Ken Burns, Horace Kephart, and an Upcoming Documentary Film
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ken Burns has been at work on a six-part documentary called America's Best Idea—a series that will tell of the making of our national parks. Since my great-grandfather, Horace Kephart, played a pivotal role in the creation of the Greak Smoky Mountains National Park, he, along with his good friend, photographer George Masa, will be featured in the stories told.
(I've written about my great-grandfather from time to time, both for literary journals and here, on the blog.)
The photograph here is of Horace Kephart's son, George Kephart, my father's late father. Though Horace was absent during the majority of his children's youth—ensconced among the Appalachians, recording their ways, advocating on behalf of earth and stream, living a life that to many remains a mystery—few people were as proud of Horace Kephart as this son. I think of him looking down right now, and smiling.
The series begins this Sunday night. A viewers' guide is featured here. Concurrent with this event is the release of a long-hidden Horace Kephart novel, Smoky Mountain Magic, that features an interesting foreword by my cousin, Libby Hargrave, and a beautiful introduction by long-time Kephart scholar, George Ellison.
9 comments:
How cool to have someone like that in the family.
Well, that's awesome!
And that photo? What a lovely image.
wow, that's so awesome!
Watched the first segment this afternoon. Done really well.
Beautiful pictures.
Penny
I have been to the Great Smoky Mts park several times. How amazing that your great-grandfather was instrumental its formation.
I just asked my husband if he knew Horace Kephart and he said, matter-of-factly, yes! Mr. BFR has Horace's Woodcraft and Camping books and seems to know quite a bit about him.
I was in the dark or just didn't make the connection.
Wonderful Film - My first thoughts went to the family he left behind. Glad to learn about your grandfather's admiration for his Dad. We visited Mingus Mill in the park because this belonged to our family. We have your grandfather to thank for letting my son see where and how his ancestors lived. The nation is greatly indebted to your grandfather.
Was there any speculation into the relationship between Horace and George Masa? George Masa wanted to be buried next to him.
Thank you to all of those who stopped by on the blog following the airing of the PBS special. Thank you, Karinne, for your question. I've asked the historian George Ellison about the relationship bt George Masa and Horace Kephart, and he describes it as brotherly—a shared interest in the same spaces.
Writes George, "I described that bond in an interview for an article
by Mike Thomas published earlier this year in the National Parks
magazine . . . photos of George often show him surrounded by very pretty young upper-crust women who seem to be charmed by his presence and vice versa . . . as the romantic storyline in Smoky Mountain Magic confirms, HK was
himself not immune to the attractions of a pretty woman."
What a magnificent legacy Horace left us. The story was wonderful. I was delighted to learn he was your great grandfather -- but not surprised as if somehow I knew it.
I admit some envy of the material you have to comb through with the promise of getting to know your great grandfather. I recall the stories my grandmother and her sister told, laughing until they cried, of their bigger-than-life father, sheriff of a little Texas border-town next to New Mexico territory. Boy do I wish he had written a book I could read now.
Anyway, thanks Horace. Thanks Beth.
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