Humanities Honors Program

FAIN: AE-247973-16

Patrick Henry Community College (Martinsville, VA 24112-6693)
Angela Wright (Project Director: August 2015 to June 2017)
Tammy Forbes (Project Director: June 2017 to September 2021)

A three-year project to create a humanities honors program with thematic emphasis on Appalachian culture at Patrick Henry Community College.

Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) proposes the creation of a Humanities Honors Program designed with thematic emphasis on Appalachian culture. This project will build upon the college's successful work in collaborative learning to increase student engagement. The project will design and implement a curriculum that offers opportunities for deeper learning and more rigorous standards, while focusing on topics of regional importance. Faculty will engage in a year of exploration into topics of regional importance and will meet to read, discuss, make cultural visits, and hear speakers related to regional issues in order to design and implement the proposed Humanities Honors Program with thematic focus on Appalachian culture.

Media Coverage

Beth Macy, NY Times best selling author of "Factory Man" (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Holly Kozelsky
Publication: Martinsville Bulletin
Date: 9/21/2016
Abstract: Ms. Kozelsky wrote a review of Beth Macy's talk about her book "Factory Man," which chronicled the closing of Bassett Furniture factories locally as jobs were sent to China. The book is based on John D. Bassett III who kept open the Vaughan Bassett Plant in Galax, VA, and successfully sued China.
URL: http://http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/macy-talks-similarities-between-new-book-and-factory-man-at/article_668abb90-7a01-5ba7-927a-f3b67b3f6816.html

Southern Saints: Sharyn McCrumb finds inspiration through NASCAR (Media Coverage)
Author(s):
Publication: Martinsville Bulletin
Date: 10/12/2016
Abstract: Sharyn McCrumb explores NASCAR and Southern Saints (Dale Earnhardt) in speech for NEH grant at Patrick Henry Community College
URL: http://http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/southern-saints-author-finds-inspiration-in-nascar/article_25e04def-b668-5cc6-8b6d-b02c6de424eb.html

Rex Stephenson: Director finds new purpose (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Holly Kozelsky
Publication: Martinsville Bulletin
Date: 3/25/2013
Abstract: Rex Stephenson discusses retirement and future plans, including bringing theatre/Jack Tales to local students
URL: http://http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/local/director-finds-new-purpose/article_14af1bed-e803-5475-a3e8-6d48c86ddea7.html

Regret and Penance: Stuart author talks about his latest book (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Holly Kozelsky
Publication: Martinsville Bulletin
Date: 4/1/2017
Abstract: Kozelsky attended Clark's talk and interviewed him afterward about his writing, living in this community, and the NEH grant.
URL: http://http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/regret-and-penance-stuart-author-talks-about-latest-book/article_21615ccf-9f3e-5f7e-a7c0-7fa98a98b4b8.html

A Family in Black and White (Media Coverage)
Author(s): CBS New Staff
Publication: 60 Minutes
Date: 3/30/1999
Abstract: This is from a 60 Minutes interview when Wiencek's book about the Hairstons came out.
URL: http://http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-family-in-black-and-white/

Associated Products

NY Times Best Seller Author Sharyn McCrumb (Blog Post)
Title: NY Times Best Seller Author Sharyn McCrumb
Author: Angela Wright
Abstract: Sharyn McCrumb, author of "St. Dale," spoke to the community, faculty, and students on October 11 about auto racing in Virginia, particularly at the Martinsville Speedway, and about Dale Earnhardt..Sharyn, a Virginia native, writes primarily about Virginia history in her fiction.
Date: 10/10/2016
Primary URL: http://http://sharynmccrumb.com/
Primary URL Description: This website is the link to the author Sharyn McCrumb and her books.
Secondary URL: http://https://youtu.be/_jApfHyivHA
Secondary URL Description: This link is for the youtube video of Sharyn McCrumb's speech on 10/10/16 when she spoke to NEH participants, students, and the community,.
Blog Title: St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb
Website: Sharyn McCrumb

Jack Tales and Rex Stephenson (Blog Post)
Title: Jack Tales and Rex Stephenson
Author: Richard Chase
Author: Rex Stephenson
Abstract: Rex Stephenson is professor emeritus at Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA. He studied Jack Tales storytelling and started a traveling theatre group who told Jack Tales to students across Virginia. When Rex Stephenson spoke to our faculty and students, he told 3 tales about Jack and used audience members to participate in the storytelling.
Date: 11/4/16
Primary URL: http://http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2016/04/jack-tales-not-just-beanstalks.html
Primary URL Description: This website is from an article by Dave Tabler about storytelling. Tabler states that Jack Tales are meant to be told, not read. Telling stories is an Appalachian tradition, which is quickly fading.
Secondary URL: http://https://www.ibiblio.org/bawdy/folklore/tales.html
Secondary URL Description: This site lists some of the Jack Tales.
Blog Title: Jack Tales. Not just beanstalks.
Website: The Jack Tales. Not just beanstalks.

Rex Stephenson Jack Tales talk (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Rex Stephenson Jack Tales talk
Writer: Richard Chase
Writer: Rex Stephenson
Producer: Randy Ferguson
Abstract: This is the video of Rex Stephenson's talk on Jack Tales to the Patrick Henry Community College Humanities faculty and students.
Year: 2016
Primary URL: http://https://youtu.be/n4EM__I_JA4
Primary URL Description: Rex Stephenson, Professor Emeritus at Ferrum College, told Jack Tale stories with help from the audience and talked about the importance of storytelling in communities.
Format: Video
Format: Digital File
Format: Web

Sharyn McCrumb "St. Dale" book talk (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Sharyn McCrumb "St. Dale" book talk
Writer: Sharyn McCrumb
Producer: Randy Ferguson
Abstract: Sharyn McCrumb spoke about racing in Virginia, particularly Martinsville Speedway, and the Dale Earnhardt effect.
Year: 2016
Primary URL: http://https://youtu.be/_jApfHyivHA
Primary URL Description: This is a private link to the author talk by Sharyn McCrumb on racing and her book St. Dale.
Access Model: private youtube channel by speaker's request
Format: Video
Format: Digital File
Format: Web

Beth Macy and her book Factory Man (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Beth Macy and her book Factory Man
Writer: Beth Macy
Producer: Randy Ferguson
Abstract: This is a youtube video of the author Beth Macy speaking at Patrick Henry Community College on September 20, 2016 about her book Factory Man. Factory Man is about John Bassett, son of the found of Bassett Furniture, who refused to send his products to China for production. Instead, JBIII as his is known, continued producing Bassett Furniture in Galax, VA, and successfully sued China over a product design.
Year: 2017
Primary URL: http://https://youtu.be/mnyscjMRsVI
Primary URL Description: Beth Macy speaking to the PHCC faculty, students, and community about her book "Factory Man." Many of the people who lost their jobs and were featured in the book came to see Ms. Macy.
Access Model: This is a private video open to humanities faculty and the speaker.
Format: Video
Format: Digital File
Format: Web

Henry Wiencek, NY Times best selling author of "The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White" (Blog Post)
Title: Henry Wiencek, NY Times best selling author of "The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White"
Author: Marvin Hairston
Abstract: Henry Wiencek, NY Times best selling author of "The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White" spoke to faculty, students, and the community about the Hairstons who owned slaves in VA and NC. The slaves took their owner's name, and now the Hairston family reunion, held every Labor Day weekend in Baltimore, is an event for the descendants of the original slaves. This event is the largest recorded family reunion in the United States. They now offer the John W. Hairston Memorial Scholarship each year.
Date: 2/22/17
Primary URL: http://http://hairstonclan.site44.com/index.html
Primary URL Description: This site explores the history, reunions, and scholarship for the black Hairstons.
Secondary URL: http://http://www.hairston.org/
Secondary URL Description: This site explores the history of the slave owner Peter Hairston and gives information on his family, the timeline, property owned, and cemeteries.
Website: Hairston Clan

National Collegiate for Honors Council (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: National Collegiate for Honors Council
Abstract: Dean Terry Young and Project Director Angela Wright attended the NCHC conference in Seattle in October 2016 to learn more about setting up an Honors program at Patrick Henry Community College.
Date Range: October 2016
Location: Seattle, Washington
Primary URL: http://http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/nchc.site-ym.com/resource/collection/074ead02-e1b5-4968-8a29-542a4a54f744/Official-Program-2016a.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%222016+and+conference%22
Primary URL Description: The link is for the program for the 2016 conference in Seattle.

Martin Clark, author (Radio/Audio Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Martin Clark, author
Writer: Holly Kozelsky, Martinsville Bulletin Staff Writer
Director: Randy Ferguson
Producer: Randy Ferguson
Abstract: Judge Martin Clark, NY Times best selling author, spoke about his latest novel "The Jezebel Remedy" to a group of faculty, students, staff, and community members. Clark spoke about writing about local places in Martinsville, Henry and Patrick Counties, and Franklin County. He also discussed using real people as well as their names and told how he arrives at a storyline/plot. Clark also discussed the importance of storytelling as an art, and how it communicates the uniqueness of community.
Date: 03/30/17
Primary URL: https://youtu.be/skRrxrboMuo
Primary URL Description: Judge Martin Clark, author, speaking to Patrick Henry Community College faculty and guests about writing.
Secondary URL: http://http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/regret-and-penance-stuart-author-talks-about-latest-book/article_21615ccf-9f3e-5f7e-a7c0-7fa98a98b4b8.html
Secondary URL Description: Martinsville Bulletin print story about Clark's talk at Patrick Henry Community College.
Format: Digital File

Booker T. Washing National Monument (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Booker T. Washing National Monument
Abstract: Faculty visited the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Franklin Co, VA, with tour guide and historian Timothy Simms.
Author: Angela Wright
Date: 04/06/2017
Location: Booker T. Washington National Monument, Franklin County
Primary URL: http://https://www.nps.gov/bowa/index.htm

---