Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Gift Shop
Founded in 1979, the Jesse Stuart Foundation, a non-profit educational publishing organization is dedicated to one of the famous Appalachian writers and educators. James "Jim" Gifford, a Stuart historian, took the role of Executive Director of the Foundation in 1985, and he has made it a personal mission to keep the legacy of Stuart and other Appalachian authors alive for generations of readers to come. In 1999, the Jesse Stuart Foundation found a permanent home for when they bought and renovated a postal office and named it the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Gift Shop. The organization's new home is known for reprinting and publishing Stuart and other Appalachian author's works, showcasing Stuart's original copies and memorabilia, selling regional crafts, hosting events, trips, tours, book signings centered for students, local writers, and enthusiasts of Stuart and Appalachian literature. Currently, the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Giftshop is the 2nd largest publishing house in Kentucky and the leading publisher of Appalachian books in the U.S
Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Gift Shop (Frontal View)
JSF Bookstore and Gift Shop Electronic Sign
Original Copies of Stuart's Works
More Original Copies of Stuart's Works
Inside of the JSF Bookstore and Gift Shop and Some of Stuart's Books
Regional Crafts and Stuart Novelties
More Regional Crafts
Stuart's Teaching Philosophy
"Sir" by Jesse Stuart
Jesse Stuart, The Man of Many Titles
Born in Greenup County, Kentucky on August 8, 1906, Jesse Milton Stuart, a man of many titles, such as a novelist, poet, schoolteacher, school administrator, educational speaker, and world traveler, is well-known for his works dealing with rural living in Appalachia, and his contributions to education helped renovate the education system as we know today. Most of his works throughout his life deal with motifs regarding Appalachia, such as the education system, farming, and symbolic quintessence of home, nature, and family.
By the time of his death on February 17, 1984, Stuart had accomplished many things throughout his life left, leaving behind over 2000 poems, 460 short stories, and 60 novels. He is considered to be one of the most anthologized Appalachian authors. As for his contributions with education, Stuart was an advocate for education by lending his expertise in making specific changes to the education in the U.S., such as transforming the school system from a one room setting into a county setting, providing specialized, area-driven trainings for teachers, and emphasizing the professional development of teachers.
Also, Stuart was a worldly man since he traveled to more than 40 countries as a U.S. Representative of the State Department to teach and give lectures about education. From traveling to Europe under the Guggenheim Fellowship to teaching in Cairo, Egypt to giving speeches regarding education in Seoul and Japan, Stuart made many connections with his teaching philosophies. His literature has been translated to many languages and has touched people around the world since it addressed universal themes and gave an insight of rural living in the U.S.
According Gifford, the Jesse Stuart Foundation's main objective is to conserve Jesse Stuart's legacy and the Appalachian lifestyle. Around the time Gifford took the role of Executive Director of the Foundation, he witnessed Stuart's were becoming out of print, and teachers were not using Stuart's texts due to limited access of obtaining them. Since 1985, Gifford has managed to edit and publish 40 of Jesse Stuart's works that were originally out of print. Alongside the reprinting Stuart's book, Gifford dedicated 15 years of compiling Stuart's history together and published a biography of Stuart in 2010, Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life.
In addition, Gifford obtained multiple original copies of Stuart's works and has them on display at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Giftshop along with Stuart's belongings. The foundation expanded their horizons by also reediting, publishing, and sponsoring other famous Appalachian writers, such as Billy C. Clark, Thomas D. Clark, Loyal Jones, and Harry M. Caudill as well as new, up-incoming authors from the area. The foundation holds special events, such as book signings of authors and Jesse Stuart Weekend cultural tours, which are gatherings at different Jesse Stuart monuments like the Jesse Stuart Lodge or the Jesse Stuart State Nature Preserve where Stuart fans celebrate his life and accomplishments. Similar to what Stuart has done, the Foundation hopes to emulate a voice for regional people, interpret the dreams and accomplishments of Appalachians, and a catalyst for improving literacy in Appalachia.
Gifford, James. Kazee, Erin R. Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life. Ashland, KY. Jesse Stuart Foundation, 2010.
Gifford, James. Personal Interview. 4 October 2019.
Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore and Gift Shop. 2014. Accessed October 8th 2019. https://www.jsfbooks.com/#sthash.KuAjbwVK.dpbs.
Image Sources(Click to expand)
Connor Kinder
Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life by James Gifford
Immortal Kentuckian by James Gifford
Mooneyed Hound by Billy C. Clark
Faith & Meaning in the Southern by Loyal Jones
Footloose in Jacksonian America by Thomas Clark
Night Comes to the Cumberlands
John Simon Guggenheim Foundation
​​4440, 13th St.
Ashland , KY 41102
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Agriculture and Rural History
Local History Societies and Museums
State Historical Societies and Museums
Created by Connor Kinder on October 8th 2019, 2:55:33 pm.
Last updated by Connor Kinder on October 10th 2019, 4:10:58 pm.
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Jesse Stuart Literary History Trail
Located in both Greenup and Ashland, Kentucky, these seven landmarks and sites are dedicated to famous Appalachian writer and educator, Jesse Stuart (1906-1984).