About Special Collections & Archives

Edward Karshner is Associate Professor of English at Robert Morris University. His Fellowship study was in pursuit of his interest in teaching and writing about Appalachian folklore, magic, and mysticism. He made extensive use of texts and audio recordings of eastern Kentucky tales and stories collected by folklorist Leonard Ward Roberts during the 1950s and 1960s.

The primary out comes of his research have been insights and content for use in teaching folklore classes, journal articles, conference papers, and fiction writing. Among his writings are Salt Creek Valley Monkey Dog, anthologies Haints and Hollers, Shelved, and It Came from the Swamp. In  a monthly column for Reckon Review, he examines how folklore informs and clarifies popular culture.

Blakeley Burger is a fiddle player and teacher originally from Lexington, Kentucky. She is particularly interested in the history and playing styles of fiddlers from eastern Kentucky, particularly, players of underrepresented identities. Her Fellowship study was in pursuit of analyzing and learning to play versions of tunes as played by Buddy Thomas, Carlton Rawlings, Doc Roberts, Emma Lee Dickerson and Ed Haley. The common factor for them being their ability to execute unique bowing patterns or advanced improvisational variations within the bounds of a traditional melody. Anticipated outcomes include a performance event and teaching an online workshop to experienced fiddlers who strive to integrate more improvisatory variations and ornamentation into their tunes.

Grace Rogers is a banjo player, guitarist, songwriter, and poet from Bath County, Kentucky. Her Fellowship study focused primarily on traditional music recordings from Magoffin and Morgan Counties, Kentucky in Berea’s Bruce Greene Collection. Her goals were to write poetry in conversation with these documents and to develop a community poetry workshop for residents of Magoffin or surrounding counties, using primary sources from these places.