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Type:
Archival materials
Date:
June 30-July 8, 1973
Introduction:
The 1973 Festival saw the inauguration of a new theme presentation entitled "Working Americans". The presentation of working peoples' skills, crafts, and lore began in 1971 and continued in 1972 when the Union Workers programs featured ten member unions of the AFL-CIO. Working Americans differed from these earlier efforts in numerous ways, most substantially in the consideration of how working people serve human needs and how their skills and expressions have shaped a major national festival to celebrate the nation's 200th birthday.
Working Americans in 1973 featured "Workers Who Build Our Shelter", to be followed in future years by exploration of those workers who provide our food and other needs. Nine unions of the building and construction trades demonstrated their skills, complemented by a full musical program that presented various traditions enjoyed by urban and rural working people, from labor songs to urban blues and a Cajun band. On July 7 and 8, a gospel stage was dedicated to presentations of diverse traditions of African American sacred music. Narrative workshops on the Working Americans stage focused attention on the oral traditions of each of the building trades, as well as on the customs and practices that spanned several trades.
The Working Americans Program Coordinator was Shirley Askew, assisted by Denis Lachman. Major sponsors included the AFL-CIO, its Building and Construction Trades Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Participants:
Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers International Union
Thomas Murphy, President
Exhibit Chairman: Edward Royston
Ronald Bennett
James Chellemi
Michael Crowley
Ray Fischer
Thomas Fonte
Charles Poss
and other craftsmen
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association of the U.S. and Canada
Joseph T. Power, President
Exhibit Chairman: Gilbert Wolfe
Charles Breen
Harry W. Furr
Rufus Jones
Benson Marble
Archie Neal
Carl O. Peterson
B. Lynn Romesberg
Joseph Vittone
Gilbert Wolfe
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
William Sidell, President
Exhibit Chairmen: Charles L. Allen, James E. Tinkcom
Carpenters
Mill-cabinet makers
Millwrights
Apprentices
International Union of Operating Engineers
Hunter P. Wharton, President
Exhibit Chairmen: Delbert Allen, J. C. Turner
Charles Davidson
Charles Monroe
Ernest Motta
Donald Nolan
Charles Stover
and other craftsmen
International Union of Wood, Wire, and Metal Lathers
Kenneth M. Edwards, General President
Exhibit Chairman: G. C. Carter
J. V. Briguglio
Anthony Byrd
Robert Chatman
Frank Eastman
Tom Evans
Rick L. Talglador
Laborers' International Union of North America
Peter Fosco, President
Exhibit Chairmen:
Ben Bostic (Laborers' Joint Training Fund of Washington, D.C. and Vicinity)
Jack Wilkinson
Participants: Laborers District Council
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Charles H. Pillard, President
Exhibit Chairman: Thomas B. Noone
Clinton L. Bearor
Edmund Berry
Harry W. Creamer
William J. Creamer
Robert Crosby
Joseph Dollarton
Jack R. Donahue
Lawrence C. Hogan
Ralph H. Kemp
Richard L. Martin
Daniel J. McQuaid, Jr.
Frederick M. Noone
Thomas B. Noone
Francis J. O'Neill
Paul Parker
Wade H. Sheriff
Walter E. Shoemaker, Jr.
Paul J. Webb
Robert Wines
Sheet Metal Workers International Association
Edward J. Carlough, President
Exhibit Chairmen: James A. Bettis, Bernie McMonigle,
William I. Stewart
Raymond F. Cook
Thomas E. Fitzgerald
Herb Griffith
Francis Hines
Mark Rosenbaum
Frank Santora
William I. Stewart
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada
Martin J. Ward, President
Exhibit Chairmen: Joseph Corcoran, George Bliss, Samuel Armstrong, Frank Blanch, Marion E. Moore, James Sullivan
Alexander B. Bell
Denvert Boney
Zigmund Charney
Timothy Christian
Mike Richards
Bernard Thornberg
Department of Labor
Peter J. Brennan, Secretary
Log Cabin Exhibit:
Claude and Billy Phillips, Berryville, Arkansas
Tipi painting:
Kevin Red Star, Crow Agency, Montana
Tipi maker:
Tom Heavy Runner, Browning, Montana
American Federation of Musicians
Hal C. Davis, President
in cooperation with
The Music Performance Trust Funds
Kenneth E. Raine, Trustee
and
Department of Labor
(Funding performances on the Working Americans, Gospel and Memorial stages)
Working Americans' Concerts and Workshops
Discussion leaders:
Jimmy Dawkins, 1936-2013
Archie Green
Walter E. Kennedy, III
John R. McKenzie
Ralph Metcalfe, Jr.
Performers:
Coates Singers, gospel group, Washington, D.C.
Cosmopolitan Singers, gospel group, Washington, D.C.
Jimmy Dawkins (1936-2013) Band with Carey Bell (1936-2007), Big Mojo Elem (1928-1997), Clifton James (1936-2006), Willie James Lyons (1938-1980), blues band, Chicago, Illinois
Lefty Dizz (1937-1993) Band with Bill Warren, Bob Simmons, blues band, Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, 1899-1993, gospel songwriter, Chicago, Illinois
Eastern High School Gospel Choir, gospel choir, Washington, D.C.
John Edmonds Gospel Truth, gospel group, Bowling Green, Kentucky
John Estes, 1899-1977, with Hammie Nixon, 1908-1984, Memphis bluesman, Brownsville, Tennessee
Ed Gerald Sounds, gospel group, Washington, D.C.
Gospel Music Workshop of America, gospel group, Washington, D.C.
Institutional Church of God in Christ, gospel choir, New York, New York
Cousin Joe, 1907-1989, blues pianist New Orleans, Louisiana
National Gospel Symposium Ensemble, gospel choir, Washington, D.C.
New York Community Choir, gospel choir, New York, New York
Utah Phillips, 1935-2008, labor singer, Saratoga Springs, New York
Austin Pitre, 1918-1981, Cajun band, Eunice, Louisiana
Sara Jordan Powell, 1938-, gospel singer, Houston, Texas
Jim Ringer, 1936-1992, with Mary McCaslin, 1946-, & Jay Unger, 1946-, folk & country singer, Fresno, California
Houston Stackhouse, 1910-1980, Memphis bluesman, Memphis, Tennessee
Myrna Summers (1949-) & Singers, gospel group, Washington, D.C.
James Williams with Lefty Dizz Band, blues band, Chicago, Illinois
Collection 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.
Collection Rights:
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Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1973 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
