Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives ( specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Elizabeth Fine Papers, Ms2015-041, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Elizabeth Fine Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in July 2015. An addition was donated in May 2019.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Elizabeth Fine Papers was completed in October 2016. Additional description was completed in June 2017. An addition was integrated in May 2019.

Biographical Note

Dr. Fine joined the Virginia Tech Faculty in 1979 as a joint-appointment in the Center for Programs in the Humanities and the Department of Communication Studies. From 1993-1999, she was the coordinator for he Appalachian Studies Program. Following that, she served as director of the Humanities Program in the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies from 1999 to 2003 and was the inaugural chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies from 2003 to 2007. In 2007, she returned to leadership in the humanities, eventually co-founding and co-directing the Master of Arts Program in Material Culture and Public Humanities. In this role, she helped develop its curriculum, set policies and procedures, recruited and advised students, designed and taught new courses, and was a mentor to the next generation of museum, non-profit, public humanities professionals. As reflected in the collection, she also led and continued to maintain efforts to preserve Solitude and its remaining outbuilding, renamed the Fraction Family House in 2019. Dr. Fine retired from Virginia Tech in 2015 as Professor Emerita of Humanities.

For additional information:
http://liberalarts.vt.edu/faculty-directory/religion-and-culture-faculty/elizabeth-fine.html
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/09/091415-clahs-emeritafine.html

Scope and Content

The Elizabeth Fine Papers include papers and materials collected by Fine during her tenure as a professor at Virginia Tech. Fine taught in the Department of Religion and Culture from 1979 until her retirement in 2015. The collection includes research and subject files on aspects of Appalachian culture and history; papers from her instruction, departmental, and administrative activities; and files on historic buildings on campus, particularly the history, renovation, and reopening of "Solitude."

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series. Within each series, the files are in their original order as they were received from the donor.

Series I: Appalachian Studies Files consists of subject and research files on a variety of topics relating to Appalachia. These include, but are not limited to locations in southwest Virginia, symposia and conferences, local organizations or institutions, topics (like coal mining, strikes, foodways), and materials from events and grants.

Series II: Instruction, Department, and Academic Administrative Materials relating to Virginia Tech includes personal and professional research materials, course syllabi and work, extensive information on the Appalachian Studies program at Virginia Tech, and the program's connection to interdisciplinary studies and other departments on campus.

Series III: Historic Structures at Virginia Tech (mostly Solitude) contains a large amount of information on Solitude, its outbuildings, and their history as a building on campus (including fundraising, renovations, images, planning documents for past restorations, historic reports, images, and interviews/articles). This series also includes a small amount historic preservation information about the campus generally.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Fine, Elizabeth
• Haskell-Speer, Jean
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Solitude (Blacksburg, Va. : Historic building)
• University History
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Department of Philosophy and Religion
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Department of Religion and Culture

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Elizabeth Fine Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your- work/public-domain/cc0/ ).