An Authentic Appalachia

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

Following the declaration of the War on Poverty, photographer Warren Brunner received requests for photos that showed the despair and oppression of Appalachia. In an era when photos enforcing stereotypes were becoming the mainstream image of the region, Brunner was committed to showing an authentic Appalachia and the dignity of its people.

“I wanted to disprove the stereotypes,” Brunner, now 96, said. “That was my goal.”

A Wisconsin native, Brunner came to Appalachia in 1954 to work at a photography studio in Berea, and by 1960, he came to own it. He inherited his passion for photography from his mother and started taking his own photos while in middle school, when his father bought him his first camera. His first job in high school was taking photos for a local newspaper, as their photographer had been drafted during World War II.

Through his studio, Brunner collaborated with and took photographs for more than 30 government and nonprofit agencies serving the region, such as Save the Children, Appalachian Regional Commission, Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, Hindman Settlement School, and Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), as well as several Appalachian scholars and activists. His award-winning photographs have been featured in local, state, and national publications, such as Time magazine, and the Smithsonian Institution.

As a newcomer to Appalachia, gaining trust was a little challenging at first. “People would shout ‘There goes that crazy Brunner, trying to look Appalachian with a Wisconsin accent,’” Brunner said.

One of the first people Brunner met when he came to Appalachia was CAP’s founder, Rev. Ralph W. Beiting. Brunner traveled with him and CAP employees to take pictures of various programs and the people being served through the organization to share with donors and supporters.

“CAP knew a lot of people from rebuilding their homes and the other community services they provided, so they were always welcome in communities,” Brunner said. Like him, CAP prioritized the dignity of Appalachian people. “That was their goal, to treat everyone with respect.”

Even outside of his studio work, Brunner was dedicated to spending time with people in Appalachia. Every Sunday, he would drive down mountain roads with his family in a Jeep, getting to know families they met along the way and gaining a reputation of trust among the communities.

He recalled a time when a photographer from New York came to Appalachia to take photos and wasn’t respectful to the people he met, making them feel alienated. The photographer was forced to leave Appalachia, and Brunner was called in to do the job. “I must have become part mountain,” said Brunner, smiling.

Brunner has published books featuring his work and has donated more than 45,000 of his photographs to Berea College Special Collections and Archives. He hopes to donate more photos that he still has in his possession to the college. You can view his collection online at berea.access.preservica.com.