About the Project

This site was completed as part of a final project by Thomas Hilton, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies candidate, Archival Studies concentration, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee.

The main purpose of this site is to increase access to a valuable collection that tells the story of an important annual religious event that lasted for over three decades. The Appalachian Preaching Mission Records show that a significant number of people in Appalachia are adherents to mainline Protestantism, and are little different from mainline Protestants elsewhere in the United States. I hope that distribution of this collection will weaken the stereotype that virtually all Appalachians are adherents to a form of Christianity that is isolated and primitive in nature.

For more information on the preaching mission and the project, read my support paper posted below.

In March 2022, Thomas Hilton and Dr. Robert Ellison of Marshall University presented a paper on the Appalachian Preaching Mission at the Appalachian Studies Association Conference in Morgantown, West Virginia. A PDF version of the presentation (along with the script) is below.

Also, the sermons on this website are now included as part of Marshall University's Library of Appalachian Preaching, which was created by Dr. Robert Ellison. Visit the Library of Appalachian Preaching here.