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BHA presents The History of Southern Barbecue by Fred Sauceman at the Bristol Public Library

February 04, 2013

The Bristol Historical Association will present a program led by Fred Sauceman on Monday February 11, 2013 at the Bristol Public Library, 6:00pm. The title of his presentation is “Truth, Justice, Excellence in Barbecue, and the American Way of Life” and he will discuss the history and culture of barbecue in the South. This interesting and educational meeting is free and open to the general public.

A native of Greeneville, Tennessee, Fred Sauceman is Senior Writer and Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University and News Director for radio station WETS-FM/HD. At ETSU, where he has worked since 1985, he teaches a course entitled “The Foodways of Appalachia” and edits Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine. He writes a monthly food column, “Potluck,” for the Johnson City Press and authors the “Flavors” page for Blue Ridge Country magazine. His stories about food and Southern culture are heard on “Inside Appalachia,” a radio program produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. “Food with Fred” appears monthly on WJHL-TV, the CBS affiliate in Johnson City, Tennessee. Fred is the author of a three-volume book series, The Place Setting: Timeless Tastes of the Mountain South, from Bright Hope to Frog Level, about the foodways of Appalachia.

Among his many accomplishments Sauceman has directed five documentary films and is the curator of the exhibit, “Lens on the Larder: The Foodways of Appalachia in Focus,” featured at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans from July to October of 2012. A member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Fred is the editor of that organization’s book Cornbread Nation 5: The Best of Southern Food Writing, published by the University of Georgia Press in 2010, in partnership with the University of Mississippi. He is creator of the book Home and Away: A University Brings Food to the Table, published by ETSU in 2000.

The Monday February 11 meeting is in conjunction with the Bristol Public Library’s mission of “Expanding Minds and Building Community.” This educational presentation is free and open to the public. Upcoming programs for the association include; Garrett Jackson on April 8 and Michael Shaffer on September 9.

The Bristol Historical Association was founded in 1979 and currently owns a number of historic properties, including the birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Robert Preston house. The association recently purchased the acreage around the 200-plus year old residence and is firming up plans for fundraising and then renovation of the property. For further details on this presentation or other upcoming events contact program chairman Tim Buchanan, 276-669-3885. You may visit www.bristolhistoricalassociation.com for details on the work of the Association. Isabel Ladd currently serves as president of the association.