Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
The first week of the 1975 Regional America program focused on the people of the Northern Plains (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas), particularly on the occupational life-styles related to agriculture and livestock. This is the region that is called the "breadbasket" and the economy of the area is based on grain crops, feed crops, and livestock production. The Smithsonian represented the agriculture of the area by growing on the Festival site wheat (the principal grain crop), alfalfa (a principal feed crop), and some typical plains grasses as well as sorghum and sunflowers. Livestock grazed on the National Mall and were used in demonstrations of herding techniques. Visitors saw varieties of threshing from individual manual techniques to modern mechanical combines. A daily tractor pull contest demonstrated not only the skills of the farmers in operating equipment, but also the pride they take in the power of their own carefully maintained machinery.
Craft presentations included associated occupational and domestic crafts. For example, livestock-related crafts such as those involved with maintenance, auctioneering, leatherworking, blacksmithing, wagon making and repair, and metal working were highlighted, as well as key occupational skills related to livestock include horse handling, sheep shearing, and ropework. Functional but decorative domestic crafts were also demonstrated: piece quilts, braided and rag rugs, corn husk and rag dolls, toys carved from chips, noisemakers, whimmy diddles.
Festival visitors could see and participate in a variety of folk dancing by different ethnic groups who settled in the Plains: Germans, Scandinavians, Ukrainians and Czechs. Northern Plains music is characteristically performed on instruments practiced in isolation such as the fiddle.These are usually played solo, but at the Festival they were also performed in combination.
The character of the California Heartland region (second week of the Festival) is expressed by its flamboyant image, diverse landscape, and - of utmost importance - a 'Mediterranean' climate that makes outdoor living possible. It is also an area rich in ethnic communities, and many of these were featured at the 1975 Festival.
Mexican American muralists from East Los Angeles completed a mural depicting their contribution to the Festival. Paper flower making and piñata making were demonstrated and taught to visitors, as were masa grinding and tortilla and tamale making. Chinese Americans from the San Francisco area performed a shadow puppet play twice daily. Various crafts including kite-making and the construction of paper ribbon fish welcomed audience participation. Three traditional games (an early form of yoyo, shuttlecock and cat's cradle) were demonstrated and taught.
Portuguese American fisherfolk demonstrated boat building as well as net and lure making accompanied by traditional sea chanteys. A highlight of the Portuguese community is the "Festa da Espiritu Santu", a celebration involving a parade of decorated cows, ceremonial milking, a milk and bread feast and a traditional contest between solo singers who improvise verses, enacted on the Festival site from July 2 to 4.
Unique to San Francisco is the tradition of cable car bell ringing. Cable car gripmen announced each session at the main California stage and dance floor, and competed for the bell ringing championship. A Greek father and son demonstrated traditional woven straw beehive construction and discussed bee-keeping and the agricultural use of bees. California Armenians wove rugs and spun wool.
The joys of sociable dancing were shared by square dances, Portuguese chamaritas, Phillippine tinakling and an evening of waltzes. There were also examples of solo singing by Portuguese, Anglo, French, and black singers and group singing by Molokans, Anglos, Chicanos and blacks.
Administrator for the Regional America program was William K. McNeil, with Charles Camp as Research Coordinator; Rayna Green served as Consultant.
Fieldworkers:
Northern Plains Researchers
Metha Bercier, John Carter, Carey Cook, Larry Danielson, Sister Stephanie Dolyniuk, Karen Heinzman, Lynn Ireland, Constance Kane, Jens Lund, Janet McDonnell, Gina Newbold, Douglas Parks, Marjorie Sackett, Earl Sampson, Darrel Sawyer, Dorothy Shonsey, Scott Sorensen, Kenneth Stewart, Sherry Stoskopf, Robert Thompson, Robert Webb
California Research Staff
Coordinator: Bess Lomax Hawes; Assistant Coordinator: Barbara LaPan Rahm; Researchers: Justin Bishop, Joyce P. Bynum, Nicola Marguerite Deval, Nicholas Hawes, Michael Korn, Marilyn Salvador, Daniel Sheehy; Advisors: Stephen P. and Ethel Dunn (Molokan presentation), Elaine Miller (Mexican American presentation), Joanne B. Purcell (Portuguese presentation)
Participants:
Northern Plains
Margaret Anderson, 1900-2002, singer, cook, Scandia, Kansas
August Anheluk, 1917-2001, musician
Leslie Anheluk, dancer
James Baker, dancer
Emerson Baker, singer
Norman Baker, singer
Wade Baker, dancer
Donna Baranko, dancer
Ann Basaraba, singer
Roy Basaraba, singer
Lydia Bears Tail, bead worker, cook & dancer
Saunders Bears Tail, 1934-1998, dancer
Linnea B. Briggs, 1893-1990, bobbin lace maker, Windom, Kansas
Connie Burian, dancer
Laudie Burian, 1915-2001, musician
Lewis Calwell, 1895-1978, horse trainer, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Alvin Campbell, 1921-, fiddler, Omaha, Nebraska
Marlys Ciscar, singer
George Crow Flies High, agricultural implement maker, dancer
Dan Dasovich, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
Danny Dasovich, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
George Dasovich, 1942-, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
Peter Drakulich, 1926-1998, musician
Frances Driver, Jr., dancer
Harold C. Edwards, 1927-1992, sheep shearer, Edgemont, South Dakota
Jeanette Evoniuk, 1923-2005, dancer
Johnnie Evoniuk, dancer
Laurence Evoniuk, singer
Matt Evoniuk, dancer
Matt Evoniuk, Jr., dancer
Pearl Evoniuk, dancer
Celia Fliginger, 1907-2003, cook, Freeman, South Dakota
Jarle Foss, 1894-1992, fiddler, Scotland, South Dakota
Dean Fox, dancer
George B. German, 1902-1991, singer
Hilda Goering, 1916-, quilter, Moundridge, Kansas
Aaron Goertzen, 1921-1987, mandolin player, Aurora, Nebraska
Dick Goertzen, mandolin player, Henderson, Nebraska
Jacob C. Goertzen, 1919-1992, mandolin player, Henderson, Nebraska
Delwayne Good Iron, 1943-2014, singer, war bonnet maker
Velda Graber, 1912-1984, soap, sauerkraut maker, Marion, South Dakota
Darrell Griffith, 1930-, horse handler, Faith, South Dakota
Rose Hand, cook, quilter
John Hanzek, 1919-1997, musician
Elmus Henderson, 1908-1979, saddle, harness maker, Kearney, Nebraska
Lyle Henderson, 1947-, saddle, harness maker, Kearney, Nebraska
Mabel Howling Wolf, 1907-1989, cook, quitter
Leslie Jeffery, cattle crew, Sturgis, South Dakota
Margie Jeffery, ranch cook, Sturgis, South Dakota
Mitchel Jeffery, 1951-, cattle crew, Sturgis, South Dakota
William Jeffery, Jr., cattle crew foreman, Sturgis, South Dakota
Betty Johnson, 1927-, rosemaler, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Edward Johnson, singer, musician
Esther Jorgensen, 1908-1998, cook, Viborg, South Dakota
ArvelIa Kenaston, 1934-, musician, Springview, Nebraska
Robert Kenaston, 1928-2013, musician, Springview, Nebraska
Roger Kenaston, 1954-, musician, Springview, Nebraska
Donna Kordon, dancer
Mary Ann Krush, singer
Kathleen Laible, 1929-1996, canner, Howard, South Dakota
Ann Larson, 1914-2003, cook, Aberdeen, South Dakota
Bill Larson, 1896-1990, fiddler, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Luella Loganbill, 1928-, quilter, Moundridge, Kansas
Glenn Lornev, tractor pull
Eugene Mack, dancer
George Mack, dancer
Joyce Mack, dancer
Verna Mack, dancer
Don Malnourie, 1939-2005, singer
Ben Makaruk, 1924-1999, singer
Marie Makaruk, singer
Bill Mastel, musician
Mack Medakovich, musician
Merle Messing, 1941-2007, tractor pull, Groton, South Dakota
Alex Morin, dancer, singer
Bill Nameniuk, musician
Debbie Painte, bead worker, shawl maker, dancer
Agnes Palaniuk, singer
Billy Palaniuk, dancer
Fred Penner, 1940-, musical saw player, Tyndall, South Dakota
D. Peter Plechas, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
Agnes Poitra, 1924-1999, dancer, Belcourt, North Dakota
Leon Poitra, 1922-2003, dancer, Belcourt, North Dakota
Harry Porter, 1902-1995, sheep shearer, Edgemont, South Dakota
Ken Putnam, 1955-, fiddler, Rapid City, South Dakota
Jean Roberts, 1932-, cornhusk doll maker, Axtell, Nebraska
Wayne Robinson, sausage maker
Alton Schlag, musician
James Schwab, musician
Larry Schwab, musician
Billy Marlene Short, cattle crew, Piedmont, South Dakota
Dennis Short, 1938-1984, cattle crew, Piedmont, South Dakota
Marlene Sitting Crow, cook, dancer
Murphy Sitting Crow, bustle maker, dancer
Johnny Smith, auctioneer
John E. Stratman, 1908-1989, agricultural spokesperson, Wilcox, Nebraska
Wilhelmine Thue, 1902-1989, cook, Howard, South Dakota
Joe Trottier, musician
Mary Wallette, dancer, cook
Earl Waltner, 1915-1979, blacksmith, Bridgewater, South Dakota
Douglas D. Weber, musician
Gene Weisbeck, musician
Donna Wilkie, dancer, cook
Edward Wilkie, dancer
Helen Wilkinson, quilter
Hugo Wuebben, 1910-1984, carver, Hartington, Nebraska
Alice Yellow Wolf, bead worker
Bert Yellow Wolf, 1939-1995, singer
Joe Zacharias, 1933-, accordion, Wagner, South Dakota
Marie Zaste, dancer, cook
California Heartland
Leslie Alamsha, dancer
Juan Alvarado, 1930-, -- pregonero -- , -- guitarrista -- , -- jaranero
Manuel Azevedo, caller, dancer, singer
Nora Bogdanoff, 1913-1981, Molokan singer
David Botello, muralist
Jane Botieff, Molokan singer
William J. Botieff, Molokan singer
Francisco Carrillo, -- guitarrista
Alfonso Chavez, charro
Kate Chernekoff, 1922-1999, Molokan singer
Peter Chernekoff, 1912-1988, Molokan singer
Jeoffrey Chiang, special Chinese consultant
Vivian Chiang, coordinator
Richard Ching, Chinese yo-yo, shuttlecock, cat's cradle
Dai T. Chung, musician, shadow player
Marilyn Cunningham Cleary, fiddler
Earl Collins, fiddler
Nemo Concepcion, yo-yo demonstrator
Danny Cruz, charro, Los Nietos, California
Jack Cunningham, fiddler
Van Cunningham, 1896-1984, fiddler, Bodfish, California
Antonio Garcia Da Rosa, mandolin player
Leonel Garcia Da Rosa, mandolin player
Al Figueroa, singer, guitarist, Blythe, California
Carmela Figueroa, singer
Alex A. Galkin, 1920-1976, Molokan singer
Juan Gandara, charro, vice president of La Alteña
Alicia Gonzalez, paper crafts, Los Angeles, California
Guadalupe D. Gonzalez, paper crafts, cook, Los Angeles, California
Jose Luis Gonzalez, muralist, Los Angeles, California
Rebecca Gonzalez, paper crafts, cook
Blanche Gonzalez, crafts, cook
Kenneth M. Hall, 1923-2013, mandolin player
Marta Louise Hall, musician assistant
Fermin Herrera, -- harpista
Jorge Herrera, -- jaranero
Maria Isabel Herrera, -- jaranera -- , -- requintera -- , dancer
Chi-mei Kao Hwang, Chinese craft assistant
Hubert Isaac, drummer
Rinold Isaac, dancer
Andrea Ja, shadow player
Robert Ernest Lee Jeffery, 1915-1976, blues pianist, San Diego, California
Kate Kalpakoff, Molokan singer
Craig Ernest Kodros, bee hive maker
George Harry Kodros, bee hive maker
Anna Koh, northern Chinese cook
David Koh, assistant northern Chinese cook
Jim A. Korneff, 1916-1994, singer
Julia Lazar, baker, spinner
Robert Lazar, dancer
Calvin E. Long, tinker, San Diego, California
Pauline Loo, Chinese craft assistant
Francisco Macias, charro
Eddie Martinez, muralist, Hacienda Heights, California
Heli Medeiros, 1921-2003, singer
Nellie Melosardoff, 1913-2007, Molokan singer
Anna Mendrin, Molokan singer
John Mendrin, 1923-1989, Molokan singer
Jonnie Kay Neavill, fiddler
David Page, uilleann bagpiper
Sara J. Patapoff, 1924-1993, Molokan singer
Jack Pavloff, 1919-2000, Molokan singers' director
Mary J. Pavloff, Molokan singer
Dolores Pequeño, singer
George M. Prohroff, 1937-2001, Molokan singer
Pamella Ramsing, shadow player
Rigoberto Rincon, charro, president of La Alteña
Victor Romero, -- guitarrista -- , -- vihuelo
Juanita Saludado, singer, Earlimart, California
Paul Saludado, singer, guitarist, Earlimart, California
Roy J. Samarin, 1920-1994, Molokan singer
Don Jesus Sanchez, 1910-1983, violinist, Los Angeles, California
Surma D'Mar Shimun, 1883-1975, dancer
Joel Silva, -- festa -- coordinator, dairyman
Jose V. Silva, tuna boat designer
Manuel Silva, -- guitarrista
Mary Silva, cook, flower maker
Julia Silveira, -- guitarrista
Rafael Furtado Simas, 1916-2006, violinist
Rosa Maria Simas, dancer, baker
João Soares, singer
Shirley Sun, presenter
Araks Talbert, baker, spinner
Anna Tarnoff, Molokan singer
Smith Tester, banjo player
Eugene Ung, assistant southern Chinese cook
Maizie Ung, kite making, paper folding, ribbon fish demonstration
Agostinho Valim, 1917-2000, singer
Laurindo Valim, dancer
Manuel Vasquez, 1935-, -- requintero
Moses A. Volkoff, 1892-1989, Molokan composer
Ossie White, guitarist, Lakewood, California
Roscoe White, 1923-2009, fiddler, Lakewood, California
Margaret L. Wong, southern Chinese cook
Judy Woo, assistant shadow player
Jesse Wright, singer
Jimmy Wright, singer, Fresno, California
Walter Wright, singer, Fresno, California
William Wright, 1914-1982, singer, Selma, California
Annie Zolnekoff, 1924-2010, Molokan singer
Paul Zolnekoff, 1919-2005, Molokan singer
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.
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Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.