Goldenseal

04/28/2025

The Spring 2025 Episode of the Goldenseal Podcast is now available for streaming. Find it via the links below on Spotify or YouTube.

Our Spring 2025 episode features clips from interviews for Goldenseal Magazine's past and present. You'll hear clips from Ginny Hawker, the 2024 Vandalia Award Recipient sharing about her life and a portion of a Primitive Baptist Hymn; a 1976 interview with Alan Jabbour (1942-2017) of the American Folklife Center; a 2009 interview with fiddler Elmer Rich (1919-2015); and a 2009 interview with Buddy Griffin (1948-2025) the 2011 Vandalia Award Recipient.

The music from this episode, with the exception of Ginny's singing which was recorded at the time of her interview, comes from past performances at the Vandalia Gathering--2009 for Elmer Rich and 1987 for Buddy Griffin.

If you would like to learn more about any of these folks, or to read the full interviews please reach out to us at 304-558-0220 or via email at [email protected]. You can also subscribe or purchase your own copy of Goldenseal Magazine online at wvculture.org/goldenseal.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uyrbbVtpovRTk9CsZQ5oe?si=F1Dy_mLrQ2Gk-zRDMZIAgw

https://youtu.be/a0FcWEuOiN0

Our Spring 2025 episode features clips from interviews for Goldenseal Magazine's past and present. You'll here clips from Ginny Hawker, the 2024 Vandalia Awa...

04/10/2025

Our Spring 2025 issue of GOLDENSEAL features a cover story on the 75th anniversary of the West Virginia State Folk Festival from contributing author Jason Gum. Readers will also find an accompanying sidebar from Gum about the West Virginia Belles of the State Folk Festival. Women aged 70 and above are nominated from each participating County, and come to represent their home county at the Folk Festival, sharing their wisdom and wit with the festival goers. Also in this issue: West Virginia Folk Music Traditions from Jennie Williams, our State Folklorist at the West Virginia Humanities Council; the story of educator Barbara L. Jones from contributing author Deanna Edens; the story of one Monongalia County man’s creation—the Stepulator—by Sharon Smith; The Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum from Candy Thompson; A look at the Sistersville Ferry, the only ferry across the Ohio River, from Carl Feather; an article from Thomas Moore about Shinnston’s own Ginny Ogden; Contributing author Chris Chanlett writes about the Adopt-a-Highway program in Greenbrier County; Charleston’s Gallery Eleven celebrities 50 years in an article by Lynne-Schwartz-Barker with accompanying photos by Rafael Barker; an interview with the 2024 Vandalia Award Recipient Ginny Hawker; a look back at the 2024 Vandalia Gathering and Liar’s Contest; and another West Virginia Back Roads from our regularly contributing author Carl Feather — the Pence Springs Flea Market in Summers County. To order your own copy or to subscribe to the magazine you can visit wvculture.org/goldenseal or give us a call at 304-558-0220.

04/09/2025

Celebrating 75 years...... Mark your calendar for June 19-22, 2025. Glenville, West Virginia.

01/14/2025

The winter 2024 issue of GOLDENSEAL features a cover story from contributing author Becky Hill all about the Swiss tradition of Fasnacht in the Randolph County community of Helvetia. Our cover photo comes from photographer Pat Jarrett. This issue also contains our last three then-and-now features which bring a close to our special 50th anniversary issues. The cover story is one of those features with a reprint of “Goodbye, Old Man Winter: Helvetia Celebrates Fasnacht” by Peggy Ross from Spring of 1993, followed by our cover story. Also featured is a reprinted article from Fall of 1989 on banjo maker and woodworker, Jenes Cottrell of Clay County written by W. Murray Smith. This is followed by an interview with banjo maker Christopher Dean, originally from Morgan County on his journey to learn more about Jenes and his style of building, which has inspired his own work. Our last feature is a reprint of “Stories in Wood and Metal: Marshall Flemings’s Little Hidden Valley” by Woodward S. Bousquet from Winter of 1992. This is followed by one of our student articles written by 8th Grader Daniel Linton about his great-grandfather; Marshall Fleming.
Also in the winter issue: An article on Beckley’s own Jerry Rose from contributing author Lisa Shrewsberry; a look at a few of our past cover photos from Steve Brightwell, staff photographer for GOLDENSEAL; a tribute to country music singer Glen Cain by contributing author Don Coleman; contributing author Edwina Pendarvis shares an article on Matewan’s Mayor the late Johnny Wesley Fullen; a poem on Pruntytown from contributing author Laura Treacy Bentley; a look at the work of the McDonald Sisters of Gilmer County from contributing author Susan L. Feller featuring some great photos from the Robert F. Kidd Library Archives at Glenville State University; several book reviews of recently published West Virginia & Appalachia related books; a story from the late Nancy Rhodes, “Memories From a Child of the Mountains, Wyoming County, WV”; and lastly another West Virginia Back Roads from our regular contributing author Carl Feather, “A Slippery Tradition” all about the Lenox Oyster Stew of Preston County. To order your own copy of the winter 2024 issue, or to subscribe to GOLDENSEAL Magazine you can give us a call at 304-558-0220, or visit our website at wvculture.org/goldenseal.

10/17/2024

You can now find Episode 3 of the Goldenseal Podcast on Spotify via the link below!

The third episode of our special 50th Anniversary podcast. Episode 3 focuses on our Fall 2024 issue. We discuss our cover story on beekeeping in West Virginia, and our then-and-now articles, with clips from Shanda King the WV State Apiarist, Hillbilly Hippie Honeybees, basket maker Anne Bowers, and....

10/17/2024

In our Fall anniversary issue, we feature four then-and-now articles for our readers. A fascinating article from Fall of 1994 “Bee Tree: On the Trail of Wild Honey”, followed by a look at some current beekeepers in the state; a moving piece by Cody Burdette, “Home to Swandale” from Spring of 1992, followed by further reminiscences of the same author in “Whistles on the Wind”; We revisit the “Harpers Ferry Ghost Walk” in a reprint from Fall of 2001 followed by an update on the ghost tour today by Carl Feather; lastly we have a reprint from Fall of 1991, featuring Braxton County basket maker Clyde Case, followed by an interview with Jefferson County basket maker Anne Bowers.

In amongst these then-and-now features, you will find the usual sampling of articles that GOLDENSEAL has come to be known for—an article from our State Folklorist Jennie Williams, Reflections on Contemporary Art; memories of growing up in French Creek from Charles M. Morrison; a Tribute to our hard working farmers from Candy Thompson; a look a the life and accomplishments of Joan Browning by Barbara Howe; an Essay from Dana Pastro recounting memories of her grandparents on Muddy Creek Mountain in Greenbrier County; an interview with giant pumpkin growers--the Rodebaughs of Nicholas County; and another West Virginia Back Roads from Carl Feather, featuring the Harpers Ferry John Brown Wax Museum.

The cover photo was taken by Steve Brightwell. We hope you enjoy this issue! To purchase your own copy, or subscribe to the magazine you can visit wvculture.org/goldenseal or give us a call at the office 304-558-0220.