University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Charlotte Young, 1878-1985

Charlotte Young (1926), photograph by Brock
Charlotte Young Collection, 80.4.1.2.13
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804

Title

Creator

Subject

Subject

Keyword: Dargan, Olive Tilford ; Wolfe, Thomas ; Music ; Appalachian culture ; Mountain ballads ; Poetry Council ; Federal Writers Project ; Civil War ; Hominy Valley ; Education ; Religion ; Literature ; Poetry ; Women’s Rights

Description

Charlotte Young talks about her family and her teaching career.  Her comments about her career illustrate the nature of education during the period, the difficulties and discrimination experienced by females, and the gradual improvement in requirements demanded of public school teachers.

Young also comments on mountain ballads and music, describes her stint of service with the Federal Writers Project during the 1930's, and traces the beginnings, late in her life, of her career as a poet. Young published her first book of poetry in 1953, and since then has been writing and publishing volumes, while becoming active in the Poetry Council, on which she serves as a staff member.

The interview includes reflections on several other writers, including Tom Wolfe and Olive Tilford Dargan.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2001-07-26

Type

Sound ; Text

Format

Identifier

Source

Louis D. Silveri Oral History Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville 28804

Language

English

Relation

Charlotte Young Manuscript Collection, Special Collections UNC Asheville ; SHRC Virginia Schreiber Oral History

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 23 ;  Date of acquisition: August, 1977

Processed By

Interview Date

Biography

Charlotte Young was born on June 11, 1878 and died August 29, 1985.  She grew up in Hominy Valley near Asheville, N.C., in the late 19th century. Her father fought in the Civil War, returned to Western North Carolina, and pursued careers in teaching, farming and preaching.

Charlotte Young began teaching in 1898 in Oak Grove, Tenn., and for many years taught and served as principal in numerous schools in various states.

Young was also an author who published regular articles in the Asheville Citizen and from 1953 to 1984 published six books of poetry. Charlotte Young was instrumental in founding the North Carolina Poetry Society.

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