UNCG PE Class of ‘75

Winter commencement. Vanguard Class ‘75 repped by Cathy Wagoner, ringing the Commencement Bell at the completion of graduation.

During the Great Depression, Kentucky women rode 120 miles a week through treacherous mountain passes, crossing swollen creeks and navigating steep terrain - all to deliver books to isolated Appalachian communities. These "Pack Horse Librarians" worked under the WPA from 1935-1943, earning just $28 a month (about $495 today).

Nearly 1,000 librarians participated, using their own horses or mules to carry books in makeshift saddlebags. They established small libraries in churches and post offices, repaired damaged books with Christmas cards as bookmarks, and persevered through harsh weather and dangerous conditions.

When their animals died, some librarians would hike 18-mile routes on foot rather than leave communities without access to books. They gained trust in remote areas by reading Bible passages and brought hope through stories to places where roads didn't exist.

The program ended in 1943, but the Pack Horse Librarians left an incredible legacy of dedication, bringing knowledge and connection to isolated mountain communities during one of America's darkest times.

Sources: Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky, Smithsonian Magazine, Pine Mountain Settlement School documents

Vanguard Reunion Weekend - UNCG Alumni Please save the date for our 2025 Vanguard Reunion Weekend and Class of 1975 celebration, happening April 11-13, 2025. This weekend will be packed with Alumni All Access events and opportunities to connect (and re-connect!) with classmates and with the University. As part of the festivities, the Cla...

Share this page with classmates, please.

The planning committee is looking for photos, notebooks, graded papers, memorabilia of any type from our years at UNCG.