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Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1979 Festival of American Folklife

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Object Details

Introduction
The 1979 Folklife Festival continued to take community as its theme, as had been announced in 1978. The Festival celebrated the creative genius of many cultural groups - some had been on American soil only for months, others for millenia. The point of the Smithsonian festivals and the museums' displays of diversity struck home to the people who came to the museums and reached out for reaffirmation of identity. People feared the loss of identity in the sense of anomie that came with being a cipher, a numeral, a set of digits, organizers believed; they feared big government, big business, megastates that might rule the world. Coupled with the fear of homogenization was the fear of the loss of one's own soul. One way to strengthen our sense of identity and to demonstrate our essential humanity, the Festival asserted, was the reaffirmation of the differences among us, the persistence of our traditions at the ground roots of life, a countercurrent for survival. In 1979 the Festival welcomed the newly-arrived ethnic community of Vietnamese, who had brought with them rich folklife traditions. From the West Indies came immigrants who enliven our cities with the folk theatrical spectacle of Carnival. Native Americans from several tribal groups shared their knowledge of ways in which their housing has been adapted to local environmental conditions.The International Year of the Child was celebrated at the Festival in the program book cover and articles, and in the living presentations of children's folklife in the Children's Area, where Lumbee Indian children re-created a Field Day celebration, and several other children's communities enacted Halloween traditions. Occupational communities were represented by D.C. firefighters, taxicab drivers, and stonecarvers from the National Cathedral. Other communities represented, which had formed around particular interests or institutions, were a medicine show, mom-and-pop neighborhood stores, street criers, and CB radio clubs. As with the two preceding years, the 1979 Festival (October 3-8) was held on a site on the National Mall later to be occupied by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, between 14th and 15th Streets and between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive (see site plan). Indoor activities including a symposium focused on folk medicine took place in the National Museum of History and Technology, in the days preceding the outdoor Festival (September 27-30). The 1979 Program Book provided information on each of the programs. The 1979 Festival was again co-presented by the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Music Performance Trust Funds. It was organized by the Folklife Program within the Office of American and Folklife Studies. Folklife Advisory Council Wilcomb E. Washburn, Chairman, Roger Abrahams, Richard Ahlborn, Richard Dorson, William Fitzhugh, Lloyd Herman, Robert Laughlin, Scott Odell, Ralph Rinzler, Peter Seitel, E. Richard Sorenson, Thomas Vennum Folklife Program, Office of American and Folklife Studies Ralph Rinzler, Director; Richard Derbyshire, Archivist; Susan Kalcik, Folklorist; Jeffrey LaRiche, Program Coordinator; Jack Santino, Folklorist; Peter Seitel, Senior Folklorist; Thomas Vennum, Jr., Ethnomusicologist; Steve Zeitlin, Folklorist National Park Service William J. Whelan, Director; Manus J. Fish, Jr., Regional Director, National Capital Region
Fieldworkers and presenters
Nicholas Bocher, Sylvia Grider, Glenn Hinson, Marjorie Hunt, Fred Lieberman, Susan Manos, Phyllis May, Robert McCarl, Maxine Miska, Peter Nabokov, Elliott Parris, Kate Rinzler, Betsy Seamans, Barbara Strickland, Katherine Williams, Peggy Yocum
Shared Stewardship of Collections
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage acknowledges and respects the right of artists, performers, Folklife Festival participants, community-based scholars, and knowledge-keepers to collaboratively steward representations of themselves and their intangible cultural heritage in media produced, curated, and distributed by the Center. Making this collection accessible to the public is an ongoing process grounded in the Center's commitment to connecting living people and cultures to the materials this collection represents. To view the Center's full shared stewardship policy, which defines our protocols for addressing collections-related inquiries and concerns, please visit https://doi.org/10.25573/data.21771155.
Creator
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Names
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Place
Caribbean Area
Grenada
Antigua
Nevis
Haiti
Trinidad and Tobago
Virgin Islands
Saint Lucia
Topic
Folk art
Folk music
Food habits
Folklore
arts and crafts
World music
Folk festivals
Creator
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
See more items in
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1979 Festival of American Folklife
Summary
The Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The materials collected here document the planning, production, and execution of the annual Festival, produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present) and its predecessor offices (1967-1999). An overview of the entire Festival records group is available here: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.
Historical note
The Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The 1979 Festival of American Folklife was produced by the Smithsonian Folklife Program of the Office of American and Folklife Studies and cosponsored by the National Park Service. For more information, see Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.
Extent
1 Cubic foot (approximate)
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
The Rinzler Archives is continually engaged in digitization of archival materials to facilitate preservation and ready access by users. However, given the diversity of legacy formats of the originals, some older materials may not be available. Notably, certain older audio recordings cannot be played because of deterioration of the tape stock, and the Archives has no playback equipment for EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) or multi-track audio recordings. Where listening or viewing copies are available, this is generally indicated for each item. Users are encouraged to contact Archives staff to verify that the materials of interest to them are already accessible, or to determine if they can be digitized as needed.
Date
October 3-8, 1979
Archival Repository
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
Identifier
CFCH.SFF.1979
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Digital images
Notes
Negatives
Video recordings
Contracts
Audiocassettes
Business records
Memorandums
Slides (photographs)
Plans (drawings)
Audiotapes
Photographic prints
Videotapes
Correspondence
Citation
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1979 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement note
Arranged in 7 series. Series 1: Program Books, Festival Publications, and Ephemera Series 2: Caribbean Carnival Series 3: Children's Area Series 4: Folklife in the Museum - Folk Medicine Series 5: Folklore in Your Community Series 6: Medicine Show Series 7: Native American Architecture
Rights
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Genre/Form
Sound recordings
Digital images
Notes
Negatives
Video recordings
Contracts
Audiocassettes
Business records
Memorandums
Slides (photographs)
Plans (drawings)
Audiotapes
Photographic prints
Videotapes
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
This collection documents the planning, production, and execution of the 1979 Festival of American Folklife. Materials may include photographs, audio recordings, motion picture film and video recordings, notes, production drawings, contracts, memoranda, correspondence, informational materials, publications, and ephemera. Such materials were created during the Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as in the featured communities, before or after the Festival itself.
Restrictions
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Forms Part Of
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1979 Festival of American Folklife forms part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival records . Smithsonian Folklife Festival records Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: Papers 1967 Festival of American Folklife records - [Ongoing]
Related Archival Materials note
Within the Rinzler Archives, related materials may be found in various collections such as the Ralph Rinzler papers and recordings, the Lily Spandorf drawings, the Diana Davies photographs, the Robert Yellin photographs, and the Curatorial Research, Programs, and Projects collection. Additional relevant materials may also be found in the Smithsonian Institution Archives concerning the Division of Performing Arts (1966-1983), Folklife Program (1977-1980), Office of Folklife Programs (1980-1991), Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies (1991-1999), Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present), and collaborating Smithsonian units, as well as in the administrative papers of key figures such as the Secretary and respective deputies. Users are encouraged to consult relevant finding aids and to contact Archives staff for further information.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1503512423841-1503512423855-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk59a8230d1-35c3-48d1-9e83-b362e383bb30

In the Collection

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  • Festival Recordings: Children's Area: Bessie Jones, Frankie and Douglas Quimby

  • Medicine Show: Harmonica Frank Floyd

  • Folk Medicine Narrative: J. Pershing, D. Troutman, B. Wagman

  • Interview with Jerry Williams and Lincoln Rorie - fish hawker

  • Festival Photos: D.C. Folklore Narrative: Taxi Cab Drivers

  • D.C. Music Stage:D.C. Blind Gospel Singers; Independent Church; Vietnamese-Americans

  • Donald Troutman, Country Pharmacist, interviewed by Barbara Peirrensnyder at Elysburg Pennsylvania June 13, 1979. Continuation of SI-FP-1979-CT-071.

  • Participant Reception, SI Castle

  • Fieldwork

  • Interview with Jerry Williams - fish hawker

  • Caribbean Music: Mod Band

  • Medicine Show: Hammie Nixon; Doc Bloodgood, Alton Machen, Doc Bartok - the art of pitching

  • Vietnamese Music rehearsal w/ Mr. Tam Vi Thuy, Ms. Kim Oanh, Mr. Ho Tam, and Mr. Hien performing, recorded by Ralph Rinzler, September 23, 1979

  • Participant Reception, SI Castle

  • Children's Narrative: George Mason Jr. High Students; Montgomery Village Sr. High Students

  • Medicine Show: B. and A. Noell, Foster Bloodgood, S. Pridgen, Harvey Ellington, Snuffy Jenkins, B. West, Harmonica Frank Floyd

  • Folk Medicine Symposium: Don Yoder, Barbara Reimensynder

  • Interview with Jerry Williams and Lincoln Rorie - fish hawker

  • Festival Footage: D.C. Folklore, Narrative: Street Hawkers- Lincoln Rorie, Jerry Williams, Walter Kelly, Sonny Diggs, Fred Foster Bloodgood

  • Mrs. Van Chi Hoang, cook, herb farmer, interviewed by Susan Kalcik at Bowie, Maryland June 24, 1979.

  • D.C. Music Stage:D.C. Blind Gospel Singers; Independent Church of God Choir

  • D.C. Narrative: Baseball Players (Senators) - Walter Masterson, Chuck Hinton, Jim Lemon

  • Children's Area: Bledsoe, Smith, Sims and Jamieson

  • Festival Footage: Carnival Parade

  • Folk Medicine Narrative: Hawk Littlejohn, Clyde Hollifield, D. Troutman; John Lee, H.M. Lee, E. Weddle

  • D.C. Music Stage: Deacon James Brewer and the Rosebud Singers; D.C. Blind Gospel Singers; Ind. Chur

  • Festival Footage: D.C. Folklore, Narrative: Street Hawkers; Taxi-Cab Drivers

  • Caribbean Music: D.C. Trinidad and Tobago Steel Band; Gypsy with Big Drum Nation

  • Children's Area: Hispanic Games; Bessie Jones, Frankie and Douglas Quimby

  • Medicine Show of the 1920s from Fred R. Bloodgood 5113 Pepin Place, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Festival Recordings: Medicine Show: Jenkins, Sherill, Medlin; B. and M. West, Noell; Bartok

  • Medicine Show: The Art of Pitching - Milton Bartok; Snuffy Jenkins, Pappy Sherill, Greasy Medlin, Hammie Nixon, Anna Mae Noell, Bob Noell, Harmonica Frank Floyd

  • Medicine Show: Hammie Nixon; Harvey Ellington, Sam Pridgen; Harmonica Frank Floyd

  • D.C. Narrative: Mom and Pop Store Owners;D.C. Firefighters; Street Hawkers and Market Vendors

  • Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, resource contact, singer and game teacher, recorded and interviewed by Maxine Miska at Arlington, Virginia may 26, 1979. Mr. Bich discusses the Vietnamese community, Mid - Autumn fes­tival, (jams and recites proverbs.

  • D.C. Music Stage: Vietnamese-Americans

  • Festival Footage:Don Troutman, Hawk Littlejohn, Clyde Hollifield; Participant / audience interaction; interview w/Barlow Largen

  • Children's Area: Lumbee IndianChildren's Games

  • Rufus Goring, Man involved with. Brooklyn Carnival, Mas in Brooklyn, interviewed by Katherine Williams at New York, New York, May 5, 1979. Discussions with United West Indies Day Developement Association Inc.

  • Audio

  • D.C. Music Stage: Wilson Harmonizers; Sincere Gospel Aires

  • Children's Narrative: Lumbee Panel Discussion and Field Day Events; George Stonefish

  • Festival Recordings: Medicine Show: B. and A. Noell; Hammie Nixon; Harmonica Frank Floyd

  • Interview with Jerry Williams - fish hawker

  • Fieldwork

  • Hoang Oanh, singer, recorded and interviewed by Maxine Miska at Middlesex, New Jersey June 7, 1979. Continuation of SI-FP-1979-CT-053.

  • Folk Medicine Narrative: J. Pershing, B. Wagman, Hawk Littlejohn

  • Folk Medicine Narrative: Hawk Littlejohn, Clyde Hollifield, D. Troutman

  • Festival Footage: Hawk Littlejohn, Barlow Wagman, John Persing

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: Sam Pritchen and Harvey Ellington interview; Evelyn and Thelma Gay interview

  • Caribbean Music: Opening Ceremonies: Smith, Sims, Bledsoe, Rinzler, Nedzi, music

  • Festival Footage: Hawk Littlejohn, Barlow Wagman, John Persing

  • Interview with Jerry Williams - fish hawker

  • Festival Footage: D.C. Folklore, Narrative: Vietnamese-Americans

  • Children's Area: Lumbee IndianChildren's Games; Bessie Jones; Frankie and Douglas Quimby

  • D.C. Narrative: Vietnamese Americans - Bui Bang

  • Festival Footage: Maude Bryant, Herman Lee, John and Hattie M. Lee

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: Alton Machen interview - Medicine show pitchman and patent medicine salesman

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: John and Hattie Mae Lee interview - Discussion of scrap book with John in herb garden

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: Alton Machen interview - Medicine show pitchman and patent medicine salesman

  • Audio

  • Philips V.K. Nichols, "Lone pager", Citizen's Band Radio informant, interviewed by Susan Manos at Arlington, Virginia, July 12, 1979.

  • Festival Footage: D.C. Folklore, Narrative: Stonecarvers; Caribbean: Costume Makers

  • Fish Hawkers recorded at interviewed at Maine Avenue Wharf 1979

  • Festival Recordings: Medicine Show: David and Milton Bartok

  • Katherine Williams and D. Elliott Parris, Caribbean Carnival Fieldworkers, meet with Montreal Carnival Development Committee in Montreal, Canada, May 20, 1979. One side only.

  • Caribbean Narrative: Medicine Show performers narrative; Halloween Costume Traditions

  • Festival Recordings: D.C. Music Stage: Vietnamese-Americans

  • Vietnamese concert at Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University Susan Kalcik June 23,. 1979.

  • Festival Recordings: Children's Area: Tom Bledsoe, Beechard Smith, Keith Sims, Stu Jamieson

  • Children's Area: HispanicChildren's Games

  • D.C. Narrative: Mom and Pop Store Owners

  • Children's Area: Carol Nethering, Nick Hawes; Stu Jamieson, Keith Sims

  • Mr. Chu Ngoc Lien, Director , Vietnamese Senior Citizen's Assoc. interviewed by Maxine Miska at Annandale, Virginia, May 29, 1979. Mr. Lien discusses his family, in Vietnam and in America and the Senior Citizen's group.

  • Festival Recordings: Caribbean Music: Mod Band

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: Greasy Medin interview

  • Caribbean Music: Gypsy; Oscar Hunt w/ the Mod Band

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: Virginia Sullivan interview - history of her family in medicine shows

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: John and Hattie Mae Lee interview - Discussion of Biblical and herbal cures, drinking

  • Medicine Show Fieldwork: John and Hattie Mae Lee interview - Discussions of midwifery, medicines and herbs

  • DOE Narrative: Mary Thomas

  • Participant Reception, SI Castle

  • Caribbean Music: Steel Band Contest

  • Video

  • Duplications of Mr. Huyen Huu Vinh, stage name: Tam Vii Thuy. Performances published and duplicated here. Mr, Vinh plays dan Tranh and Gao. Recorded by Ralph Rinzler at Fairfax, Virginia, August 30, 1979.

  • Free Show Tonite: Medicine Show Film Shoot

  • Children's Area: Bessie Jones, Frankie and Douglas Quimby

  • Festival Recordings: Children's Area: Bledsoe, Smith, Sims and Jamieson

  • Interview with Lincoln and Abe Rorie - Fish Hawker

  • Video

  • Children's Area: Bessie Jones, Frankie and Douglas Quimby; Bledsoe, Smith, Sims and Jamieson

  • Maine Street Fish Wharf

  • Free Show Tonite: Medicine Show Film Shoot

  • Children's Narrative: George Mason Students - Interplanetary Council - Halloween Traditions

  • Festival Footage::Barlow Wagman, Donald Troutman, John Persing

  • Caribbean Music: Oscar Hunt and the Mod Band

  • Vietnamese-American musicians - organizational meeting and rehearsal

  • Folk Medicine Symposium: Panel Discussion

  • D.C. Music Stage: Independent Church of God Choir; Snuffy Jenkins, Pappy Sherill; Vietnamese-Americans

  • D.C. Music Stage: Sincere Gospel Aires; Rosebud Singers;D.C. Blind Gospel Singers

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