Exploring the Community and Connections of Oteen

The Western Regional Archives is located in a former Veteran’s Administration Hospital Nurses dormitory and part of the Charles George VA National Historic District. This location made us curious about the connections just outside our own door, so we started collecting and putting together as much information as possible on the hospital and on Oteen.  In trying to rebuild a framework for understanding the property and the people, we’ve uncovered some remarkable and surprising stories. In this presentation I’ll be showcasing the evolution of the VA hospital, from expansion to rehabilitation, the lives of patients, nurses, and how we are still working and always looking to uncover more of the history.

Bio: Heather South is the lead archivist for the Western Regional Archives, a branch of the State Archives of North Carolina, located in Asheville,  She earned a B.A. and M.A. in history from Winthrop University and is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists and a National Heritage Responder.