Since the John C. Campbell Folk School was founded by Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler in 1925, their vision of lifelong learning has awakened, enlivened and enlightened the valleys of Brasstown. This year, that legacy is being honored with a calendar of centennial celebrations, new offerings, and thoughtful gifts designed to share the moment with students and the wider community.  

Staff and Friends of the Folk School have collaborated to create commemorative takeaway gifts for students. From crimson, branded tote bags to thoughtfully designed arts and crafts, the new 100th anniversary items are presented to students upon arrival at orientation. A small but meaningful way to reflect on the school’s history while welcoming new learners into the community.  

In addition to the anniversary tote bags and notebooks, Folk School Resident Artist, Dea Sasso has helped develop a hands-on craft for students to take home and enjoy. A member of both the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the Guild of Book Workers, Sasso collaborated on the interactive handout included in this commemorative care package.   

This one-page Wonder Book was made possible through a collaboration with Sharon Coogle, an instructor in the Books Arts program. The song, “I Sing Behind the Plow,” by Mads Hansen, translated from Danish by Olive Dame Campbell is featured on hand marbled paper created in the Book Arts Studio.  

One of the artists supporting these commemorative items is Steve Artz, a master carpenter by trade and an exhibiting enamellist. A working member and past president of the San Diego Enamel Guild and a past trustee of the Enamellist Society, Artz contributed to the takeaway bags, just as he has contributed his talent and instruction to the Folk School for the past 28 years. 

In the wake of the school’s milestone anniversary, new developments are blooming across campus. Special centennial classes like “100 Years of Song & Dance,” take place this March as part of Roots of the Folk School week, inviting participants to experience the traditions shaped by the generations of makers before them.  

The celebration continues with “Folk School Stories: Celebrating 100 Years,” an intimate presentation series hosted in the Keith House Community Room. Here, archivists, folklorists, historians, musicians, and locals’ voices gather to share snapshots of the school’s past, discussing the school’s impact on their lives, our community, and beyond.

Permanent installations now offer visitors year-round opportunities to engage with the school’s living history. The Log Cabin Museum and Walking Tour invite the public to explore the natural beauty of campus while learning more about the traditions, people, and places that define the experience.

For a century, campus has served as a gathering place where craft, culture, and community thrive. From blacksmithing to weaving, storytelling to dance, the John C. Campbell Folk School has inspired makers for a century. Whether you’ve taken a class, attended a concert or simply admire the work, the centennial year offers countless ways to celebrate and be a part of the next 100 years.