Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Poster
Presentation #1 Title
Leaving the Rocking Chair Brigade Behind: The women of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club in the 1930s
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club was a powerful advocate for the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since 1924, this club has promoted the conservation of the Smokies and lead efforts to create what would become the Appalachian Trail. Many of the founding members have contributed greatly to the appreciation and conversation of the Appalachian wilderness, such as Harvey Broome, former president of The Wilderness Society, Benton McKaye, an honorary member of the club and originator of the Appalachian Trail, and Carlos Campbell, recipient of Honorary Park Ranger, the National Park Service’s highest civilian award. What is not as widely known is the active role the club’s women played. This poster explores the history of women in outdoor leisure and highlights the roles of six female Smoky Mountain Hiking Club members in the 1930s.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Elizabeth Skene is Special and Digital Collections Librarian and assistant professor at Western Carolina University where she is responsible for the universitiy's Special Collections unit, the institutional repository, data management services, and digital collections. She holds a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan School of Information. Prior to working at WCU, Skene was Curator of Collections at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, MI.
Leaving the Rocking Chair Brigade Behind: The women of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club in the 1930s
The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club was a powerful advocate for the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since 1924, this club has promoted the conservation of the Smokies and lead efforts to create what would become the Appalachian Trail. Many of the founding members have contributed greatly to the appreciation and conversation of the Appalachian wilderness, such as Harvey Broome, former president of The Wilderness Society, Benton McKaye, an honorary member of the club and originator of the Appalachian Trail, and Carlos Campbell, recipient of Honorary Park Ranger, the National Park Service’s highest civilian award. What is not as widely known is the active role the club’s women played. This poster explores the history of women in outdoor leisure and highlights the roles of six female Smoky Mountain Hiking Club members in the 1930s.
