Still, James, 1906-2001

James Still, a native of Alabama and resident of rural Knott County, 1932-2001, published stories and poems in the Atlantic Monthly, Yale Review, American Mercury, and the Saturday Evening Post among others. His best known work, the novel River of Earth, was published in 1940 and reprinted by the University Press of Kentucky in 1978. His works are generally considered to be both accurate and artful depictions of life in southeastern Kentucky during the 1920's and 1930's.

James Still, one of ten children, was born in LaFayette, Alabama on July 16, 1906 to Lonie Lindsay and J. Alex Still. Still earned a Bachelor's degree from Lincoln Memorial University in 1929; an M.A. in English from Vanderbilt University in 1930; and a B.A. in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1931. In 1932 former college classmate and poet Don West offered Still a job organizing Boy Scout troops and baseball teams in Knott County, Kentucky. At summer's end Still was offered a non-salaried position as a librarian at the Hindman Settlement School where he remained for six years. Still's professional writing career began in 1931 with the publication of his poem "Dreams" which appeared in Arcadian Magazine. During the next five years his poetry appeared in such periodicals as Virginia Quarterly Review, The Saturday Review of Literature, Mountain Life and Work, and The Atlantic. In 1937 Viking Press published Hounds on the Mountain, a collection of his poems. Still's first published short story, "All Their Ways are Dark," appeared in The Atlantic in June of 1936. Many of his subsequent works were authored in a 150-year-old log house, owned by his neighbors and friends the Amburgey family, located on Wolfpen Creek in Knott County, Kentucky. It was here that Still completed his collection of short stories, On Troublesome Creek, Hounds on the Mountain, and his most acclaimed work River of Earth, published in 1940.

Still's writing career was largely interrupted by his service in the Gold Coast during WWII and his return to the Hindman Settlement School as a librarian following the war. In 1962 he joined the Department of English at Morehead State University as an Associate Professor. In 1971 he returned to writing full-time and a had another literary renaissance which included publication of several children's books, collections of folklore, short stories, and poetry. In 1977 Still published his second and last novel, Sporty Creek: A Novel About an Appalachian Boyhood. Mr. Still received numerous awards and other forms of recognition during his life. These included two Guggenheim fellowships, the O'Henry Memorial Prize, and honorary degrees from Berea College, Lincoln Memorial University, Morehead State University, and the University of Kentucky. In 1995 he was named Poet Laureate of Kentucky. James Still died on April 28, 2001 at age 94.

James Still, one of ten children, was born in LaFayette, Alabama on July 16, 1906 to Lonie Lindsay and J. Alex Still. Still earned a Bachelor's degree from Lincoln Memorial University in 1929; an M.A. in English from Vanderbilt University in 1930; and a B.A. in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1931. In 1932 former college classmate and poet Don West offered Still a job organizing Boy Scout troops and baseball teams in Knott County, Kentucky. At summer's end Still was offered a non-salaried position as a librarian at the Hindman Settlement School where he remained for six years. Still's professional writing career began in 1931 with the publication of his poem "Dreams" which appeared in Arcadian Magazine. During the next five years his poetry appeared in such periodicals as Virginia Quarterly Review, The Saturday Review of Literature, Mountain Life and Work, and The Atlantic. In 1937 Viking Press published Hounds on the Mountain, a collection of his poems. Still's first published short story, "All Their Ways are Dark," appeared in The Atlantic in June of 1936. Many of his subsequent works were authored in a 150-year-old log house, owned by his neighbors and friends the Amburgey family, located on Wolfpen Creek in Knott County, Kentucky. It was here that Still completed his collection of short stories, On Troublesome Creek, Hounds on the Mountain, and his most acclaimed work River of Earth, published in 1940.

Still's writing career was largely interrupted by his service in the Gold Coast during WWII and his return to the Hindman Settlement School as a librarian following the war. In 1962 he joined the Department of English at Morehead State University as an Associate Professor. In 1971 he returned to writing full-time and a had another literary renaissance which included publication of several children's books, collections of folklore, short stories, and poetry. In 1977 Still published his second and last novel, Sporty Creek: A Novel About an Appalachian Boyhood. Mr. Still received numerous awards and other forms of recognition during his life. These included two Guggenheim fellowships, the O'Henry Memorial Prize, and honorary degrees from Berea College, Lincoln Memorial University, Morehead State University, and the University of Kentucky. In 1995 he was named Poet Laureate of Kentucky. James Still died on April 28, 2001 at age 94.

Novelist, poet, educator, and librarian.

Born on July 16, 1906, in Lafayette, Alabama. Attended Lincoln Memorial University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Illinois, earning a B.A. and M.S. in literature and a B.S. in library science. Writing career began in 1936, when his first work was published. His River of earth (1940) became an American classic. Since 1936, has contributed poems and stories to popular magazines and literary journals. Taught for nine years at Morehead State University from 1962-1971. Was the first recipient of the Appalachian Treasure Award, presented by the Appalachian Celebration in 1988.