‘The Denim Dynasty’ documentary to be shown Sept. 10 at Appalachian

Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 4:53 p.m.

BOONE—Appalachian State University faculty member and documentary filmmaker Beth Davison will present her film “The Denim Dynasty” Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in Belk Library and Information Commons room 114. The screening is free and open to the public.

The documentary runs approximately 50 minutes. A question and answer session with Davison will follow.

“The Denim Dynasty” is a documentary about the legacy of the Cone family that shaped prominent features of North Carolina’s landscape. A national park, a regional medical center, an amazing art collection, roads and schools all bear the name of the family whose corporation made North Carolina a leading producer of textiles for much of the 20th century.

The documentary explores the early days of North Carolina’s textile history through stories of the Cone family and the textile workers who lived and raised their families in the mill villages. Together, the Cone family and workers helped make Cone textiles a world leader in producing denim. The Cone family’s story encompasses many of the themes that form the American narrative: immigration, reconstruction, industrial revolution, paternalism and philanthropy.

“The Denim Dynasty” includes interviews of former Cone mill villagers and features faculty members from Appalachian. Moses Cone was one of the first financial contributors and board members of Watauga Academy, now Appalachian State University.

For more information about the screening or film, contact Beth Davison at davisonb@appstate.edu or 828-262-6397.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.