Horace Kephart

Born in Pennsylvania in 1862 and raised largely in Iowa, Horace Kephart built an early career as a librarian and later became widely known as a writer. He served as director of the Mercantile Library in St. Louis before turning more fully to the work that made his name endure.

Kephart is best remembered for Our Southern Highlanders, drawn from his years in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina, and for Camping and Woodcraft, a classic guide to outdoor life. His writing joined firsthand observation, storytelling, and practical instruction in a way that appealed to both general readers and serious outdoors enthusiasts.

He also played an important role in the movement that led to the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kephart died in 1931, before the park was officially established, but his writing and advocacy helped secure his lasting place in the history of the Smokies.