Louise Howe Bailey Collection [SC2023.05]

Summary Information

Collection ID: SC2023.05

Title: Louise Howe Bailey Collection

Repository: Blue Ridge Community College Archive and Special Collections

Date Range: 1969-2012

Extent: 4 linear feet (4 boxes)

Languages and Scripts of Materials: English

Name of Creator(s): Bailey Family

Preferred Citation: [identification of item], [Name of Collection], Blue Ridge Community College Archive and Special Collections, Blue Ridge Community College

Scope and Content

This collection is comprised of copies of over 1,500 articles from Louise Bailey’s Times-News column spanning nearly 40 years of writing, audiotapes of her “Sesquicentennial Minutes” with WHKP, all of her published books, an autographed copy of the 2 Act play Reflections, a video titled “The Founders’ Vision,” many of the award plaques she received throughout her career as a historian, and various articles written by other historians and journalists related to Louise Bailey and her work.  

Biographical History

Louise Howe Bailey was born on July 6, 1915 and was a native of Henderson County. She held a B.A. in biology from Winthrop College and a B.S. in library science from Columbia University. Her connection to Henderson County dates back to 1829 with her great-great-grandfather, Judge Mitchell King from Charleston, SC. He spent the summer at his Argyle estate in Flat Rock and donated land to the townsite of Hendersonville. Her father was the well-known local physician, Dr. William Bell Howe. Her husband, Dr. Joseph P. Bailey, also practiced medicine in Hendersonville. She is remembered as one of Henderson County’s most beloved and prolific historians who documented Appalachian history through people’s personal anecdotes. She was a weekly columnist for nearly 40 years for the Times-News with her “Along the Ridges” series and wrote 9 books.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access: No restrictions. Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: No restrictions for personal or academic research. Copyright is retained by the creator, either person or organization, who created these items as outlined by United States copyright law. Please check with staff before reproducing any records. Researchers are responsible for identifying and contacting any copyright holders if they wish to use the materials in the collection for public display or publication.

Rights Statement for Archival Description: Blue Ridge Community College Archive finding aids and their metadata are part of the public domain. They can be used by students, researchers, and other institutions as needed. This only applies to what is written in the finding aid but does not cover any digitized materials, links, or quotations from other sources.

Sensitive Materials Statement: Archival records may contain sensitive or confidential information that is protected by federal or state privacy laws and regulations. When conducting research, please remember that the publication of information about identifiable living people without their consent could have legal ramifications, and Blue Ridge Community College holds no responsibility.

Processing Information: Originally processed by Rachel Quinn, August 2024.

Collection Inventory

Box 1

• Series 1: “Along the Ridges” Times-News Columns by Louise Bailey, 1969-2009
  • Folder 1A: Henderson County, 1974-2009
  • Folder 1B: Henderson County, A-Y (undated) 
  • Folder 1C: Henderson County, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 1D: Henderson County – Fassifern and Early Schools, 1974-2007
  • Folder 1E: Henderson County – Fassifern and Early Schools, A-T (undated)
  • Folder 2A: Hendersonville, 1999-2009
  • Folder 2B: Hendersonville, A-Y (undated)
  • Folder 2C: Hendersonville, Untitled (undated) 
  • Folder 3A: Flat Rock, 1975-2009 
  • Folder 3B: Flat Rock, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 3C: Flat Rock, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 4A: History Outside Henderson County, 1976-2005
  • Folder 4B: History Outside Henderson County, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 5A: Events – Holidays and Happenings, 1999-2009
  • Folder 5B: Events – Holidays and Happenings, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 5C: Events – Holidays and Happenings, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 6A: Family and Personal, 1977-1999
  • Folder 6B: Family and Personal, 2000-2005
  • Folder 6C: Family and Personal, 2006-2009
  • Folder 6D: Family and Personal, A-O (undated)  
  • Folder 6E: Family and Personal, P-Y (undated)
  • Folder 6F: Family and Personal, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 7A: Individuals, Adair-Burson
  • Folder 7B: Individuals, Callie-Cynthy
  • Folder 7C: Individuals, Dade-Evvie
  • Folder 7D: Individuals, Fanny-Guise
  • Folder 7E: Individuals, Hank-Justus
  • Folder 7F: Individuals, Kaplan-Lynch
  • Folder 7G: Individuals, Mabry-Oswald
  • Folder 7H: Individuals, Pace-Sutt
  • Folder 7I: Individuals, Tee-Woodson 
  • Folder 8A: Old-Time Ways, 1973-2009
  • Folder 8B: Old-Time Ways, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 8C: Old-Time Ways (semantics), 1982-2008
  • Folder 8D: Old-Time Ways (semantics), A-W (undated)
  • Folder 8E: Old-Time Ways, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 9A: Southern Cookin’, 2000-2006
  • Folder 9B: Southern Cookin’, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 9C: Southern Cookin’ Untitled (undated) 
  • Folder 10A: Doctorin’, 1974-2009 
  • Folder 10B: Doctorin’, A-T (undated)
  • Folder 10C: Doctorin’, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 11A: Musings, 1974-2009
  • Folder 11B: Musings, A-L (undated)
  • Folder 11C: Musings, M-Y (undated)
  • Folder 11D: Musings, Untitled (undated) 
  • Folder 12A: Nature and Countryside, 1976-2009
  • Folder 12B: Nature and Countryside, A-W (undated) 
  • Folder 12C: Nature and Countryside, Untitled (undated)
  • Folder 13A: Travel, 1973-2008
  • Folder 13B: Travel, A-W (undated)
  • Folder 13C: Travel, Untitled (undated)
• Series 2: Articles about Louise Bailey
  • Folder 1A: Awards and Honors, 1995-2009
  • Folder 1B: Awards and Honors, A-S (undated)
  • Folder 1C: Award Nominations and Testimonials, 2000-2006
  • Folder 2A: Books, 1971-2007
  • Folder 2B: Books, A-V (undated) 
  • Folder 3A: Speeches and Lectures, 1975-2009
  • Folder 3B: Speeches and Lectures, A-R (undated) 
  • Folder 4: Final Tributes, 2009-2012
  • Folder 5: Louise Bailey Archive at Blue Ridge, 1999-2001
  • Folder 6A: Miscellaneous Articles 1981-2007
  • Folder 6B: Miscellaneous Articles (undated)

Box 2

• Series 3: Audiovisual Recordings related to Louise Howe Bailey
  • Founder’s Vision   ©1996
  • Hendersonville: The Last 150 Years (CDs #3-5) – part of WHKP’s “Sesquicentennial Minutes”   ©1997
  • “Along the Ridges” A Collection of Times-News Columns © 2003
  • Louise Bailey: Stories from Along the Ridges – produced by Blue Ridge Community College   ©2010 (2 copies)
• Series 4: Louise Howe Bailey Pictures
  • A portrait of Louise Howe Bailey, pictures from a luncheon honoring Louise Howe Bailey, and pictures of the unveiling of the Louise Howe Bailey Archive at Blue Ridge Community College Library

Box 3

• Series 5: Louise Howe Bailey’s Plaques and Awards
  • Plaques, awards, and commendations from local organizations in Henderson County to honor her work as a historian as well as for various publications – both Times-News columns and published books.

Box 4

• Series 5: Louise Howe Bailey’s Plaques and Awards
  • More awards and commendations from local organizations honoring Bailey’s work as a historian along with special awards such as the Key to the City for Hendersonville, a NSDAR Award for history, and a shadow box with a harmonica and key as a personal thank you from the Floyd family for Bailey’s articles on Elzie Floyd.

Bookshelf

• Series 6: Louise Howe Bailey’s Published Works
  • Along the Ridges   ©1971
  • Go Home wi’ Me   ©1974
  • From Rock Hill to Connemara: The Story Before Carl Sandburg   ©1980
  • Hendersonville and Henderson County: A Pictorial History   ©1988 (co-authored with Jody Barber)
  • Draw Up a Chair   ©1990
  • St. John and the Wilderness-1836   ©1995
  • 50 Years with the Vagabonds, 1946-1996   ©1996
  • Generations of Excellence: The History of Pardee Hospital   ©1999
  • Remembering Henderson County: A Legacy of Lore   ©2005
  • Historic Henderson County: Tales from Along the Ridges ©2010
  • Saluda Cottages Built 1836 by Count Marie Joseph Gabriel St. Xavier de Choiseul (undated)
• Series 7: Copy of Reflections from the Mirror of the Mind
  • Spiral bound copy of a 2 act play written by Tom E. Orr and Terry Ruscin to honor Louise Howe Bailey. It was performed at Blue Ridge Community College in the Bo Thomas Auditorium, September 25-27, 2009.The book includes the full script, pictures from the performance, a cast list, and Louise Bailey’s autograph.