W.R. Trivett, Appalachian Pictureman

W.R. Trivett (18841966), a farmer born in Watauga County, North Carolina, was also a self-taught professional photographer who left behind an invaluable collection of more than 400 glass plate negatives taken between 1907 and the late 1940s in the Beech Mountain community of neighboring Avery County. Along with the photographs (105 are reproduced herein), a collection of Trivetts personal papers survive, revealing very enlightening information about his life in the mountains. This workthe fourth in McFarlands continuing series of Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studiescarefully examines Trivetts life and photographs, comparing his work to that of contemporary outside photographers who often produced stereotypical images of mountain people. Through Trivetts images we can, by contrast, see the everyday reality for most people in rural Appalachia.