Finding Aids to Collections in the Archive of Folk Culture

ARKANSAS COLLECTIONS
IN THE ARCHIVE OF FOLK CULTURE

Compiled by: Peter F. Butcher and Eric Schmidt
Series Editor: Ann Hoog
Revised: September 2010

AFC 1935/002: John A. Lomax Southern States Collection, 1933-37
Six hundred twenty-six 12-inch discs of church services, instrumentals, songs, and stories recorded in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., by John A. Lomax, Alan Lomax, Ruby T. Lomax, and Harold Spivacke, 1933-37. [catalog record]

AFS 236A1-B2: One disc containing 5 blues and songs sung by black prisoners and women prisoners. Recorded at a state prison farm near Little Rock, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (6 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 18B)

AFS 236B3; 239A3, B4: Two discs containing "Mr. Tom Hughes' Town" "Julie Ann Johnson" performed by by Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly) with guitar. Recorded at a state prison farm near Little Rock, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (6 minutes; LWO 4844 reels 18B and 19A)

AFS 239A1-A2, B1: One disc containing 4 folk songs performed by Blind Pete and partner with fiddle. Recorded near Little Rock, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (6 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 240A1: One disc containing "Get Down Offa That Train" sung by group of black prisoners. Recorded at state farm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (1 minute; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 240A2-A5: One disc containing "Whoah, Back, Buck," "Julie Ann Johnson," and "Lover in the Lone Green Valley" by Lead Belly. Recorded at a state farm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (4 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 241A: One disc containing "Skin and Bones" and "Drop 'em Down" sung by black prisoners. Recorded at Tucker state farm in Tucker, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (4 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 241B: One disc containing "I Wonder If I Ever Will Get Back Home" and "Rosie" sung by Negro convicts. Recorded at Camp #8 in Little Rock, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (4 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 242A1-A2: One disc containing "The Bottom Boll is Rotten" sung by group of black prisoners. Recorded at Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (4 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 242B3: One disc containing "Julie Ann Johnson" sung by Lead Belly with guitar. Recorded at Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 243: One disc containing "Blues" and "Banty Rooster" by Blind Pete and George Ryan. Recorded in Little Rock, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (8 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 244A1: One disc containing levee camp holler "Barb So Slippy" sung by Kelly Pace. Recorded at the Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19A)

AFS 244A2-245A1, B1; 247A2, B1; 248-249: Five discs containing 14 songs and a dialogue with black prisoners. Recorded at the Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (26 minutes; LWO 4844 reels 19A and B)

AFS 245A2: One disc containing "Bumblebee" sung by Claude Cross. Recorded at the Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19B)

AFS 246A: One disc containing "Po' Laz'us" sung by Judge Williams. Recorded at the Tucker state farm in Tucker, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (4 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19B)

AFS 246B1: One disc containing "Sweet Babe" sung by Leroy Allen and accompanied on guitar by Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly). Recorded at the Tucker state farm in Tucker, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19B)

AFS 246B3: One disc containing "Irene" performed by Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly). Recorded at the Tucker state farm in Tucker, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, September-October 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19B)

AFS 247A3: One disc containing levee camp holler "Oh My Captain Don't Depend On Me" by F.D. (Black Will) Hall. Recorded at the Cumins state farm in Gould, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax, October 1934. (2 minutes; LWO 4844 reel 19B)

AFS 847-849; 857-859; 863-867; 869-876: Nineteen discs containing 81 folk songs and 3 recordings of calls for farm animals by Emma and Ora Dusenbury. Recorded in Mena, Arkansas, by John A. Lomax and Laurence Powell, August 1936. (3 hours and 31 minutes; LWO 4872 reels 60B, 61B, and 62-63A)

AFC 1937/005: Charles J. Finger Recordings
One disc of 4 songs sung by Charles J. Finger of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Recorded at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., by Alan Lomax, June 1937. (includes AFS 999) [catalog record]

AFC 1939/001: John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip
One hundred forty-seven discs recorded by John A. and Ruby T. Lomax in various southern states between April and June 1939. Genres include ballads, blues, children's songs, cowboy songs, dance music, fiddle tunes, field hollers, lullabies, Mexican corridos, play-party songs, religious dramas, spirituals, work songs. [catalog record] [online presentation]

AFS 2666-2675: Ten discs recorded in Cumins State Farm, Gould, Arkansas. Recorded by John A. and Ruby T. Lomax, April and June 1939.

AFS 3803A: One disc containing "Joe de Grinder," sung by Irvin (Gar Mouth) Lowry. Recorded at Cumins State Farm, Gould, Arkansas, by John A. and Ruby T. Lomax, May 1939. (4 minutes)

AFS 3803B1-B2: One disc containing "The Holy Baby," sung by the Jubilee Quartet. Recorded at Cumins State Farm, Gould, Arkansas, by John A. and Ruby T. Lomax, May 1939. (4 minutes)

AFC 1939/016: Resettlement Administration Recordings Collection
One hundred sixty-five 12-inch discs of instrumentals and songs recorded in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. by Sidney Robertson Cowell, Charles Seeger, Margaret Valiant, and others for the Special Skills Division, Resettlement Administration, 1936-37. The collection includes 3 1/2 inches of transcripts, correspondence, graphic images, and a program book from the 1937 National Folk Festival. (includes AFS 3155-3313) [catalog record]

AFC 1941/020: John A. Lomax Recording of an Arkansas Song
One 12-inch disc of a woman from Arkansas singing "Mishie-mishie." Recorded by John A. Lomax in the Library of Congress in 1941. (includes AFS 4422) [catalog record]

AFC 1941/001: Vance Randolph Collection
Two hundred fifty-five discs, one 5-inch tape, 164 graphic images, and 261 manuscript folders documenting aspects of Ozark life in the early 1940s. Vance Randolph made field recordings of folksongs and collected stories of life in the Ozarks. In addition to the material obtained in the field, Randolph accumulated an extensive number of newspaper clippings on a wide variety of subjects relating to the Ozarks, including local legends, history, language, and sporting activities. (includes AFS 5236-5425, AFS 6897-6904) [catalog record] [finding aid]

AFC 1943/011: John A. Lomax Southwest Recordings
Thirty-three 12-inch discs recorded in the Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, by John A. Lomax, August-September, 1942. Includes recordings of Jeff Guthrie and Allene Guthrie [Woody Guthrie's brother and sister-in-law]. (includes AFS 6953-6985) (LWO 3493)

AFC 1948/020: Arkansas Folk Songs
One 12-inch disc of "Jolly Old Crow" and "Brien O'Lin" sung by Frank Rastell (Frankie Mars). Recorded by Mabel Rastell of Chester, Arkansas, ca. 1940s. (includes AFS 8352)

AFS 10,075-10,080: Marvin A. Miller / Arkansas Folklore and Folk Music
Six 10-inch tapes of songs, fiddle tunes, and conversations from Arkansas. Recorded in Fayetteville, Arkansas, by Merlin Mitchell of the University of Arkansas, February-July 1950.

AFS 10,803-10,825: University of Arkansas / Folk Music of Arkansas
Twenty-three 10-inch tapes of songs (some accompanied), fiddle tunes, and conversations from Arkansas. Recorded in in Fayetteville, Arkansas, by Irene Carlisle of the University of Arkansas, 1951-52. The collection includes a list [located in folder Marvin A. Miller University of Arkansas].

AFS 10,938-10,939: Congressman Brooks Hayes / Pioneer Stories from Arkansas
Two 7-inch tapes recorded pioneer stories told by the father of Congressman Brooks Hayes. Recorded in Little Rock, Arkansas, ca. 1950s. (LWO 2250)

AFS 11,887-11,910: University of Arkansas Duplication Project
Twenty-four 10-inch tapes of songs, fiddle tunes, and conversations from Arkansas. Recorded in 1951-59 by Irene Carlisle, Mary C. Parler, and others from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

AFS 12,034-12,051: University of Arkansas Folklore Class
Eighteen 10-inch tapes of songs, fiddle tunes, and conversations from Arkansas. Recorded in 1951-61 by Mary C. Parler and others from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

AFS 12,096: A.F. Sisson / Ozark Mountaineers Recordings Collection
One 7-inch tape of 25 songs sung with guitar and harmonica by "The Ozark Mountaineers" (Almus D. Sisson and Harold D. Sisson), originally of Mountain View, Arkansas. Recorded in Portland, Oregon, sometime after 1942.

AFC 1968/007: University of Arkansas Recordings, 1960-1964
Twenty-two 10-inch tapes of songs (some accompanied), fiddle tunes, and conversations from Arkansas. Recorded in 1960-64 by Mary C. Parler and others from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The collection includes logs. (includes AFS 13,125-13,146)

AFS 14,057: Negro Spiritual "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray"
One 12-inch disc of "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray," black spiritual from Wilson, Arkansas. Source unknown.

AFC 1970/040: Folk Legacy Records Duplication Project
Thirteen 10-inch tapes of folksongs performed by various folksingers. Recorded in Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Missouri, New Brunswick, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vermont by Lee B. Haggerty, Charles "Sandy" Paton, and others for Folk-Legacy Records, Inc., 1958-69. (includes AFS 14,204-14,216) (LWO 6042)

AFC 1970/050: University of Arkansas / Folksongs from Arkansas and Missouri
One 10-inch tape of songs from Arkansas and Missouri. Recorded by Mary C. Parler and others from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. (includes AFS 14,253)

AFS 14,302: Max Hunter Duplication Project, Part I
One 10-inch tape of folksongs from the Ozarks performed by Loman Cansler, Wise Jones, Al Lindstedt, Allie Long Parker, Frank Pool, David Pricket, and Goldie Schoot. Recorded in Parkville, Missouri; and Clifty, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, and Mondell, Arkansas, by Max Hunter, 1957-58. Recordings include Hunter's comments and reflections on his collecting experiences. (LWO 6165)

AFS 14,427: Max Hunter Duplication Project, Part II
One 10-inch tape of folk songs from the Ozarks performed by Fred High, Max Hunter, Virgil Lance, Mrs. George (Bessie) Owens, Allie Long Parker, Frank Pool, Aunt Fannie Pricket, Goldie Schott, Ed Stilley, Walter Vaughn, and Clyde "Slim" Wilson. Recorded in Batesville, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, High, Hogscald Hollow, Mondell, and Arkansas; and Springfield, Missouri, by Max Hunter, 1958. (LWO 6313)

AFS 14,601: University of Arkansas Duplication Project
One 10-inch tape of folk music played and sung by Otis Williams of Wesley, Arkansas, December 4, 1958; Rhetta Boone of Fayetteville, Arkansas, January 6, 1959; and Ethyl Cameron of Little Rock Arkansas, January 2, 1959. The collection includes a 2-page log. Recordings copied from the Arkansas Folklore Archives.

AFS 14,626-14,628: Max Hunter Duplication Project, Part III
Three 10-inch tapes of folk music of the Ozarks performed by Molly Babcock, Bobbie Barnes, Milton Battle, J.W. Breazeal, L.M. "Shorty" Burks, Harrison Burnett, Emma Jean Bushong, Otis Byrd, Lula & T.M. Davis, Lucy "Pat" Edstrom, Gladys Everly, Judy Fowler, Verda Faye Hamilton, Doney Hammontree, Ina & Doug Harvey, Iva Haslett, Oliva Hauser, Fred High, Dodie Horn, Ethel Hunter, Max Hunter, D.J. Ingenthron, Wise Jones, Mrs. Ed Newton, Joan O'Bryant, Allie Long Parker, John Pennington, Aunt Fannie Pricket, Lucy Quigley, Tressie Rose, Goldi Schott, W.H. Shelley, Fred Smith, Ed Stilley, Dorie Viene, and Dorothy Williford. Recorded in Arkansas and Missouri by Max Hunter, mostly 1958. (LWO 6699)

AFC 1971/032: Fifty Ballads and Songs from Northwest Arkansas / by Irene Jones Carlisle
Thesis: Texas Christan University, 1952. 178 pgs. [catalog record]

AFC 1972/018: University of Arkansas Recorded of Doney Hammontree
One 7-inch tape of "The Old Farm Gate," "Poppin' the Question," "The Battle of Prairie Grove," "Turnip Greens," and "The Banjo" sung by Doney Hammontree of Farmington, Arkansas. Recorded at a concert at the first meeting of the Arkansas Folklore Society, July 11, 1949. (includes AFS 14,766) [catalog record]

AFC 1973/014: A.F. Sisson / Songs from Arkansas
One 5-inch tapes of "Come All You Missouri Gals" and "Coming to Arkansas," sung by Dr. Albert F. Sisson of Avondale, Maryland. Recorded in April of 1973 by Albert Sisson, formerly of Mountain View, Arkansas. (includes AFS 15,600) (LWO 7347)

AFC 1973/026: Chris Delaney / Fiddle Music
Eleven 10-inch tapes of primarily tunes played on fiddle. Includes twenty-two fiddle tunes played by T. C. Fuller of Mena, Arkansas. Recorded in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and West Virginia by Chris Delaney, 1973. Includes Cajun music and copies of old hillbilly 78s. (includes AFS 16,984-16,994)

AFS 22,494-22,495: Robert A. Black / Kentucky and Arkansas Folk Music Collection
Two 7-inch tapes of songs and stories by various performers at the annual Mountain Folk Festival at Berea College, Berea, Kentucky; and songs by Fred High of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Recorded by Robert A. Black in Berea, Kentucky, April 6, 1957, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1958. (RWA 4048-4049)

AFS 22,947: Carter Inaugural Concert Collection, Part 2
One 10-inch tape of eight songs from the President Jimmy Carter Inaugural Concert Collection performed by Beau Soleil, Jimmie Driftwood (originally from Arkansas), and Lydia Mendoza. Recorded at Union Station in Washington, D.C., by Richard Derbyshire, January 21, 1977. The collection includes 1 3/4 linear inches of correspondence, logs, performance releases, programs, and schedules.

AFC 1983/009: 1983 Neptune Plaza Concert Series Collection
Sound recordings and photographs from the July 21, 1983, concert of Glenn Ohrlin, Arkansas cowboy. [catalog record] [finding aid]

AFC 1986/022: Center for Applied Linguistics Collection
Fifty-nine 10-inch tapes of public speeches and other utterances containing dialect samples, recorded at various locations in North America by various collectors, and compiled by the Center for Applied Linguistics for a project entitled "A Survey and Collection of American English Dialect Recordings." The collection includes 14 linear inches of documentation, including an introduction and preface, a list of contents, content summaries, and transcripts. Collectors and interviewees vary, representing approximately 43 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Canada, and Puerto Rico. [catalog record] [online presenation]

AFS 24,301B1: One tape containing an oral history with Sallie Tyler, an 84-year old black female of Joiner, Arkansas. Recorded by William Clements, May 29, 1981. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,301B2: One tape containing an oral history with John Williams Clark, an 80-year old white male of Marked Tree, Arkansas. Recorded by William Clements, May 28, 1981. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,334A1: One tape containing a conversation with a 12-year old white female of the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,334A2: One tape containing a conversation with a 16-year old white female of the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,334B1: One tape containing a conversation with a 23-year old white male of the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,334B2: One tape containing a conversation with a 30-year old white male from the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,335A1: One tape containing a conversation with a 59-year old white male of Clarkesville, Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1978. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,335A2: One tape containing a conversation with a 71-year old white female of from the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,335B1: One tape containing a conversation with a 91-year old male and 77-year old female from the Ozarks region of northwest Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,335B2: One tape containing a conversation with an unidentied male of Pettigrew, Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1978. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,335B3: One tape containing a conversation with a 77-year old white male of Pettigrew, Arkansas. Recorded by Donna Christian and Walt Wolfram, 1983. [audio] [transcript]

AFS 24,336A4: One tape containing a personal monologue with a 74-year old female of Hawes, Arkansas. Recorded by Joseph Mele, 1975. [audio]

AFS 24,336A5: One tape containing a personal monologue with a 45-year old white female of Monticello, Arkansas. Recorded by Joseph Mele, 1975. [audio]

AFS 24,336A6: One tape containing a personal monologue with a 55-year old male of Boydell, Arkansas. Recorded by Joseph Mele, 1975. [audio]

AFS 24,341A1: One tape containing a conversation with a 70-year old white male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,341A2: One tape containing a conversation with a 62-year old white male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,341A3: One tape containing a conversation with a 63-year old white male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,341B1: One tape containing a conversation with a 46-year old white female of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,341B2: One tape containing a conversation with a 56-year old white female of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,341B3: One tape containing a conversation with a 54-year old white female of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342A1: One tape containing a conversation with a 65-year old female of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342A2: One tape containing a conversation with a 78-year old male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342A3: One tape containing a conversation with a 65-year old female and 60-year old male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342B1: One tape containing a conversation with a 70-year old male and wife of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342B2: One tape containing a conversation with a 41-year old male and a 40-year old female of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFS 24,342B3: One tape containing a conversation with an 82-year old male of Newton County, Arkansas. Recorded by Bethany K. Dumas, 1970. [audio]

AFC 1997/011: Lands' End All-American Quilt Collection
Lands' End in cooperation with Good Housekeeping magazine sponsored quilt contests in 1992, 1994, and 1996. The collection consists of visual images, entry blanks, and essays written by entrants, as well as Lands End administrative files and correspondence pertinent to the promotion of the contest. Approximately 13,100 entries for the three contests came from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Numerous types and styles of needlework, quilting, patchwork, applique and embroidery are represented among the visual images. [catalog record] [finding aid] [online presentation]

AFC 1997/022: Robert Cochran / "Walking On" Videotape Collection
Thirty-minute videotape showing original process of making maple sugar and syrup in the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas. Gives a biographical portrait of Walter Williams. Contains gospel music performed by the Villines Brothers.

AFC 1998/016: Robert Cochran / Frankie Kelly "Music's Easier" Collection
This one-hour video includes interviews with Frankie Kelly and his wife about his life as a stonecarver and Western Swing fiddler in Springdale, Arkansas. Features historic family photographs, tours of local buildings that Kelly helped build (including the local Legion Hall where Kelly used to perform on the fiddle) and live performances of Kelly at local dance halls. The video was produced in 1997 by the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Center for Arkansas and Regional Studies, University of Arkansas and directed by Robert Cochran.

AFC 2000/001: Local Legacies Project Collection
Four hundred and five linear feet (approximately 90,000 manuscript pages, 475 sound recordings, 13,270 graphic materials, 335 electronic media, and 75 artifacts) of documentation of local festivals, fairs, parades, and other community-based events from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and trusts. The Local Legacies Collection was donated through the efforts of individuals, organizations, and institutions asked to participate by members of Congress. This project was part of the Library of Congress Bicentennial celebration in the year 2000. [catalog record] [online presentation] [Arkansas Local Legacies]

AFC 2007/018: Don Hill and David Mangurian Collection of Tape Recordings
Original analog tapes and digitized copies of the tapes, representing over 40 hours of original field recordings made between 1958 and 1961 in Baltimore, Maryland; Clarksdale, Mississippi; Chicago, Illinois; Delaney, Arkansas; Los Angeles, California; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; St. Louis, Missouri, and in Northern Georgia. The recordings comprise 724 songs and interviews with 20 of the musicians (including 12 blues and street singers).