Goldenseal

10/17/2024

You can now find Episode 3 of the Goldenseal Podcast on Spotify via the link below!

The third episode of our special 50th Anniversary podcast. Episode 3 focuses on our Fall 2024 issue. We discuss our cover story on beekeeping in West Virginia, and our then-and-now articles, with clips from Shanda King the WV State Apiarist, Hillbilly Hippie Honeybees, basket maker Anne Bowers, and....

10/17/2024

In our Fall anniversary issue, we feature four then-and-now articles for our readers. A fascinating article from Fall of 1994 “Bee Tree: On the Trail of Wild Honey”, followed by a look at some current beekeepers in the state; a moving piece by Cody Burdette, “Home to Swandale” from Spring of 1992, followed by further reminiscences of the same author in “Whistles on the Wind”; We revisit the “Harpers Ferry Ghost Walk” in a reprint from Fall of 2001 followed by an update on the ghost tour today by Carl Feather; lastly we have a reprint from Fall of 1991, featuring Braxton County basket maker Clyde Case, followed by an interview with Jefferson County basket maker Anne Bowers.

In amongst these then-and-now features, you will find the usual sampling of articles that GOLDENSEAL has come to be known for—an article from our State Folklorist Jennie Williams, Reflections on Contemporary Art; memories of growing up in French Creek from Charles M. Morrison; a Tribute to our hard working farmers from Candy Thompson; a look a the life and accomplishments of Joan Browning by Barbara Howe; an Essay from Dana Pastro recounting memories of her grandparents on Muddy Creek Mountain in Greenbrier County; an interview with giant pumpkin growers--the Rodebaughs of Nicholas County; and another West Virginia Back Roads from Carl Feather, featuring the Harpers Ferry John Brown Wax Museum.

The cover photo was taken by Steve Brightwell. We hope you enjoy this issue! To purchase your own copy, or subscribe to the magazine you can visit wvculture.org/goldenseal or give us a call at the office 304-558-0220.

08/05/2024

The Goldenseal Podcast is now available for listening on Spotify!
Check out the first two episodes by following the link below:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenseal-podcast

Keep an eye out for episode three, which will be released with the Fall 2024 issue of the magazine in September.

We are very thankful for the support of our subscribers over the years, and hope you enjoy this celebration of our 50th year.

08/01/2024

GOLDENSEAL will be at Clifftop- The Appalachian String Band Festival at Camp Washington Carver through Saturday August 3rd. Come out and see us, and enjoy some top tier old-time music!

For more about the festival: https://wvculture.org/explore/camp-washington-carver/string-band-music-festival/

07/19/2024

Episode two of the Goldenseal Podcast is now available. Give it a listen if you have the time! We highlight the Summer 2024 issue, feature songs from some great WV musicians, and even include a 2008 clip from the late Bonnie Collins-- a talented WV Storyteller and the 1990 Vandalia Award Winner.

Listen here:

The second episode of our special 50th Anniversary podcast. Episode 2 focuses on our Summer 2024 issue. We discuss our cover story, and then-and-know article...

07/12/2024

The Summer 2024 issue of GOLDENSEAL features a cover story on Mt. Zion Baptist Church, one of only two historically Black churches in Fairmont, Marion County. The congregation will celebrate 122 years of service this July. On the cover is Mother Birdie Williams, a longtime member of the congregation, photo by Danny Leary. The article, written by Barbara Grigg, features excerpts from interviews with elder members of the congregation regarding the church and life growing up in Fairmont.
Our State Folklorist Jennie Williams shares an interview with instrument repairman Bob Smakula who will be retiring this year. Bob has been repairing instruments in Randolph County for decades now, and is a beloved member of the Elkins community.
We feature two then-and-now articles in this issue. First, originally published in 1981, and article by Colleen Anderson of her 1974 interviews with the Craftspeople of Arthurdale, followed by an update on Arthurdale by Carl Feather. Arthurdale celebrates their 90th Anniversary this year. Our second then-and-now features a reprint of a 2013 article by Nancy Merical regarding the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair which celebrated the sixty-third year of their festival over the July fourth Weekend. In the same vein as our then-and-now articles, contributing author Alan Byer has written a great piece focusing on the making of the movie Matewan, and the West Virginians involved with the film, and includes an update on where their lives took them after the film.
Kyle Lovern shares the West Virginian Roots of pro baseball player Stan Musial. Gary West shares the recollections of Stan Beafore and the Fairmont Little League of 1951 and the Fairmont Pony League of 1953—both teams made it to the Little League World Series.
June 6th, 2024 marked the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy during WWII. We feature three articles in this issue as acknowledgement of that anniversary. Edwin Daryl Michael shares his memories of WWII as a young boy in Shinnston; Donald Lambert shares the history of the 40-8 Boxcar located in Welch, McDowell County; and Sharon Sprouse Bramhall shares the story of Second Lt. Paul Barton, a Clarksburg native and hero in more ways than one.
Also in this issue: contributing author Rod O’ Donnell shares the story of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, which was originally destined to be located in Putnam County; West Virginia Author Kathleen Jacobs shares her thoughts on WV Literature; and Carl Feather wraps it all up with another WV Backroads, this time featuring Davis glass artist Scott Meyer.
To subscribe to the magazine, or order your own copy you can reach out to our office at 304-558-0220 (M-F, 9-5) or visit our website at wvculture.org under the publications tab.

06/20/2024

GOLDENSEAL is all set up and ready for the Folk Fest! If you are in and around Glenville this weekend stop by and see us!

05/22/2024

GOLDENSEAL will have a booth at The Vandalia Gathering this coming Memorial Day weekend. Come out and visit us and enjoy some good food, music, and artists while you're at it!

The Vandalia Gathering returns again this year for its 47th celebration Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2024. Be sure to join us for old-time music, traditional dancing, the Liars Contest, arts and crafts, food and more! Full schedule available here:
wvculture.org/vandalia-gathering-3/

05/03/2024

From our Winter, 1979 issue. "Homecoming" by Yvonne Snyder Farley. Photos by Doug Chadwick. GOLDENSEAL is sharing this article in recognition of the recent listing of the New Salem Baptist Church as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

05/03/2024

05/03/2024

Congratulations to the congregation and community supporters of the New Salem Baptist Church in Tams! The building has recently been listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" — an annual program that raises awareness about the threats facing some of the nation’s greatest treasures. New Salem Baptist Church and the community of Tams were the subjects of an early GOLDENSEAL article (Volume 5, number 4) by Yvonne Snyder Farley, photographed by Doug Chadwick.

04/28/2024

If you're able, come out and join us at the Culture Center today April 28th at 2pm for the opening of an exhibit celebrating 50 years of GOLDENSEAL Magazine!

Goldenseal celebrates 50 years! Join us as we open a new exhibit honoring 50 years of Goldenseal Magazine, the magazine of West Virginia Traditional Life. The exhibit opens at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The event will include a reception and is free and open to the public. The Culture Center doors will open at 1 p.m.

Produced by the WVDACH, GOLDENSEAL takes its stories from the recollections of West Virginians living throughout the state. Oral history fieldwork and documentary photography result in four issues per year with articles on subjects such as labor history, folklore, music, farming, religion, traditional crafts, food, and politics. https://bit.ly/3xQspSO

04/26/2024

Goldenseal celebrates 50 years! Join us as we open a new exhibit honoring 50 years of Goldenseal Magazine, the magazine of West Virginia Traditional Life. The exhibit opens at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The event will include a reception and is free and open to the public. The Culture Center doors will open at 1 p.m.

Produced by the WVDACH, GOLDENSEAL takes its stories from the recollections of West Virginians living throughout the state. Oral history fieldwork and documentary photography result in four issues per year with articles on subjects such as labor history, folklore, music, farming, religion, traditional crafts, food, and politics. https://bit.ly/3xQspSO

04/23/2024

GOLDENSEAL has been working behind the scenes on a couple of exciting things to help celebrate our 50th year! Check out the information below to learn more about our exhibit with the West Virginia State Museum, and the launch of our new Goldenseal Podcast. The exhibit will open Sunday, April 28th at 2 p.m.

GOLDENSEAL: 50 Years of West Virginia Traditional Life

The West Virginia State Museum and GOLDENSEAL Magazine have worked together to create a showcase of photos and artifacts related to GOLDENSEAL magazine subjects and our museum collections. Like GOLDENSEAL, the exhibit aims to showcase the people and stories of West Virginia.

The culture and community of the Mountain State, as covered by GOLDENSEAL magazine over the last fifty years, are highlighted in the exhibition through sections related to the history of the magazine, music, rural life, industry, and artists and craftsmanship. The photography of Steve Payne, Rick Lee, Michael Keller, Tyler Evert, and Steve Brightwell who were state photographers that contributed regularly to the magazine, is used throughout the exhibit.

This exhibition will open on Sunday, April 28th at 2 p.m. with a public reception at the Culture Center in Charleston.

We have also created a podcast to showcase the content of GOLDENSEAL, follow the link to give it a listen. Let us know what you think! https://youtu.be/Gf59qtpYiHs