"What person of rural Appalachia does not recall seeing his venerable grandfather feeding his horses and pigs from the old white oak basket and what pleasant memories the little berry baskets recall--that somewhat festive occasion when family members as well as the neighbors would join one another in searching the back pastures and the "grown-up" knobs and the abandoned corn fields for blackberries... Although some recent attention has been given to basketry as a modern craft, to the various materials and techniques used in basketmaking, little has been done relative to the historic background of baskets and basketmakers. This is even more the case with regard to basketry in the Southern Appalachians where it was so important in the lives of the people. This book seeks to remedy that." -- Adapted from preface.
