Over the last two decades, the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore has become the place to find Kentucky and Appalachian books. The thousands of fiction and non-fiction books we carry comment on the full gamut of our regional history and culture; however, no recent topic seems to have piqued the reading public’s interest more than the Melungeons.

The Melungeons are an historical mystery. Historically, they were mountain people, but they were dark-skinned and did not resemble their Appalachian neighbors of Anglo-Saxon, Scotch-Irish, or even German descent. They resembled Indians in some ways, but they had other physical characteristics that suggested a mixture of many races.

Who are the Melungeons? That’s a hotly debated topic among scholars, and there are numerous books in print now that offer conflicting explanations. Some argue that the Melungeons are descendants of shipwrecked Portuguese sailors; others say they are "tri-racial isolates," a mixture of Indians, blacks, and whites.

Throughout these many historical arguments, there are several major points of agreement:

1. They are primarily settled in the Newman’s Ridge area of Hancock County, Tennessee.
2. They have several common surnames, including Collins, Gibson (or Gipson) Mullins, and Goins.
3. They have lived in purposeful isolation throughout American history.

The Melungeons are not the only isolated tri-racial group found in the American South. Distinct groups include the Brass Ankles (South Carolina), Cajans and Creoles (Alabama and Mississippi), Cajuns (Louisiana), Croatans (the Carolinas and Virginia), Guineas (West Virginia and Maryland), Issues (Virginia), Red Bones (Louisiana), Moors and Nanticokes (Delaware and New Jersey), and Wesorts (Southern Maryland). Like the Melungeons, the origins of these groups have been obscured over time, but scholars believe them to be a mixture of white, black and Native American. Intense genealogical research and newer DNA testing technology are currently being applied to the questions surrounding these groups.

The Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore at 1645 Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland currently contains a dozen books on the Melungeons. We’re open Monday through Friday from 9:00-5:00. For more information, call (606) 326-1667.

An effective climate control system is essential to the success of our operation. We have to protect our books, art work, and memorabilia, and we have to provide a comfortable environment for staff, tenants, and visitors. That’s why our next major project—a new heating and air conditioning system—is so important.

To raise funds for a new HVAC system, the Jesse Stuart Foundation will hold a used furniture sale from 8 a.m. - noon, Saturday June 4th. Please mark your calendar and stop by to visit.