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.
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.