Get ready for a vibrant few months at Buncombe County Special Collections! As spring blossoms into summer, we’re excited to offer a lineup of events that delve into our region’s rich tapestry through storytelling, creativity, and science.
In May, an author event and elder talk will celebrate the history and continuing legacy of Asheville’s Black communities, and audiences of all ages can enjoy traditional Appalachian storytelling.
June events will include a book club discussion shedding light on George Masa, the Grove Park Inn, and more; the launch of a new book showing how the Smokies have served as the inspiration for a world of beauty and creativity; and the closing reception of the current exhibition in our reading room by Swannatopia Experimental Art Club. Plus, in partnership with the West Asheville Library, we’ll take a walking tour to discover the history of Haywood Road.
In July, we’ll reflect through film and music on the Great Flood of 1916 and the relevance of this history as our community recovers from last fall’s disaster. These events are presented in conjunction with the continuing project Come Hell or High Water, documenting the memory of Helene’s impact.
At the end of the month, we’ll also get hands-on with tech history in an all-ages event full of retro fun!
Schedule notes: Please note that BCSC continues to be closed daily from noon to 1pm for lunch.
From Saturday, June 21, through Saturday, June 28, BCSC will be open by appointment only to allow staff time to complete special projects. All Buncombe County Public Libraries will have holiday closures on Thursday, June 19 and Friday-Saturday, July 4-5.
Learn more about planning a research trip to BCSC here. Thank you for planning your visit accordingly!
Author Talk with Tanya Davis – Threads: A Tapestry of Life in the Black Community of Shiloh and Beyond
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
“Threads offers a window into the heart of a community whose story at times is unseen and full of strength, resilience, and beauty that have sustained generations.”
Author Tanya Davis will discuss and sign her new book Threads: A Tapestry of Life in the Black Community of Shiloh and Beyond, a multifaceted compilation capturing the essence of Shiloh through history, heartfelt stories, poems, prose, and essays. The book offers fragmented memories, candid opinions, questions, and thoughts that paint a picture of life in the Shiloh community.
Elder Talk: Wisdom, Legacy & Community – A GRINDFest 2025 Event
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Buncombe County Special Collections is proud to partner with Black Wall Street AVL to present Elder Talk, an intimate and powerful evening where wisdom meets the future. As part of GRINDFest 2025, this gathering brings together esteemed elders from our community to share stories, experiences, and invaluable lessons on resilience, entrepreneurship, and cultural legacy.
This event is an opportunity to honor the past, inspire the present, and build the future together. Whether you’re seeking guidance, reflection, or connection, Elder Talk will leave you enriched and motivated. Please RSVP via Eventbrite to be part of the conversation!
Southern Appalachian Storytelling with Michael Reno Harrell
Saturday, May 24, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street
Michael Reno Harrell will be telling stories in his signature Southern Appalachian style at Pack Memorial Library. “Easy” is as good an adjective to describe Michael’s style as any. His personal experience based stories certainly are easy to listen to. And easy depicts his style of telling as well. He gives his audience space to absorb and to savor… and to laugh! Michael is a master of taking his listeners back to when we all remember life as easy…back to childhood. Back to the days of bicycles, fireworks, piano lessons, good dogs and bad school lunches. Join us for an afternoon of stories and music, listeners of all ages are welcome. Register in advance to reserve a seat!
Land of the Sky 101 Book Club
Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:30am – noon
Special Collections Reading Room, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
Land of the Sky 101 is a community learning circle for those who are interested in the history of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Western North Carolina.
This four-part series of readings and discussions is modeled after the themes of the exhibit An Incomplete History of Buncombe County in the BCSC reading room. Readers can choose from two selections; one light read like a novel, essay collection, or poetry; and one rigorous non-fiction read written by an expert on the subject. Pick one or both! The choice is yours!
Each session is facilitated by a Buncombe County Special Collections librarian or special guest who shares expert knowledge, additional resources, and sets the context for the conversation.
For the second session of the 2025 cohort, we will be reading and discussing George Masa: A Life Reimagined by Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel and Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle.
Author Talk: Land of Blue Shadows: Mountain Life in Verse & View
Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, Asheville
This final posthumous publication from beloved regional poet, naturalist and writer George Ellison presents lovely poetry from an icon of the Smokies alongside gorgeous paintings and photography from Elizabeth Ellison and Quintin Ellison.
As Western North Carolina rebuilds in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, these ruminations and scenes from life at the edge of the Smoky Mountains will take readers on an inspirational, hopeful and artistic journey into the heart of the Blue Ridge.
Registration is required for this event. Reserve your spot now!
And the green grass grows all around and around and the green grass grows all around
Exhibition on view from March 26 – June 10
Closing reception Tuesday, June 10, 2:00pm – 7:00pm
Lord Auditorium (performances) and Special Collections Reading Room (exhibition reception), Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street
The artists of Swannatopia Experimental Art Club have take over the Carolina Record Shop “to collect our thoughts and incubate our visions as we redirect our gaze toward the farms, forests, and legume lagoons of our future.”
Many of the objects on display were created in response to the prompt “How Do We Mark The Flood?” for an event held on November 23, 2024 at Warren Wilson College; others were included in our recent exhibition “DEER FREAKS…and decoys.” and accompanying puppet fashion show “How Do We Disappear, Yet Still Be Seen?” at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. Works on view are paired with library research resources that highlight the histories of agriculture and arboriculture in our region and “offer a glimpse into the vision—trees and seeds in anticipation of spring days to come.”
“And the green grass grows all around and around and the green grass grows all around” is presented as part of the Carolina Record Shop and the community memory project Come Hell or High Water, documenting the historic impact of Helene on Western North Carolina.
West Side Stories: West Asheville of the ’50s and ’60s
Saturday, June 14, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Starting at Universal Joint, 784 Haywood Road, West Asheville
Discover the hidden histories of buildings in this walking tour along the 700 block of Haywood Road, from the Pure Oil Service Station (784 Haywood Road, now home to Universal Joint) to Grace Baptist Church (718 Haywood Road). Robert M. Randolph II, who grew up in West Asheville in the 1950s and 1960s, will share his memories and historical research about the years “when pharmacies and barber shops defined West Asheville.” Library staff will share resources for researching historic buildings as well as information about how you can contribute to the archives.
This is a free, off-site walking tour. Participants should meet at 784 Haywood Road (Universal Joint) at 11am.
This event is presented as part of the West Asheville History Project, a partnership between the West Asheville Public Library and Buncombe County Special Collections.
272 Nights: Helene Recovery Story Share
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 7:30pm – 9:00pm (doors open at 6:45pm)
Wicked Weed Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Avenue
The Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections and Wicked Weed Funkatorium presents an evening of Hurricane Helene storytelling. Hosted by local writers Bonnie Antosh and Will Bahr, the event will feature both curated stories and an open-mic opportunity. Attendees are encouraged to submit their names at the door to tell a 3-5 minute story about moments of adaptation, lesson, resilience or humor in the wake of our shared catastrophe.
Doors at 6:45; storytelling at 7:30. Admission is by donation at the door (pay what you wish).
Themed “272 Nights: What We Cling To,” this event is presented as part of Come Hell or High Water, a community memory project to document and preserve our community’s experience of Tropical Storm Helene.
Come Hell or High Water: Remembering the Great Flood of 1916
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street
In 2016, filmmaker David Weintraub premiered the documentary film Come Hell or High Water to commemorate the centennial of the Great Flood of 1916. Years later, the WNC community finds itself in a similar position to those affected by the 1916 disaster.
Join Buncombe County Special Collections as we welcome David for a screening and discussion of the film.
Cloudburst: An Afternoon of History and Music with Trevor McKenzie and Steve Kruger
Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street
In July 1916 WNC communities suffered through one of the worst floods in our region’s recorded history. One way residents processed and remembered the disaster was through music.
“The Brushy Mountain Freshet” is a ballad that details the fate of one WNC family after a 1916 landslide destroyed their home in Alexander County.
BCSC will host Trevor McKenzie and Steve Kruger to discuss the history behind the 1916 ballad and share songs from their album of regional tunes, “The Freshet.”
Retro Technology Discovery Day
Friday, July 25, 2025 at 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street
Retro Technology Discovery Day returns for its third year! This beloved all-ages event is an opportunity for hands-on discovery of technology through the ages.
Explore the science & history of human ingenuity with BCPL library staff as well as partners from the Moogseum, Asheville Radio Museum, and more!
Light snacks will be provided.
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