[Detail] Music transcription from "This Ol' Hammer" by John Work
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Collection Overview
"Now What a Time": Blues, Gospel, and the Fort Valley Music Festivals, 1938-1943 consists of approximately one hundred sound recordings, primarily blues and gospel songs, and related documentation from the folk festival at Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Georgia. The documentation was created in 1941 and in March, June, and July 1943. Also included are recordings made in Tennessee and Alabama (including six Sacred Harp songs) between September 1938 and 1941. Song lists made by the collectors, correspondence about the trips, and a special issue of the Fort Valley State College student newsletter are also included.
Special Features
These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.
- Noncommercial Recordings: The 1940s
- Biographies:
- John Wesley Work III
- Lewis Jones
- Willis Laurence James
Historical Eras
These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.
- Development of the Industrial United States, 1876-1915
- Emergence of Modern America, 1890-1930
- The Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945
Related Collections and Exhibits
These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. Also browse the Collection Finder for more related material on the American Memory Web site.
- African American Perspectives, 1818-1907
- California Gold: Folk Music from the Thirties
- Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier
- FSA/OWI Photographs, 1935-1945
- Narratives of the American South, 1860-1920
- Southern Mosaic
- Voices from the Dust Bowl, 1940-1941
Other Resources
Recommended additional sources of information.
Search Tips
Specific guidance for searching this collection.
To find items in this collection, search by Keyword or browse by Performer, Audio Title, or Manuscripts.
For help with general search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory.
Last Updated: 11/02/2009