Memories Collection

Jones pictured with Mathematics professors, Susan Kiser and Emmett Sams (#8)

Susan King (#80) with David and Julie Fortney (#30)

Former Provost John Omachonou (#92)

Ruth and A. Max Lennon (#36), former First Lady and President, 1996-2002

The Religion faculty's interview was a team effort (#19)

Thomas Sawyer, Earl Leininger, Robert Melvin*, and Page Lee*, with C. Robert Jones

Former President Dan Lunsford (#52 and #78)

Pictured with Julie Fortney (#30)

C. Robert Jones interviews legendary Appalachian folk musician and singer, Betty Smith ((#39)

Betty Huhes (#94) and Wayne King

The Rev. Dr. Tommy Justus (#85)

The Memories Collection Staff: Kristi Hollifield (videographer) and C. Robert Jones (Director)

Nancy Fosson (#23) with her interviewer, C. Robert Jones

The portraits of Dr. Fred Bentley and Doris Bentley (also posing in foreground)

Eric and Janis Blackwell (#77)

Beginning in 2008, there have been 100 interviews to date. They've included 119 interviewees conducted by 20 interviewers averaging one hour each. All were planned and coordinated by Professor Jones. Kristie Hollifield, Director of Media Services, has been videographer, editor, and preparer of the DVDs for the entire series.

The Memories Collection is housed in the Renfro Library and may be viewed in the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies located on the lower level of the Library--entrance from Bailey Street parking lot. Contact: Director Dr. Karen Paar (kpaar@mhu.edu, 828-689-1262). For further information, check out Thememoriescollection.org. Following is a list of interviews conducted 2008-2019.

Ruth Anderson (9)

with Richard Dillingham (#73)

Donna Robertson (#50) and Julie Fortney (#30)

The Memories Collection is a living history project that came about after Mars Hill University’s Sesquicentennial in 2006-7. Since many activities, events, and projects of that celebration had relied heavily on the University's own archives containing its history, President Dan Lunsford led a discussion shortly afterwards with Sesquicentennial participants to assess the best ways to ensure that the history of the University might be preserved in an even more consistent and orderly manner, now and in the years to come. As a part of those deliberations, the idea for The Memories Collection came from C. Robert Jones, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts. It is an on-going series of video interviews of people—past and present—associated with Mars Hill University. The interviews, while providing the historical elements, also open the doors to a rich and personal tapestry of life at the University and in western North Carolina.

Current MHU President Tony Floyd, 2018- (#88)

The Memories Collection

The Founders & Friends of SART

Included in Interview #17 are James Thomas, Earl Leininger, Bill Gregg, and C. Robert Jones. Pictured at right, but not featured in the interview, are (from left to right): Dewitt Tipton, Kathy Adkins, Kimberly Myers, and actress Susan King (center).

Photo was taken after a performance of The Belle of Amherst, 2016.