set of new copies can set you back about $400.00!
The Foxfire Organization has a website (http://www.foxfire.org/) where anyone can get more information on the books, magazine, merchandise, membership, and its podcast. The organization encourages high school students from around the country to submit articles containing interviews of relatives that lived in the Appalachian area during its rural history.
Now here is where it gets weird. A few months ago, while I was doing some searching over the internet for Foxfire books I still needed in my collection, I Googled the founder of the program, Eliot Wigginton. He was born in West Virginia in 1942, with his mother passing away 11 days after his birth. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, a professor at Vassar, and his father, a landscape architect. He received master’s degrees from Cornell and Johns Hopkins Universities, and began teaching English at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in northeast Georgia in 1966, where he would begin his Foxfire legacy.
Wigginton was also a social activist. He collected social justice stories and published them in the book Refuse to Stand Silently By: An Oral History of Grass Roots Social Activism in America, 1921-1964 in 1991. However, in 1992 he was convicted of molesting a 10-year-old boy during a camping expedition on the Foxfire grounds. Although claiming innocence, prosecutors were able to gain testimony from over 20 people claiming that Wigginton had molested them as children between 1969 and 1982. He pleaded guilty to one count of child molestation, served one year in jail, and received 19 years probation. He was excommunicated from the Foxfire organization, and is living in Florida as a registered sex offender.
Yes, it seems strange, almost heartbreaking, that someone who had so much wonderful influence on children and young adults to take a passionate interest in the Appalachian culture, would also participate in an evil act with minors. Fortunately, the Foxfire organization and its educational program continue in a positive light. I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about the Appalachian way of life to go to the website, visit the museum, and if you come across a Foxfire book at a garage sale, by all means, buy it!
Chew on it and comment.
Luegra 