HeardTell Blog
Portrait of a brick artist: Celebrating the legacy of James Vester Miller
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Join Buncombe County Special Collections for a reception to celebrate the completion of a mural honoring James Vester Miller, African American community leader and brick mason. Miller is responsible for some of the most iconic brick buildings in downtown Asheville, and undoubtedly shaped the built environment of the city. Born in Rutherfordton, NC in 1860,
- Published in African Americans, Architecture, Local Heroes and Heroines
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Tapping into Modernity: The Telegraph Comes to Asheville
Friday, July 28, 2023
This is the first post in a series on the history of communication technologies in Asheville & WNC, from telegraphs to the Internet. Read on to learn about Asheville's telegraph era, which began July 28, 1877.
- Published in Asheville History, Technology
One Man’s Grapes
Friday, July 21, 2023
John Hoyt, whom many know from his famous Engadine Estate, once claimed his fame in growing grapes on his western Buncombe County property. Guest post by Adam Coulter.
- Published in Buncombe County History, Community Member Posts
The Case of the Missing Eggs
Friday, April 14, 2023
“Collection…one of the best in existence” “…one of the treasures of our State” “… invaluable!” These accolades referred not to a collection of precious gems or rare artwork, but instead to one of bird eggs collected by renowned local ornithologist, John Simpson Cairns (1862-1895) of Weaverville. Cairns’ research contributed significantly to the field of modern
Event Reminder: Lecture and Lunch+Learn
Tuesday, November 01, 2022
As part of the community efforts to help raise local consciousness of racial history Buncombe County Special Collections, in partnership with Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County and the Equal Justice Initiative, is preparing to mount a permanent exhibit about racial terror violence in Buncombe County. The central focus of the exhibit is soil
- Published in News
BCSC News: September/October 2022
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Celebrating Archives Month Every October archivists around the country celebrate American Archives Month. During this time (and, honestly, all the time) special libraries around the country work to raise awareness about public records, archives, and special collections. Buncombe County and Western North Carolina host several archives and special collections libraries that are accessible to the
- Published in News






