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Edith Bolling grew up at a time when social development concerns and difficulties were extensive in Appalachia. Geographic challenges and isolation, among a variety of other factors, served as barriers to certain advancements that were evolving throughout more urban regions of the nation. In this regard, the United States differed little from other countries at the time, as new developments generally took hold in larger cities before eventually spreading to the rural countryside.

Image 1. Staley House, U.S. Route 22, Rural Retreat, Virginia (Cat. No. 003)†

The development of in-home electrification in the rural areas of the Southeast, for example, occurred well behind the rest of the country. While electricity was introduced into the region in the early 1910s, it would be decades before most homes – the Bolling’s included – would enjoy the benefits of direct electrification coming straight into the household.

Similarly, no standardized indoor plumbing, sewerage or running water existed in the region at the turn of the century. Like electrification, these systems would not be introduced for decades, contributing to a hardscrabble and challenging existence for many in Wythe County and across the Appalachian region. As a result, water insecurity and inadequate sanitation would play a significant and entirely negative impact upon the physical and mental health and wellness of the region’s residents, most especially though not solely its youngest and most vulnerable of residents.

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Image 1b. (Left) Umberger Family circa 1897 (Cat. No. 412†

Image 1c. (Right) Andrew Jackson Grubb & Joseph Hedrick circa 1900 (Cat. No. 665†)

As for education and advancement, Edith Bolling and her siblings were educated both at home and in a formal, private school setting. But on average, only eight out of every 10 American children attended school in the early years of the 20th century and in Appalachia, only 7 of ten were formally educated. As a result, illiteracy in the Appalachian region was nearly 20% at the turn of the century, almost double the average found nationally (https://www.hks.harvard.edu/ sites/default/files/184_AWP_final.pdf). Without schooling or the capability to read, many were limited in their ability to achieve more than a subsistence wage for themselves and their families. ​

For most residents, such conditions were commonplace and expected. For those living outside of town in the rural areas – that is, the vast majority – the lack of these various aspects of social development was especially acute. But few were immune; while much of the country enjoyed a boom in population growth during this era, Wythe County experienced a small drop at this time of nearly -2%. Over the next decade, however, as conditions improved, this figure would change as population rose significantly. Wytheville would grow by over 12% to 3,327 in just a decade (1930) while Wythe County would similarly grow by over 2% to 20,704 (1930).

And so, despite the challenges, turn-of-the-century Appalachia arose as a cultural mecca brimming with spiritual growth and vitality. Though times were harsh and economic conditions were strained, families like the Bollings were strong and tightknit, and all took pride in their homes as elders worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone was educated, well-clothed and well-fed to the best degree possible (Images 1a, 1b, 1c), Surveys conducted around this time period suggest that identities were centered largely around the family and the church (Image 2).

​ “Protestantism,” wrote Joseph Spiker in his East Tennessee State University thesis on Appalachian identity, “was at the heart of Appalachian religion” (2014: 20), serving as a centralizing force for unity and cultural continuity. It was these values of cohesion, mutual support and sustenance that would later be seen in Mrs. Wilson’s personality – in her ability to overcome losses, manage a thriving Washington business, and later, write about her experiences. It is these ties, too, that continue to exist among the people of Wythe County and throughout Appalachia, helping them to persevere to this very day.