The Southern Appalachian Archives at Mars Hill College will be the beneficiary of the 65th annual Asheville Antiques Fair, to be held November 4-6 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Expo Center.

Proceeds from the fair will go toward meeting the requirements of a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, received by the college in November of 2006. The grant and matching funds support a full-time archivist position, and preservation and programming costs for the Archives.

Dr. Karen Paar, Archivist of the Southern Appalachian Archives and Director of the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, will be among the presenters at an Expert Lecture Series to be held as part of the Antique Fair. Paar’s topic will be “Minstrel of the Appalachians: Bascom Lamar Lunsford as Folk Music Collector.”

The theme of this year’s Expert Lecture Series, sponsored by Deerfield Retirement Community, is: “Appalachian Harmonies: Collecting and Preserving Mountain Music and Crafts.” Other presenters will include: Philip Jameson , Music Director at Warren Wilson History of Appalachian Music and Dance, who will speak on the topic: “Mountain Music and Dance”; and Rodney Leftwich, a nationally respected potter and author, who will speak on “Western Carolina Pottery & Pisgah Forest Pottery.”

Since 1946, the Vetust Study Club of Asheville, North Carolina has hosted the nationally-known Asheville Antiques Fair to raise money for area organizations and foundations in need. For 65 years the Vetust Study Club has remained steadfast in its commitment to support the conservation, preservation and restoration of unique historical and cultural landmarks. As non-profits Vetust and the Asheville Antiques Fair have contributed over $500,000 to various projects.

The Asheville Antiques Fair is considered to be among the oldest antique shows in the Southeast, bringing in select antique dealers from all over the East coast. These exhibitors will bring together examples of period furniture, fine art, prints, ceramics, silver and jewelry which are for sale to attendees from over thirty states.

Admission to the fair and the lecture series is $10. An Heirloom Road Show on November 5 will allow participants to bring their heirloom treasures for evaluation by certified appraisers for an additional price. For more information, go to ashevilleantiquesfair.com.

A coupon for $2 off the fair price is available on the Mars Hill College website, at www.mhc.edu.

Mars Hill College is a private, liberal arts institution offering over 30 baccalaureate degrees and one graduate degree in elementary education. Founded in 1856 by Baptist families of the region, the campus is located just 20 minutes north of Asheville in the mountains of western North Carolina.www.mhc.edu 1-866-MHC-4-YOU.Read the full article