Top of page

Audio Recording Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1

Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1

About this Item

Title

  • Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1

Names

  • Metcalfe, Ralph H., 1948- (Collector)
  • Barrett, M.C. (Interviewee)

Created / Published

  • Chicago, Illinois, May 27, 1977

Headings

  • -  African Americans
  • -  Ethnography
  • -  Interviews
  • -  Illinois -- Chicago

Genre

  • Ethnography
  • Interviews

Notes

  • -  M.C. Barrett, part 1
  • -  Part 1 of a 2-part interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, at his home at 5326 S. Cornell, apartment 214; topics include biograhpy, Barrett was born in Chicago in 1946, his mother was sick and he was raised by an aunt until he was about 6 years old, then foster home to age 11, went to Catholic Church and was baptized a second time, then Marigold Academy, then another foster home, then Parker High School and Our Lady of Mercy High School (Chicago Mercy High School?), began studying astrology at age 16, but at college had difficulties with faculty, in the U.S. Army in 1967, also difficult, Ft. Polk LA; about Barrett's mother Gloria Barrett, had MS when M.C. was age 4; the Army difficulties continued, Barrett did not want to go to Vietnam, went AWOL, received help from Congressman Ralph Metcalfe Sr to move on, started work as interior and architectural designer, still not a good fit and Barrett continued to pursue astrology, "I live my life partially by astrology but not totally by astrology," about the need for astrologers to work with clients in careful way, astrology teaches people how to take their destiny intheir own hands, touches everything in human nature, about the practice, and how astrology is "ingrained" for African Americans, about relation to organized religion, this is a foggy period between Acquarius and Pisces, about the level of consciousness in Chicago's African American community, stifled, need jobs and income.

Medium

  • audiocassette, C-90

Call Number/Physical Location

  • Call number: AFC 1981/004: AFS 20646a
  • MBRS Shelflist: RYA 0687
  • Field Project Identifier: CH77-T123-C

Source Collection

  • Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004)

Repository

  • American Folklife Center

Digital Id

Online Format

  • audio

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress believes that some of the materials in this collection are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions, and are therefore free to use or reuse. For example, the fieldwork in this collection is in the public domain in the United States.

However, the Library has obtained permission for the use of other materials, and presents additional materials for educational and research purposes in accordance with fair use under United States copyright law. For example, some of the recordings contain copyrighted music, and not all of the performers and other individuals who were recorded signed releases for public use of their work.

In addition, the American Folklife Center and the professional fieldworkers who carry out these projects feel a strong ethical responsibility to the people they have visited and who have consented to have their lives documented for the historical record. The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these collection materials should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. Rights assessment is your responsibility. The written permission of the copyright owners in materials not in the public domain is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Permissions may additionally be required from holders of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights). Whenever possible, we provide information that we have about copyright owners and related matters in the catalog records, finding aids and other texts that accompany collections. However, the information we have may not be accurate or complete.

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Credit line: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Metcalfe, Ralph H, and M.C Barrett. Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1. Chicago, Illinois, 1977. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20646a/.

APA citation style:

Metcalfe, R. H. & Barrett, M. C. (1977) Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1. Chicago, Illinois. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20646a/.

MLA citation style:

Metcalfe, Ralph H, and M.C Barrett. Interview with M.C. Barrett, astrologer, Chicago, Illinois, part 1. Chicago, Illinois, 1977. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20646a/>.