Bert Vincent & Carnegie Vincent Library
Bert Vincent (1896–1969) was a beloved columnist best known for his “Strolling” column in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, which ran for 36 years and captured the culture and stories of the Appalachian region. A Kentucky native and World War I veteran, Vincent used his folksy writing to inspire community action, support local causes, and preserve mountain folklore. He founded the Cosby Ramp Festival, helped establish animal shelters, and supported hospitals and chapels. Honored by many, including the U.S. House of Representatives, his legacy lives on through published collections, a memorial library at Lincoln Memorial University, and numerous tributes across East Tennessee.
About Bert Vincent
Bert Vincent was born into a family of educators at Bee Springs, Kentucky, May 4, 1896. He grew up in Edmondson County, graduated from Kentucky State Normal College. (A Normal School was a school for educators). He wrote his famous “Strolling” column for the Knoxville News-Sentinel for 36 years. The newspaper columnist and author wrote of the life and lore of the people of the tri-states region of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southeast Kentucky.
His first journalistic venture was to buy a paper in Leitchfield, Ky., when he was 19. But after six months he sold it back to the owner and went into the Army. He spent 21 months in the Army in World War I, rising to the rank of second lieutenant, and when the war was over, he spent some time “wandering,” as he called it.
It was 1933 when “Strolling with Bert Vincent” appeared in the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Some of Bert Vincent’s many humanitarian achievements include the founding of the Cosby Ramp Festival, the promotion of the Knox County Animal Shelter, and the finding of homes for thousands of animal pets. In addition, his inspirational entertainment of his countless readers in his folksy style inspired “the kind of action that will right a wrong or champion the building of a new chapel for the aged ….” In his lifetime, Bert Vincent became one of the most beloved individuals among his many readers and friends, a legend in his own time.
Bert Vincent held an abiding interest in Lincoln Memorial University. Many of his friends were graduates of the college. The University was often visited by the Bert Vincent, who expressed an appreciation for the campus, located adjacent to the historical Cumberland Gap region of pioneer fame. The expansion of library facilities was possible through the contribution from thousands of school children, alumni, civic service club members and organizations from the region. Stuart L. Watson officially opened the Bert Vincent Memorial Library, with his Sunday afternoon dedication address on May 5, 1974.
Through his writing, he helped raise funds for: Levi Memorial Hospital, Hot Springs, Ark.; the Green Valley Hospital, Greeneville, Tennessee; the Animal Shelter of Knoxville; and a chapel at Maloneyville, Tennessee, which has been named in his honor. To preserve the folklore and natural beauty of his beloved hills of east Tennessee, he established the Ramp Festival in Cosby, Tennessee, after helping organize a Ruritan Club for that community. He has been honored by the Sertoma Club International, Lincoln Memorial University, the City of Knoxville and dozens of other civic and social groups. A nature trail, laid out at Goldrush Junction in the Smokies, has been named in his honor.
Bert Vincent was ailing towards the end of his life with his arthritic affliction, and slowed down his pace to a weekly column. He lived at Dandridge, Tennessee with his wife, Ellen Hynds Vincent, a descendant of one of the first settlers of Jefferson County, Tennessee. The publication of “The best stories of Bert Vincent” took place shortly before his death. His funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church, Dandridge, Tennessee, on September 28, 1969.
Two volumes of Bert’s columns were published: “The best stories of Bert Vincent” in 1968 and “More of the best stories of Bert Vincent” in 1971. In 1945 Bert published “Here in Tennessee”, a compilation of mountain stories.
Among the many honors awarded to him was a commendation from the US House of Representative who passed a Resolution on April 11, 1969 in appreciation of his many deeds and works.
The Lincoln Memorial University Special Collections and Archive has a large collection of Bert Vincent’s correspondences, memorabilia (including 2 of Bert’s typewriters), photographs and other items.
Collections
- Bert Vincent Papers
Bert Vincent, born May 4, 1896, in Bee Springs, Kentucky, grew up in Edmondson County and graduated from Kentucky State Normal College. He wrote the “Strolling” column for the Knoxville News-Sentinel for 36 years, focusing on the culture of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southeast Kentucky. Vincent was a strong supporter of Lincoln Memorial University. The Bert Vincent Memorial Library, funded by local contributions, was dedicated on May 5, 1974. - Bert Vincent “Strolling” Scrapbook.
Scrapbooks of Bert Vincent’s newspaper column “Strolling,” clipped without dates. Bert Vincent (1896-1974) was a regular newspaper columnist with the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1929 until his death.
