SOURCE: "Charles Egbert Craddock," in Social Historians, The Gorham Press, 1911, pp. 59-97.

In the following excerpt, Toulmin assesses Murfree's role as social historian.

Nowhere have more notable expositions been presented of the character and scenes in any particular locality, than those in the volumes of Charles Egbert Craddock dealing with the Tennessee Mountain folk. The inhabitants of the Great Smoky Mountains entered their forest homes with ideas and equipment modern a century ago. To-day, they maintain virtually the same aspect and the identical implements of their forefathers barely modified by the marvels of outside invention. It is scant wonder that the delineation of such characters in the accurate and precise manner of Craddock proved of intense literary interest.

Miss Murfree attacked her intricate problem with a scientific spirit. The mountaineer's nature was an unexplored tract in the studies of social psychology. She applied a keen intelligence and an...