User:CrowzRSA/Sandbox/Sandbox 2/John Rice Irwin

John Rice Irwin (born December 11, 1930) is an American cultural historian, and founder of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee. He was born in Union County, Tennessee, and, while still an infant, was forced to move twice, and eventually would permanently reside in on a farm near Norris, Tennessee. He served in the US infantry in the early 40's, and later would complete his bachelor's degree at Lincoln Memorial University. He also earned his master's degree at the University of Tennessee. His wife, Elizabeth McDaniel, died in 2008, and gave birth to two children. He currently lives at Norris Health Rehab Center. He became the youngest youngest superintendent of schools in Tennessee in the early 60's.

His interest in history began at an early age, and was inspired by his grandparents to start a museum. He founded the Museum of Appalachia in 1968, and has since grown significantly in both its size and number of visitors. He has been awarded several accolades and awards, and has eight different published books (seven of which are nationally and internationally distributed).

Biography
John Rice Irwin was born on December 11, 1930 in Union County, Tennessee. While still an infant, Irwin and his family were forced to move because their land would be appropriated and flooded for the Norris Dam. After settling on another farm near Clinton, Tennessee, they were again forced to move for the development of Oak Ridge, Tennessee in the early 40's. they finally resided on a farm near Norris, Tennessee where he would stay until he was 18. There, Irwin and his brother were taught how to farm, hunt, fish, and trap animals.

In the late 40's, Irwin served in the US infantry. He completed his bachelor's degree at Lincoln Memorial University with majors in history and economics. He earned his master's degree in international law at the University of Tennessee. At the age of 31, he was elected superintendent of schools in Anderson County, Tennessee, becoming the youngest superintendent in Tennessee. He and his deceased wife, Elizabeth McDaniel (died in 2008), have had two children: Elaine Meyer and Karen Erickson (died 1999), and three grandchildren: Linsey Meyer, John Rice Irwin Meyer, and Will Meyer. In August 2009, he announced that he was leaving his position as owner of the museum. In an interview on August 28, 2009, Irwin stated: "I'll still be around. After all, I live at the museum. My daily habits and my total life of the last 40 to 50 years have been devoted to preserving the history of our people's struggle in Appalachia. So, if you say to me that I'm retiring, well, that's what I do every night. … I just go to sleep at my home at the museum. As in the past, I will be playing music and entertaining guests from all over the country, indeed, the world, who visit the museum. Please don't think I am going to disappear. My love for this place will continue, with my work being more directed to my writing and research — things that I have too long neglected and that I have promised my publishers I would do."

He currently lives at Norris Health and Rehab Center.

Museum of Appalachia
Irwin's interest in human history was provoked by his grandparent's stories. His grandfather's advice—"You ought to keep these old-timey things that belonged to our people and start you a lttle museum sometime"—was eventually taken to heart in the 60's. Irwin attended a public auction in the early 60's and was appalled at the cavalier sepertion of artifacts from the stories his grandparents told. At the auction, he bought an old horse shoeing box for four dollars ($4) that was found in the Clinch River in the aftermath of the legendary Big Barren Creek Flood of 1916. Starting then, his collection began to grow.

In 1968, Irwin founded the Museum of Appalachia. By 1980, the museum had grown so large that Irwin left his position as director of the Tennessee Appalachia Education Cooperative to devote to devote all of his to the museum.

Although the museum started as only a small log building, as of 2010, the museum has grown to a village-farm complex, comprehending more than 35 original mountain structures, two large display buildings containing thousands of Appalachian artifacts, farm animals, and several gardens. The museum was converted to a non-profit organization in 2003 and in May 2007, the museum announced its formal association with the Smithsonian Institution's Affiliations Program.

Legacy and accolades
John Rice Irwin is generally known as the founder of the Museum of Appalachia. He is also the author of seven nationally and internationally distributed books. He has lectured on the subject on Appalachian history though out the eastern United States. In 1989, Irwin was one of 29 MacArthur Fellows Program, which provides "extraordinary talented individuals." He was honored by the East Tennessee Historical Society in 1992 as one of nine East Tennesseans "whose accomplishments have distinguished them far beyond East Tennessee," and in 1993, he was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Cumberland College. In 1994, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement of East Tennessee's Business Hall of Fame. Six years later in 2000, he was the recipient of the annual Outstanding Educational Service to Appalachia Award. He is the 2008 recipient of the Trailblazer Award, and in 2009 was named the Anderson Country Hall of Fame.