Research and Reading

The People of the Hollow: Information and Resources

This year’s show acknowledges the cultural influences that created Appalachian culture, traditions and music: Scottish, Irish, German, African American, and also the Melungeons, known as the “Lost Tribe of Appalachia. The following links are provided for you to learn more about the people you’ll be portraying on stage, and may help you to build more stories for your character and your families.

Cultural and Ethnic Groups

Scots-Irish

Before the American Revolution, more Scots-Irish emigrated to the New World than any group, and it is estimated that at least 250,000 Scots-Irish lived in the American colonies by the 1770s. Many of those individuals eventually made their way to the Appalachian Mountains.

African American

German

Germans were a major pioneer group to migrate to Appalachia, settling mainly in western Pennsylvania and southwest Virginia. Smaller numbers of Germans were also among the initial wave of migrants to the southern mountains.

Melungeons

“Melungeon” is a term that first appeared in print in the 19th century, used in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina  to describe people of mixed ancestry. Melungeons were considered by outsiders to have a mixture of European, Native American, and African ancestry. Researchers have referred to Melungeons and similar groups as “tri-racial isolates,” and Melungeons have faced discrimination, both legal and social, because they did not fit into America’s accepted racial categories. The YouTube video below helps to explain why Menungeon ancestry is complex. 

Christmas and New Year Traditions

Shape-note Singing