About the Book
Hidden in Plain Sight: Cemeteries of the Smoky Mountains, Vol. 1-Tennessee is a comprehensive book about each of the more than 152 known cemeteries within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The location of each one, complete with directions and gps coordinates and quad maps are included. Some cemeteries include a "Grave Plot Map" which shows the exact location of each grave and matches the list of names provided of those buried in each cemetery. Color photos are included for many of the cemeteries and headstones, as well as archival photos of people mentioned in the stories, photos from earlier times. A beautiful book, it provides brief histories of each section in Tennessee that are included, as well as stories about some of the persons who lived in those sections. Such as the story about the feud between Sam "Long Hair" Burchfield and his competitor in making moonshine, Little George Powell Jr.; and the story about Bote Mountain Girl, killed by her father and buried on the mountain top; or about Becky Cable of Cades Cove exchanging a pair of handmade woolen socks for a coffin. Such stories help provide insight into the people and the events that happened to them, especially during the 1800s to the time the area became a national park, 1930s and 1940s. This is a new version of the first book written by Dr. Palmer, now out of print, "Cemeteries of the Smokies" published by Great Smoky Mountains Association. "Hidden in Plain Sight..." is being published by Smoky Mountain Publishers. Volume 2 of this series will provide information about the cemeteries in Western North Carolina.
About the Author :
Award-winning author, Dr. Gail Palmer of Townsend, Tennessee, has produced two DVDs and four books about the people of the Smoky Mountains in addition to "Cemeteries of the Smokies," published in 2017, but now out of print. This latest work, "Hidden in Plain Sight: Cemeteries of the Smoky Mountains, Vol. 1-TN; and Vol. 2, NC, has much of the same focus on cemeteries in the Smokies, listing all of the known cemeteries in the Tennessee side and, in Vol. 2, the North Carolina side of the park. Much new material has been included, such as grave plot maps to determine how to list the names for many cemeteries, making it easier to find a single grave; new photographs by local photographers and new stories about some of the individuals (including some midwives and herbalists) who made the Smokies their home pre-park. In addition, several photos of individuals are included near the section that features their story. The first book of Smoky Mountain Tales series written by Dr. Palmer helped garner a "Community History Award" from East Tennessee Historical Society in May, 2013, for the body of work she completed by then. Betty B. Best, Journal Editor, Blount County Genealogical & Historical Society, presented the nomination to ETHS. Dr. Gail Palmer has produced a large body of work on the Great Smoky Mountains. Smoky Mountain Tales, Volume 1: Feuds, Murder & Mayhem, shares a native's look at mountain people, has been called "a captivating and entertaining model for community local history through storytelling"-East Tennessee Historical Society Community History Award, 2013. The DVDs are "Sacred Places of the Smokies " and "When Mama Was the Doctor: Mountain Medicine Women." The books include GSMNP: In the Beginning...Fact, Legend & Eminent Domain and two volumes of Smoky Mountain Tales Series: Feuds, Murder & Mayhem. The Smoky Mountain Tales books are creative non-fiction, true stories told as fiction. Palmer, a native of Blount County, has deep roots to the people of Cades Cove, TN, and Deep Creek, NC, through her mother, Mary Sparks Palmer, and her grandparents, John Marion Sparks and Elizabeth Schuler Sparks. "My goal is to present as true and as real a picture of the people in these stories, their way of living and Center that affected their lives," Palmer said. "Telling a true story using fiction seems to me to be one of the best ways to do this. It's as though someone is sitting in front of the reader telling their story as they recall it," Palmer said. "At least, that's my hope." Palmer is also known for giving talks about people portrayed in her books and DVDs for various groups and at Center throughout the area. She received three degrees from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a BS and MS in journalism, College of Communications, and a Ph.D. in cultural studies in the College of Education.
Review :
Hidden In Plain Sight catches your interest at first sight, then the "Cemeteries in the Smoky Mountains" overlayed on this beautiful example of the peacefulness of our wonderful mountain ranges, which will cause
much interest and attention. In my opinion, this is a perfect match for the book contents. Mary Lynne Bell, Manager, Sam Houston Schoolhouse, Maryville, TN.
In true Palmer style, Hidden in Plain Sight, Cemeteries of the Smoky Mountains, Vol. 1, weaves the stories of Smoky Mountain people and their families and the lore of Appalachian life and death. It will captivate your interest while being a vast source of information. Dolphin Riggs, Hike Moderator, Little River Trading Co., Maryville, Tenn.
Palmer's Hidden in Plain Sight. Cemeteries of the Smoky Mountains, Vol. 1-Tennessee abounds in lore and facts of mountain life and death. It's of value not only to those of us who find the region and its people intriguing, but to anyone who wants to dig a little deeper into those folks and their lives. Edward Caudill is a journalism professor emeritus of the University of Tennessee.
The information in this book is invaluable! So grateful to Dr. Gail Palmer for preserving our history and heritage.
Gloria Motter, Cades Cove Museum Director, Cades Preservation Assoc.
