Descriptive Summary

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

An appointment for research is required. No restrictions to access. No Inter-Library Loan.

Copyright Notice

Standard federal copyright laws apply. Written consent for duplication of documents and photographs must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Collection 208. Virgil Sturgill Papers, W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Virgil Sturgill donated this collection to the W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection. This collection was opened to the public on 4 December 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Ashley Taylor, Kristi Harris, Rosemary Ulrey, Kathryn Staley, 4 December 2003

Encoded by Kathryn Staley, Rachel Critzer, Rosemary Ulrey, 11 July 2005

Biographical Note

Virgil Sturgill (1897-post 1978) was born in Carter County, Kentucky. After his mother Polly Burris Sturgill died in 1914, Sturgill's father moved to Idaho leaving his children with family members. In 1914, Sturgill began teaching at 17 years old. He moved to Oklahoma in 1915 and attended East Central State Normal School. In 1918, he enlisted in the Navy in Oklahoma City. While in the Navy, he worked in the Hospital Corp and attended Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. After leaving the Navy, Sturgill studied at Berea College and University of Kentucky and worked as a teacher and coach.

In 1932, he married Ruth Virginia Norton (b. ~1911) and they had two sons, Jack and Lee. He taught English, debate and acted as the Director of Athletics at Ashland High School in the 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943 to 1946, Sturgill worked as assistant director of the American Red Cross in Camp Blanding, Florida. In 1945, Sturgill discusses his divorce and subsequent remarriage to his wife. During their brief divorce, Ruth moved back to Ashland to live with her parents. Ruth and Sturgill reunited within one year of divorce. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Sturgill worked at the Veterans Hospital in Oteen, North Carolina. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ashland (Kentucky) Chapter No. 119. Sturgill supported his sister Olive financially for eight years.

A ballad singer and dulcimer player, he was also a friend of Cratis Williams. His performances were recorded in "Southern mountain folksongs and ballads" (1955) and "Bury me beneath the willow a treasury of southern mountain folksongs and ballads" (1950s). Eastern Kentucky University contains his collection, "Summer in Kentucky and other poems" (1928).

Collection Overview

Family life: records feelings about mother on her death anniversary; in-laws' visits; building new home; wife working as teacher circa 1943; possibly estranged from own father (see July 10, 1945); relationship with brother Ted and sister Olive; health and activities of children. Domestic difficulties occur during 1943-1945 diaries. After wife leaves in 1944, Sturgill records few details of problems alluding to infidelity, although it may only regard his anti-alcohol stance. Social life of family includes movies attended, lodge activities, USO dances, books read. Friends with Jesse Stuart.

Job: describes relationship with principals; student behavior; difficulty finding summer work; being a coach; self-improvement; comparison of school districts; treatment of teachers by school board. In later years, Sturgill describes his Red Cross duties.

Values: discusses strong dislike of alcohol and tobacco use, believed in progress, birth control and education. He was a Methodist Episcopal but attended and described multiple denominations including the Church of the Latter Day Saints and Holiness Pentecostal churches. Volume 2 contains his beliefs on temperance.

Masonry: briefly describes organizational activities within the Order of the Eastern Star and the Knights of Pythias. Lists members, mentions increasing within degrees.

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