The Swannanoa Valley People, Place, & The American Experience lecture series explores key historical, cultural, and ecological aspects of the Western North Carolina region with monthly evening lectures, taking place January thru December at the Assembly Room at Givens Highland Farms (410 North Commons Court, Black Mountain, NC 28711). These hour-long meet-ups engage the many stories that have shaped the Swannanoa Valley as a place and look at the human and natural forces that have shaped the region, bringing these histories into a present-day context. Each presentation ends with a Q&A discussion bringing our shared history into context with contemporary issues.
When & Where: People, Place, & The American Dream lectures take place once a month, February thru December on Thursday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:15pm at the Assembly Room at Givens Highland Farms (410 North Commons Court, Black Mountain, NC 28711) unless stated otherwise. For attendees who are not residents of Highland Farms please park along Tabernacle Road by the Assembly Hall.
Cost: Tickets are $5 for museum members who use their promo code, $10 for general admission. Some fees may apply. If you are not financially able to afford to attend this series, please contact the Swannanoa Valley Museum at 828-669-9566 for scholarship availability or email svminfo@history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.
Cancellation Policy:
We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise. You may cancel your enrollment in the program for a full refund up to 48 hours before the program start date.
- Cancellations made 48 hours or more before the program start date will receive a full refund.
- Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the program start date will not be eligible for a refund.
- A full refund will be offered if the museum cancels the program due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Please Note:
- We strongly recommend notifying us of your cancellation in writing via email to svminfo@history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org
- You will receive a confirmation email upon processing your cancellation request.
2026 Entire Series Schedule
| Name | Date |
| Opening the Stacks: Black Libraries and the Struggle for Access in Buncombe County | Wednesday, February 18th, 6:00-7:15pm |
2025 Upcoming Event Details & Registration
Wednesday, February 18th: Opening the Stacks: Black Libraries and the Struggle for Access in Buncombe County
Prior to desegregation, the YMI Cultural Center on “the Block” created spaces that allowed Asheville and Buncombe County’s Black community to access the resources they needed. Librarian Irene O. Hendrick opened and operated Asheville’s only Black library within the walls of the YMI for over three decades. With the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, Buncombe’s Black youth became engaged in the fight to gain access to all public spaces, forming ASCORE–the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality. The high school students of ASCORE led the effort that finally pushed the County to desegregate the library system in 1961.
Public Historian Catherine Amos will discuss the complicated path toward library desegregation in Buncombe County, and the pivotal roles that Mrs. Hendrick and the students of ASCORE played to accomplish this historic milestone
About the Lecturer:
Catherine Amos is a public historian based in Asheville, NC. She is a UNC Asheville alumna, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in History in 2017. Her research interests lie in family and community history, as well as historical memory in the built environment of public spaces.
Catherine has worked in the field of Public History for over a decade, with previous experience at Biltmore’s Museum Services and Guest Relations departments, Mount Vernon’s Department of Historic Preservation and Collections, the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, UNC Asheville’s Center for Diversity Education, the 828 Digital Archives for Historical Equity, and most recently, Buncombe County Special Collections. In 2024, Catherine was awarded the Carroll Hart Scholarship by the Society of Georgia Archivists, and joined the summer cohort of the Georgia Archives Institute in Atlanta, where she spent time working in the Atlanta History Center archives.
Catherine currently serves as the Communication, Education, and Outreach Coordinator for the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. She also serves on the Board of the Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections, where she was elected Board Chair in 2025.