Cratis D. Williams papers

Cratis Dearl Williams (April 5, 1911 - May 11, 1985), considered the Father of Appalachian Studies, was a native of Caines Creek in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Williams graduated from Louisa High School in 1928, attended Cumberland College from 1928-1929, and taught in one-room schools on Caines Creek from 1929-1933 while working towards his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Kentucky (completed in 1933). In 1937 Williams earned his Master of Arts in English from the University of Kentucky, writing a thesis entitled "Ballads and Songs" which focused on traditional music from eastern Kentucky. Williams earned his Ph. D. at New York University in 1961, writing a dissertation "The Southern Mountaineer in Fact and Fiction," which remains an authoritative examination of Appalachian literature.

In 1942 Williams was hired as critic teacher at the Appalachian Demonstration High School, Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, North Carolina. During the first year in Boone, Williams's first wife, Sylvia Graham, died of Tuberculosis. In 1946, Williams was named assistant professor of English and speech at Appalachian State Teachers College, and continued to serve the high school until 1949 as critic teacher, assistant principal, director of drama, and director of the first school wide counseling program in North Carolina. Williams married Elizabeth Lingerfelt in 1949, with whom he had two children, Sophie (b. 1953) and David Cratis (b. 1955). He was named professor of English in 1950 at Appalachian State University, and then served as dean of the Graduate School from 1958-1975. He also served as acting vice chancellor for academic affairs (1974) and acting chancellor (1975), before his retirement in 1976.

Following his retirement, Williams began to write memoirs of his life. There are three published memoirs, two of which were posthumous publications: William H. Vaughan: A Better Man Than I Ever wanted to Be (1983), I Become a Teacher (1995), and The Cratis Williams Chronicles: I Come to Boone (1999).

Cratis Williams earned many awards and achievements including: the Founders Day Certificate of Excellence, New York University (1962), North Carolina Historical Society's Achievement Award (1972), O. Max Gardner Award, University of North Carolina (1973), Brown-Hudson Award, North Carolina Folklore Society (1975), Laurel Leaves Award, Appalachian Consortium (1976), and W. D. Weatherford Award, Berea College (1979). Williams also earned honorary degrees from Berea College (1977), Cumberland College, Morehead State University, College of Idaho (1984), and from Marshall University and Appalachian State University (1985).