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Ingenuity and Tradition: The Common Wealth of Massachusetts

Catalog Data

Collection Creator:
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
Massachusetts, like the rest of the United States, is a complex place where old and new stand side by side on the landscape and where tradition and innovation combine in people's lives to make them whole. The ingenious combination of old and new is repeated throughout Massachusetts by people as varied as black blues musicians, Cambodian craftspeople, Finnish cranberry farmers, Portuguese fisherfolk and Chinese computer assemblers. In examining Massachusetts traditions for the Festival program, scholars found that change, no matter what its cause, challenged individuals and communities to find creative ways to maintain traditions. Like the great transformations that have shaped Massachusetts and the country as a whole, traditions can undergo change and emerge transformed but still recognizable. Puerto Rican singer Felix Luna of Lowell applied the traditional decima song form to new lyrics about the Challenger disaster. Gospel singer Napolean Stovell of Springfield directed his southern-born quartet to enunciate their words more clearly because the New England audiences like to understand what is being sung. Mario Picardo of Boston incorporated traditional Italian architectural features to make a bandstand but used plywood, foam, tin foil, and cardboard ravioli boxes to erect his towering confection on the streets of the North End as part of an annual saint's day feast, transplanted to the National Mall by a large contingent during the 1988 Festival. These individuals and their communities remolded traditions into usable form because these traditions add meaning to their lives. That's what folklife both in Massachusetts and in the modem world is all about, and what visitors could experience during the Festival of American Folklife. Betty Belanus was Curator of the Massachusetts program and Barbara Lau was Program Coordinator. Ingenuity and Tradition: the Common Wealth of Massachusetts was made possible by the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities.
Fieldworkers:
Michael Bell, Dillon Bustin, Louis Carreras, Stephen Cole, Kathleen Dunlay, Janice Gadaire, Heidi Gitelman, Nora Groce, Betty Hillmon, Ellen McHale, Stephen Matchak, Linda Morley, Mario Montaño, Kathy Neustadt, Pioneer Valley Folklore Society, Refugee Arts Group, Mary Jo Sanna, Pam Swing, Joe Thomas, Robert Weir
Presenters:
Dillon Bustin, Louis Carreras, Rena Deth, Janice Gadaire, Rayna Green, Betty Hillmon, Sue Manos, Steve Matchak, Elizabeth Mathias, Ellen McHale, Linda Morley, Mario Montaño, Kathy Neustadt, Jessie Payne, Mary Jo Sanna, Joe Sciorra, Nancy Sweezy, Pam Swing, Annette Thornton, Eleanor Wachs
Participants:
Crafts Karolina Danek, Polish iconographer, Worcester Bienvenida Figueroa Negron, Puerto Rican needle worker, Lowell Ann Horkan, Irish needle worker, Watertown Susan lind-Sinanian, needle worker, dancer, Watertown Tim Sao, Cambodian kite maker, Lowell Ruth Thomasian, Armenian photograph collector and historian, Watertown Sourn Veuk, Cambodian kite maker helper, Lowell Gladys 'Wild Cranberry" Widdiss, 1914-, Aquinnah Wampanoag Indian potter and bead worker, Gay Head Urban Ethnic Gardens Julia Gelowtsky, 1913-1999, Polish gardener, cook, East Cambridge Stephanie Gelowtsky Falzone, Polish gardener, cook, Glen Burnie, Maryland Marcessia Gelowtsky, Polish gardener, cook, East Cambridge Bertha McCrary, 1905-1999, Afro-American gardener, cook, Boston Frank Mirisola, 1929-, Italian gardener, winemaker East Weymouth Irene Mirisola, Italian gardener, cook, East Weymouth James Mirisola, 1963-, Italian gardener, cook, East Weymouth Lurdes Rodrigues, cook, Medford Manuel Rodrigues, Portuguese gardener, cook, Medford Basilio Sousa, Portuguese gardener, North Dartmouth Ligia Sousa, Portuguese gardener, cook, North Dartmouth Industrial Crafts Louis Charpentier, 1910-, woodcarver, Leominster Donato DiBona, clockmaker, Chelsea Robert DiGiacomo, 1934-, glass blower, Chelmsford Peter Erickson, 1951-, silversmith, Gardner Archie Nahman, 1938-, machinist, menorah maker, Greenfield Paul Piquette, 1954-, metal engraver, Feeding Hills Anne Zaccari, hand-bordered stationery, Pittsfield Bocce Richard Barzottini, Pittsfield Anthony Saltamartini, 1935-1999, North Adams Clambake Julie Ford Brown, 1963-, herb farmer, South Dartmouth Priscilla Davoll, 1929, cook, South Dartmouth Raymond Davoll, clambake rake-out, South Dartmouth Burney Gifford, herb farmer, South Dartmouth Cathi Gonet, clambake food preparation, South Dartmouth Peter Gonet, bake master, South Dartmouth Marjorie Macomber, 1914-2008, cook, Acushnet Ralph Macomber, 1914-2004, clambake rake-out, Acushnet Wilfred Morrison, 1915-2006, general store proprietor, Dartmouth Foodways Anahid Kazazian, cook, needle worker, Lexington Albina Martin, 1918-, Acadian cook, Gardner Stone Wall Building David Gilson, Groton Maritime Al Doucette, scrimshaw carver, New Bedford David Francis, 1949-, fisherman, lobster cook, Wellfleet Frank B. James, 1923-2001, scrimshaw carver, Brewster, Aquinnah Wampanoag Lynne Multer, scrimshaw carver, Brewster Dan Oldale, boat builder, North Falmouth Steve Smith, boat builder, South Dartmouth Steve Sperry, sailmaker, Marion Carl M. Widdiss, scallop fisherman, Gay Head, Aquinnah Wampanoag Charles York, boat builder, South Dartmouth Agriculture Fair Area Grace Andruk, cranberry cook and screener, Bridgewater Dorothy Angley, cranberry cook and screener, Carver Josephine Burnett, 1932-, maple sugar producer, Conway Willis Burnett, maple sugar producer, Conway Kyle Clark, oxen raiser, logger, Heath William Clark, 1942-, oxen raiser, logger, Heath Lawrence Cole, 1916-2004, cranberry grower, North Carver Daniel Fleuriel, tobacco farmer, Buckland Preston Horton, maple sugar producer, Cummington Melvin Longley, 1920-1997, ox yoke maker, Shirley Alan Sanderson, Jr., tobacco farmer, Whately Francis Wells, maple sugar producer, Cummington Music Portuguese Fado Fernando Barreto, guitarist for fado singers, New Bedford Alice Lebre, fado singer, Fall River Antonio Lebre, 1920-, fado singer, Fall River Sasha Lima, fado singer, Tiverton, Rhode Island Sergio Lima, fado singer, Tiverton, Rhode Island Manuel Antonio Ramos, guitarist for fado singers, Fall River Natalia Ritchie, 1954-, fado singer, Tiverton, Rhode Island Fiddlers Edmond Boudreau, guitarist for Acadian fiddler, Waltham John Campbell, 1929-, Cape Breton fiddle player, Watertown Seamus Connolly, Irish fiddle player, Watertown Julie Horkan, Irish step-dancer, Watertown Helen Kisiel, pianist for Irish fiddle player, Watertown Mary Jesse MacDonald, pianist for Cape Breton fiddler, Watertown Gerald Robichaud, Acadian fiddle player, Waltham Bay State IV, -- Polish polka band -- Bay State IV, Polish polka bandJanice Bajgier, 1949-, polka instructor, South DeerfieldBill Belina, EasthamptonJack Libera, 1955-, trumpet, clarinet, keyboard player, OxfordJohn Libera, 1919-2007, polka instructor, historian, SouthbridgeJim Motyka, PalmerGary Ogulewicz, Westfield Oscar Lugo Y Su Conjunto Jibaro, -- Puerto Rican -- jibaro -- -- Oscar Lugo Y Su Conjunto Jibaro, Puerto Rican jibaroMiguel Almestica, 1953-, Caribbean musician and cook, WorcesterAngel Figueroa, jibaro musician, HolyokeRamon Lopes, jibaro musician, HolyokeElvin Lugo, jibaro musician, SouthbridgeOscar Lugo, 1942-, jibaro musician, SouthbridgeJose Luna, decima singer and cook, LowellAntonio Peres, jibaro musician, HolyokeDavid Rodrigues, jibaro musician, Holyoke Silas Hubbard Jr. & The Hot Ribs, -- Blues and Jazz -- Silas Hubbard Jr. & The Hot Ribs, Blues and JazzSilas Hubbard Jr., harmonica player, blues singer, BostonThomas McMullen, guitar player, CambridgeCharles Robinson, drummer, CambridgeEd Williams, bass player, Quincy Toi Grace & the Verdatones, -- Cape Verdean Jean Andrade, New Bedford Charlie Gomes, Providence, Rhode Island Antone Grace, New Bedford Frank Penha, New Bedford Fred Silva, New Bedford Artie Barsamian Orchestra, -- Armenian -- Artie Barsamian Orchestra, ArmenianArtie Barsamian, clarinet player, LexingtonVuddy Barsamian, AshlandEdward Meligian, LexingtonEdwaro Melikian, WorcesterSharkis Sarkisian, Natick The Motivators, -- Afro-American gospel -- The Motivators, Afro-American gospelDavid Bass, SpringfieldGary Bass, SpringfieldJesse Lee Burgess, SpringfieldRev. Robert Leon Winston, SpringfieldJames Edward Milner, SpringfieldJohn Winberly, SpringfieldShowndu Winberly, Springfield The Contemporary Greek Ensemble, -- Greek -- The Contemporary Greek Ensemble, GreekJohn Bogis, guitar player, BostonGary Gianoukow, bouzouki player, ArlingtonKlotsonis Satirios, bajlama player, ArlingtonKosmas Vrouvlianis, bouzouki player, Newton Krom Phleang Propeini Prasat Bayon, -- Cambodian -- Krom Phleang Propeini Prasat Bayon, CambodianChann Nhak, takhe player, LowellChorb Chan, tro so player, LowellHong Kla, khim player, LowellCheap Sophal, vocalist, LowellSouen Tim, vocalist and tro ou player, LowellPha Vith, skor player, LowellSorn Veuk, skor player, Lowell Saints Day Celebration Cosmas and Damian Society -- Cosmas and Damian SocietyStephen BertonciniCharles DeFrancecsoMarie DiDomenico, co-coordinator, Cosmas and Damian SocietySal DiDomenico, co-coordinator, Cosmas and Damian SocietySalvatore N. DiDomenicoRoland FarinatoAnthony LecceseSalvatore NardellaJoseph NardellaMike NocoloroSalvatore RealeCharles Reale Filarmónica Santo Antonio -- Filarmónica Santo AntonioDavide Alamo, alto saxophone playerAlvaro Amaral, trombone playerOtilia Amaral, flag girlLuis Arruda, trombone playerAlexandre Bicalho, trumpet playerDinarte Botelho, clarinet playerJoao CardosoEddie Carvalho, trumpet playerJulio Carvalho, trumpet playerCristina Costa, flag girlDavide M. Costa, baritone horn playerJoao Pedro DaPonte, conductorManuel G. DaSilva, baritone horn playerManuel Da Silva, alto horn playerFernando Doo, alto horn playerElizabeth Fagundes, flag girlJose A Fagundes, trumpet playerJohn Feitor, trumpet playerJohn C. Feitor, president, general assemblyLuis GarciaFrancisco Jorge Gil, band presidentCarlos JacomeGabriel Madeiros, alto saxaphone playerAntonio C. Marques, clarinet playerMoises Moreira, clarinet playerJose Pacheco, tuba playerAntonio J. Pacheco, percussionistCarlos A Pascoal, baritone sax playerCarlos Pascoal Jr., alto horn playerJose M. Pinheiro, trombone playerJoseph Ramos, percussionistAntonio Ramos, percussionistMario Raposo, E flat clarinet playerJudith Hothan Riley, trombone playerManuel Rodrigues, tuba playerManuel S. Ramos, percussionistArmando Santos, clarinet playerPaulo Santos, baritone clarinet playerManuel SantosFrancisco M. Soares, alto saxophone playerWalter Silva, alto saxophone playerLuis SimaoAna Sousa, flag girlIvone Sousa, flag girlJoseph SousaRui Sousa, clarinet playerJoao SousaJoe SousaJose M. Tavares, trumpet playerJoao Tavares, clarinet playerPaulo J. Tavares, baritone horn playerManuel Tavares, percussionistWilliam Vasconcelos North End Italian Band -- North End Italian BandEddie Aloisi, clarinet playerSidney Bomari, trombone playerLeo Brandenburg, clarinet playerMurray Burnstine, clarinet playerHoward Caster, percussionistElaine Corrieri Ziegner, trumpet playerTony DiCiccio, clarinet playerFelix Dicienzo, clarinet playerDavid Dunton, clarinet playerGuy Giarraffa, conductorRickie Gimmelli, percussionistJohn Gimmelli, baritone horn playerNunzio Innocenzo, trumpet playerHeidi Larisch, alto sax playerGuy Laudato, percussionistJoseph Mauro, percussionistCosmo Nardella, French horn playerSammy Pinella, percussionistSalvatore Pugliesi, trumpet playerIrving Shine, trombone playerLyle Shubert, baritone horn playerArthur Spellman, percussionistNeal Sugarman, tenor sax playerChris Teixeira, trumpet playerRobert Vanaria, tenorWilliam Voight, sousaphone player Saint Anthony's Society -- Saint Anthony's SocietyJoseph AuferoCharles ChicarelloJoseph ColarussoFrank ContradoAnthony DeStefanoPaul DeGregorioGerry DiPrizio, president, Saint Anthony's SocietyPeter Grieco, co, chairman, Feast of Saint AnthonyPhil Pennacchio, Sr.Richard RagoRobert RagucciJames RyanCarl Salvi, co-chairman, Feast of Saint AnthonyRalph StatutoJohn TaminineGeno Testa The Society of the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca -- The Society of the Madonna del Soccorso di SciaccaRichard BeilskiRaymond BonoPeter BrunoAndrew CardinaleVincent CiullaSal DeicidueJames Geany, chairman, Madonna del Soccorso FeastRay Geany, president, Madonna del Soccorso SocietyGus GraffeoJoseph GraffeoJoe GuarinoRaymond GuarinoRichard GuarinoLonnie LangoneMarc LetiziaJames LicataJames MarinoEdward MarinoAnthony PrimoAnthony PrimoJohn PrimoJames PrimoGus PrimoFrank Sclafani
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:
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.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
CFCH.SFF.1988, Series 4
See more items in:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1988 Festival of American Folklife
Archival Repository:
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk564623e30-d4a6-4381-9f47-11bf43a34881
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-cfch-sff-1988-ref33