Contributors
This guide is based on the broom documentation project of summer 2015. Student Curatorial Associate Justin "Dean" Burton '15 examined and described the brooms. Student Curatorial Associate Shadia Prater photographed the brooms, edited the images, and did much of the technical work to produce this guide. Christopher Miller was the supervising curator.
LJAC Artifact Guides
This guide is maintained by the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center's Artifacts, Exhibits & Media Studio.
The studio curates and provides access to the 3D artifact collections, produces exhibitions, and creates media to support the work of LJAC. To learn more about the studio, experience more of our creations, and explore the artifact collections, use the links below. Much of the work is done by Berea College students. The supervisory curator is Christopher Miller.
Appalachian Center Curator
Brooms in the Appalachian Artifacts Collection
The broom is an ancient implement known to most times and places. It is a basic, universal tool, much like a hammer or knife. Across history and geography they are found varying in materials according to what is/was available to the maker, and in size and space according to the purpose.
There is little distinctively Appalachian about the broom, except perhaps some of the materials used in handles, some specific combinations of materials, and the persistence of hand broom making as a part of the region's healthy handicraft culture.
These brooms are those that have come into our collections through systematic, but non-comprehensive collecting. They are a sampler, if you will, of those made in the region.
Broom Gallery
1969.1.533
1969.1.533
1995.22.2
1969.1.540
1969.1.584
2004.28.1