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Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1996 Festival of American Folklife

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Object Details

Introduction
In 1996, questions of national unity and purpose remained as salient as they had been twenty years before, for the Bicentennial Festival - yet there was also much to celebrate, and good cause to do so. On the state level, the year marked the 150th anniversary of Iowa statehood; on the international level, it marked the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympics; and for the nation and the world, the Smithsonian celebrated its 150th anniversary. Each of these anniversaries recalled what we value as Americans and helped set our course for the future. The 1996 Festival joined with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to present a program on the culture of the American South, both on the National Mall and, before a world audience, back home in Atlanta during the Olympic Games. The Olympics symbolize people from the world over coming together in common athletic and artistic purposes. Just as a watershed is fed by the confluence of numerous streams, so too does the culture of the South represent the confluence of Native American, African, and European traditions, joining together with a stream of visitors from around the globe. Iowa, which celebrated its sesquicentennial on the National Mall, is known as the land between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and symbolizes an important cultural watershed. For many, Iowa represents grassroots America, our heartland. The land and the rivers give Iowans a strong sense of purpose, and have nourished the value of community life as a centerpiece in our national consciousness - a value that was ever-present in the Iowa Festival program. The Smithsonian, which has grown into the world's foremost national scientific, historical, and artistic complex, represents yet another kind of cultural watershed. It collects aspects of America's heritage, documenting the ebb and flow of history over the years and across the nation, and encourages visitors to find themselves in its never-ending course. For its 150th anniversary, visitors had a chance to peer behind the scenes and to meet Smithsonian workers in every field. The Smithsonian saw the Festival as a wonderful way to help celebrate the anniversaries of these institutions, for like them, the Festival stands as a tribute to our own ability to speak with each other, to share our cultures and traditions, and to do so in a civil, tolerant, respectful, and enlightening way. The Festival itself is an enduring institution, and in 1996 it marked its own thirtieth event in typical fashion - by working hard to amplify the voices of others. The 1996 Festival took place during two five-day weeks (June 26-30 and July 3-7) between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive and between 9th Street and 13th Street, south of the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History (see site plan). It featured three programs and a special event, the second Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert. The 1996 Program Book included schedules and participant lists for each program; essays provided background on the Festival and on each of the programs. The Festival was co-presented by the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service and organized by the Center for Folklife Programs & Cultural Studies. Center for Folklife Programs & Cultural Studies Richard Kurin, Director; Richard Kennedy, Deputy Director; Diana Parker, Festival Director; Anthony Seeger, Director, Smithsonian/Folkways Recordngs; James Early, Director, Cultural Studies & Communications; Thomas Vennum, Jr., Senior Ethnomusicologist; Olivia Cadaval, Chair, Research & Education; Betty Belanus, Marjorie Hunt, Diana Baird N'Diaye, Peter Seitel, Curators, Folklorists, Educational and Cultural Specialists; Carla M. Borden, Program/Publications Manager; John W. Franklin, Program Manager; Arlene L. Reiniger, Program Specialist; Jeffrey Place, Archivist; Stephanie Smith, Assistant Archivist; Roland Freeman, Ivan Karp, Alan Lomax, Worth Long, Kate Rinzler, Research Associates & Collaborators Folklife Advisory Council and Folkways Advisory Council Roger Abrahams, Jacinto Arias, Michael Asch, Jane Beck, Don DeVito, Pat Jasper, Ella Jenkins, Jon Kertzer, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, John Nixdorf, Bernice Johnson Reagon, John Roberts, Carol Robertson, Gilbert Sprauve, Jack Tchen, Ricardo Trimillos, Carlos Vélez-Ibáñez National Park Service Roger Kennedy, Director; Robert G. Stanton, Regional Director, National Capital Region
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
Topic
Folklore
Folk art
Food habits
Folk music
arts and crafts
World music
Folk festivals
Creator
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
See more items in
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1996 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 1996 Festival of American Folklife was produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural 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
June 26-July 7, 1996
Archival Repository
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
Identifier
CFCH.SFF.1996
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Contracts
Plans (drawings)
Videotapes
Digital images
Slides (photographs)
Business records
Memorandums
Correspondence
Sound recordings
Audiocassettes
Photographic prints
Notes
Video recordings
Audiotapes
Negatives
Citation
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1996 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement note
Arranged in 5 series. Series 1: Program Books, Festival Publications, and Ephemera Series 2: The American South Series 3: Iowa - Community Style Series 4: Special Events Series 5: Working at the Smithsonian
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
Contracts
Plans (drawings)
Videotapes
Digital images
Slides (photographs)
Business records
Memorandums
Correspondence
Sound recordings
Audiocassettes
Photographic prints
Notes
Video recordings
Audiotapes
Negatives
Scope and Contents note
This collection documents the planning, production, and execution of the 1996 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: 1996 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-1503511513422-1503511513441-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5f26e8d56-a110-478c-b70b-af8a0ca1dee5

In the Collection

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  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Fiddle Styles; Cowgirl Poetry; Family Music Making; Blues Music

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Labor Institute: Interview with Jan Smith, Labor Center Fort Madison, Iowa 29 NOV 1995 by Tom Cale and Ginger Cunningham

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Charles Driscoll

  • Festival Recordings: Monument Stage: Klezmer Plus

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Deer Creek Quartet; Matney Sisters

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Meskwaki Singers, Everett Kapayou; Psalms

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Recording of Boone Municipal Band

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Warwick with the Louisiana Hayride Band; Freedom Singers; Skeeter Brandon & HWY 61

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Ramonus Kondratus

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Talk Radio: Farm to Market; Western Iowa Rural Life; Migration Narratives

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Rita Wanpeha

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Kelly Ross

  • The American South Fieldwork: Yolanda Martinez (Mescalero Apache, singer, composer, drum maker) "Native Heartbeat" (commercial cassette)

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Dr. Margaret Collins 2 of 2 (department of entomology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Don Lopez (senior advisor emeritus, NASM); Interview with Jeff Goldstein (astrophysicist, NASM) by James Deutsch

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Collections Managers; Director's Panel

  • Iowa Fieldwork: John Purk: Flight to D.C

  • Moore, David (Fieldworker) – West Liberty, IA – Eurgenio Solis & Adalberto Solis (Mexican guitarist, singer in duo with Adalberto); West Liberty, IA – Maria Elizondo (cook & doll maker)

  • Morgan, Jerri & DeWall, John (Fieldworkers) – 6 of 7 – Snga Saukrasmn; Thomas Wong

  • Working at the Smithsonian

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Deb Hull-Woluski (department of anthropology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: David Kessler

  • Photographs

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Labor Institute: Interview with Bill Piloto (president of Mexican fiesta) by Tom Cale and Ginger Cunningham

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Freedom Singers; Birmingham Sunlights

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Deborah Rothberg

  • Iowa 96 FAF Michael Zahs (Fieldworker) – Washington, IA – 12 of 13 –Robert McConnell (famer, musician, educator, politician); Julie Peskin (famer, musician, educator, politician)

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Warwick w Louisiana Hayride Band; Eddie Pennington; Skeeter Brandon & HWY 61

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Henry (Hank) Grasso 1 of 2 (NMAH) by Erin Roth

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Jack Libbey, tape 1

  • Audio

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Mary Jo Arnolds (department of anthropology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Karl King Band NOV 14 1995

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Talk Radio: Caring for the Community; The Art of Selling; Fish Tales

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Milt Van Gundy

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Fiddle Styles: Benge, Drollinger, Snow, Lamb; Matney Sisters

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: SI Around the World; Arts & Industries, Care & Maintenance

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: William White

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Navigation and Barge Noise recorded by Mark Knudsen

  • Iowa 96 FAF – 10/9/95 - Beth Rotto – 5 of 11 – Eunice Stoen (Food ways among Norwegian-Americans)

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Mina Smith Segal

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Louis Purnell

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with John Sutcliffe

  • Audio

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Matthew Yellow Bull

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Chris Denney; Interview with Male-Winnebago & Yankton Sioux

  • FP-1996-CT-0759: Iowa 96 FAF – Mike Wiseman – 5 of 7 (cont from 4)– Kristin Crafton

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Dr. Dave Hunt (department of anthropology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Yusra Igram

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Kethshara Khlok

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Bill Beacom (river talk); Mel Price (locking through) by Mark Knudsen

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Dr. Margaret Collins 2 of 2 (department of entomology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interviews with James Skurdall and Bill Musser by Harley Refsal

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Agnes Yore

  • Festival Footage: South Program: Music & Dance Stage: Treme Brass Band & the Calliope Highsteppers; Songs of Struggle

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Martin Levine

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Mary Wood

  • Iowa 96 FAF – 9/19/95 - Beth Rotto – 6 of 11 – Helen Ehrie (Scandinavian-American fiddler); Alvin Vine 10/17/95 (Accordion player)

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Psalms; Everett Kapayou, Meskwaki Singers

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Music performed by the Clark Family

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Iowa Caucus

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Freedom Singers; Beausoleil

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Civic Center: Auctioneering; Scandinavian-American Dance

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Warwick with Louisiana Hayride Band; Freedom Singers; Birmingham Sunlights

  • Festival Footage: Working at the Smithsonian: Narrative Stage: Stories About Collecting; Living & Working in Space

  • The American South Fieldwork: Unity "By Request" (commercial cassette)

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Rosella Brooks, "Dinosaurs"

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Jean Porter

  • Festival Recordings: Carmichael Auditorium/American History: Celtic Thunder

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Labor Institute: Interview with Dave Miner (unusual occupation/hobby) by Tom Cale and Ginger Cunningham

  • S.I. Workers Fieldwork: Interview with Amy Ballard; on making of NMAI

  • Festival Recordings: Dance/Evening Concert: Scandinavian-American Dance; Native American Music from Iowa & the American

  • FP-1996-CT-0738: Iiowa 96 FAF – 9/10/95 – Erin Roth (Fieldworker) – 10 of 27 – Wayland, IA – John s. Wagler (Storyteller)

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Elaine Hodges

  • Festival Recordings: Castle Stage: Evening Concert: Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks

  • Smithsonian Workers Program: Field Interview with Elaine Gurian by Richard Kurin and Pablita Abeyta: "Making of NMAI" For Working at the SI program of the 1996 F.A.F.

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Living & Working in Space: Space Shuttle; Paleobiology in Modern World

  • FP-1996-CT-0760: Iowa 96 FAF – Mike Wiseman – 6 of 7 – Ida Johnson : United Neighbors; Bess Wellmer

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Kenneth Mason

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Ruth Lutz

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Ruth and Russ Nash by Donald Jonjack

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Margarite Santiago (NMNH, registrar) by John Franklin tape 1

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Gospel: Birmingham Sunlights; Freedom Singers; White Hills Free Will Baptist

  • Festival Recordings: Dance/Evening Concert: Gospel

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Nancy Pope (curator, Postal Museum)

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Nurses Assocation 3 of 6: Interview with Deb Gengler (occupational health); Kathy Hopkins (nursing outside of the U.S., nursing in Brazil)

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Ellis Yochelson (paleobiology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with J.B. Paulsen; Interview with Denny Walter

  • Festival Recordings: Fiddling & Thumbpicking

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Trooper Walsh (National Zoo) by Emily Botein

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Deer Creek Quartet; Meskwaki Singers; Louis & Blues Review

  • Iowa 96 FAF – Harry Oster (Fieldworker) – Kevin Burt (cont'd.)

  • Evening Party after Rinzler Memorial Concert at the hotel

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Barbara Coffee

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Per Midboe, Ian MacTavish

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Louis & Blues Review

  • Parrish, Jane (Fieldworker) – 6 of 6 – Rosa Maria de Findley

  • Photographs

  • Audio

  • Festival Recordings: South-Cooking for Family & Faith with Julietta Garcel; Iowa-Amana Foods

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