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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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  • Video

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Jim Fitzpatrick, National Zoo

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Geno Delafose; Freedom Singers; New Coon Creek Girls

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Kenneth Thomas

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Jeremy Adamson (curator, Renwick) by Malisel

  • Libby (Fieldworker) – 3 of 3 – Patrick Costello (Artist) – Maquoketa, IA

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Junita Tutt by Michael Murray

  • Iowa 96 FAF– Earl Sampson (Fieldworker) – 3 of 8 – Bobby Rutherford; Randy St. Peter (Rodeo Stock Contractor)

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Labor Institute: Interview with Tom Glenn and Perry Chapin

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Rebecca Hartman, Sara Hackavy

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Traditions of speaking & Calling

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Dave West

  • Iowa Fieldwork Review, tape 3

  • Parrish, Jane (Fieldworker) – 1 of 6 – Carol Jorgensen & Hella Mikkelson (Danish heritage)

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: James Early

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Traditions of Speaking & Calling

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Ellsworth and Karen Clark (broken) DEC 18 1995

  • Festival Recordings: Meyer Auditorium/Freer Gallery: Cambodian American Heritage

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Eddie Pennington; Ulali

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Elizabeth Zimmer

  • Festival Recordings: South Studio Stage: Beausoleil; Birmingham Sunlights

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Karin Hayes

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Frank Greenwell (taxidermist, department of vertebrate zoology, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

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

  • Festival Recordings: Dance/Evening Concert: Maggie Lewis Warwick with Tillman Franks' Old Time Louisiana Hayride Band

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Recording of Boone Municipal Band, tape 2

  • Festival Recordings: Ring Auditorium/Hirshhorn Museum: Image Band

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

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Talk Radio: Iowa Community 4-H; Researching Your Own Back Yard; Taking Part in Political Life

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Traditions of Speaking & Calling; Community Bands

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Francine Berkowitz

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Blues Music; Family Music Making; Mexican Songs & Ballads; Mennonite Gospel

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Sharon Rohnback

  • FP-1996-CT-0756: Iowa 96 FAF – Mike Wiseman – 2 of 7 (cont. from 1) – Chuck Landon (United Churches); Father Joseph Nquyen; U Kant

  • Festival Recordings: Dance/Evening Concert: Second Annual Friends of the Festival Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert

  • Iowa 96 FAF – Schmidt (Fieldworker) – 5 of 8 – Denise Klahn (gospel – blind singer); Matney Sisters

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Civic Center: Iowa Square Dance; Polka Dance

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Bill Beacom (river talk) by Mark Knudsen

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Regina H. Ingrim

  • The American South Fieldwork: Stoney Creek Singers "Live at the Great American Indian Exposition, November 11-13, 1994" (commercial cassette)

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Henry and Marlys Van Aarsten (Adult Dutch dance leaders) by Nella Kennedy

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Folkways Archives

  • Festival Recordings: Castle Stage: Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys

  • Festival Footage: Working at the Smithsonian: Narrative Stage: Conceptualizing an Exhibit

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with the Hamilton family

  • Festival Recordings: Carmichael Auditorium/American History: Bobby Parker; Mariachi Los Amigos

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Dr. Lynne Parenti (division of fishes, NMNH) by Robert Sayers

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Mitchell Jones

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Tom Evans

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Civic Center: Karl L. King Municipal Band; Scandinavian-American Dance

  • Lewis, Catherine (Fieldworker) 13 of 14 Robin Roseman (spinner); Dennis Roseman (musician)

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Interview in Action: Charles Handley

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Anita Buffaloe

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Wayne Rouse

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Women in a Man's World; Mystery of the Cast Iron Caskets

  • Festival Recordings: River Tales & Lines; Blues Workshop

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Felix Lapinski

  • Iowa 96 FAF – 5/9/96 – Music at the Iowa State Fair

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Conceptualizing Exhibit: Ipswich House; Geology: Gems & Minerals House

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Treme Brass Band; Warwick with Louisiana Hayride Band

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Rocky Korr (collections manager, Sackler Gallery); Interview with James Smith (collection manager, Freer Gallery) by Kennedy

  • Iowa 96 FAF – Cliff Weston (Fieldworker) – 1 of 7 – Louis McTizic

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Ife Ile; Treme Brass Band;

  • Festival Footage: Iowa Program: Foodways Stage: Amana Foods; Hmong Foods

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Donnice Cook; Interview with Jud and Gladys Richardson

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Civic Center: Polka Dance

  • Lewis, Catherine (Fieldworker) 7 of 14 – Jerry Edle (Chainsaw artist); Shana Greazel (4-H)

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

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Community Hall: Iowa Caucus; Bruce Brock; Psalms

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Charles Kreeb

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Bill Withuhn (NMAH) by Erin Roth tape 2

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

  • Audio Log Sheets

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Wade Stuart by Diana N'Diaye

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview of Denise Henry

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Lawrence and Helen Blunk, 2; The Snowbirds

  • The American South Fieldwork: "Buffalo Soldiers" Co-writer: Margaret Lewis (AKA Maggie Warwick, Margaret Lewis Warwick)

  • Iowa 96 FAF – James Skurdall – 1 of 13 – Decorah, IA – Obert & Virginia Saguitne

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Eddie Pennington; Treme Brass Band

  • FP-1996-CT-0751: Iiowa 96 FAF – 11/3/95 – Erin Roth (Fieldworker) – 24 of 27 – Centerville, IA – Mary Thomas

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: African-American Gospel; Farm Talk

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Labor Institute: Interview with Tom Cale (Dial Corportation)

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Reuben Jackson

  • Festival Recordings: Dance/Evening Concert: Blues

  • Festival Recordings: Iowa Cafe: Family Music Making; Mexican Songs & Ballads; Fiddle Styles; Traditions of Speaking & Ca

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Marylou Vanderwel (singing group "Dutch Dozen") Orange City, Iowa by Nella Kennedy

  • Working at the Smithsonian: Interview with Joanna Scherer (Handbook of North American Indians, NMNH) by Robert Sayers tape 1

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Scientific Illustration; Musical Instruments, Community Traditions

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Judy Cooper

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Eddie Pennington; Ife Ile; Beausoleil

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Lucy Feely

  • Iowa 96 FAF – 9/8/95 – Ft. Madison, IA – Bobby Reid; R. Saltzman (RR, Farm, Rodeo)

  • Festival Recordings: South Music Stage: Eddie Pennington; Warwick with Louisiana Hayride Band

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Joe Madeira

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with Nyal Pierce

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Memories: Interviewee: Amy Kotkin

  • Iowa Fieldwork: Interview with John Putman

  • Working at the Smithsonian Fieldwork: Interview with Adolph Smith; Interview with Lawrence Chatman by James Deutsch

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Caring for the Collections; Cleaning, NASM; Oral History in Action

  • Festival Recordings: Smithsonian Narrative Stage: Applied Research; Folkways Archives

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