A History Harvest is an interactive community event where people bring in personal items, photographs, or stories connected to a specific theme — in this case, religious history and spiritual life in Appalachia. Museum staff and ETSU students will document these materials through digital photography, video recording, and audio interviews so they can be preserved and studied by current and future historians. Participants will take their objects home the same day, but their stories and digital records will contribute to the history of religious and spiritual life in our community.

Community members are encouraged to bring a wide variety of objects, from traditional religious items such as Bibles, hymnals, church records, and photographs, to more personal or unique artifacts that they may regard as sacred or spiritual. Stories of lived experience — whether connected to a sacred object, a memory of religious practice, or the role of religion and spirituality in everyday life — are equally valuable contributions. The project invites the full spectrum of religious and spiritual practices in Appalachia.

The History Harvest is organized in partnership with Dr. Adler’s undergraduate Religion in Appalachia class. Students will serve as greeters, interviewers, and archivists throughout the day, gaining hands-on experience in public history while engaging directly with the local community.