D.D. Dougherty, Lillie Dougherty and the Early Years of Appalachian State

The 125-year history of Appalachian State University rests on the ambitious yet selfless dream of empowering impoverished mountain families through education. Dauphin Disco Dougherty, his wife Lillie Shull Dougherty, and his bachelor brother, Blanford Barnard Dougherty, founded a small semi-private high school in 1899 at great personal cost and would only be able to sustain its growth to a state teacher’s college through their fortitude of character and commitment.
Drawing extensively on primary sources, some of which have appeared in no previous book, this history presents the first 30 years of the university’s life and background. With over 100 historic images and dozens of first-hand accounts and interviews, the text uncovers forgotten foundations and fascinating personal details of the school’s founders, bringing the first 30 years of App State to life.

Doris Perry Stam’s roots go deep in Watauga County—home to all her ancestors, including the founders of Appalachian State University. She enjoyed a career of music and elementary education before launching into writing and research. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Doris Perry Stam
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 303
Bibliographic Info: 121 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9663-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5477-5
Imprint: McFarland
Series: Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
1. Dauphin Disco Dougherty: Life Aspirations at Age 21 3
2. Dougherty Ancestors: Grandfather Elijah Dougherty (1744–1865) 7
3. Ellen Bartlett and Daniel Baker Dougherty (1865–1876) 15
4. Lillie Shull’s Family: Pioneers on the Watauga River, Tennessee 22
5. Early Education for the Dougherty Boys (1876–1888) 28
6. Wake Forest College (1888–1892) 35
7. Dauph Becomes a Professor (1892–1894) 46
8. Winning the Love of Lillie Shull (1894–1897) 51
9. Newly Married and Considering a Big Change (1897–1898) 58
10. The Doughertys Return to Boone and Start a High School (Summer 1899) 70
11. Watauga Academy Begins (Fall 1899) 81
12. A Whole New World Opens for Students (1900–1902) 87
13. Poorly Trained and Poorly Paid Teachers: Seeking State Aid (Fall 1902) 99
14. The Fight to Establish State Support: Appalachian Training School (Winter 1903) 111
15. Appalachian Training School Begins (1903–1906) 119
16. Joys and Sorrows, Threats, and Farms (1907–1911) 131
17. More Children, Extended Family, and an Elopement (1912–1915) 144
18. While Appalachian Training School Grows (1915–1916) 161
19. Changes Come with World War, the Flu Pandemic, and Tweetsie Railroad (1917–1919) 176
20. The State Mandates a Major Reorganization: No Longer a Regional High School (1920–1924) 188
21. From a Normal School to a ­Four-Year College (1925–1929) 202
22. Lillie Shull Dougherty’s Last Years (1930–1945) 216
23. Dauphin Disco Dougherty: The Dougherty Family Legacy and the Brothers Compared 228
Chapter Notes 243
Bibliography 275
Index 287