106.32 Cubic feet (87.5 cubic feet of papers, 18.82 cubic feet of audio)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Field recordings
Correspondence
Phonograph records
Notes
Business records
Audiocassettes
Photographic prints
Black-and-white negatives
Audiotapes
Date:
1890-2011
bulk 1950-1994
Summary:
This collection, with bulk dates from 1950-1994, documents the life of Ralph Rinzler and his professional activities as Director of Field Programs for the Newport Folk Festival, Director of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (formerly the Festival of American Folklife) and the Office of Folklife Programs (now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage), and the Smithsonian Institution's Assistant Secretary for Public Service. Includes personal papers, business records, correspondence, notes, photographs, audiotapes and field recordings.
Scope and Contents:
The Ralph Rinzler Papers and Audio Recordings encompasses a wide range of materials from Rinzler's prolific personal and professional life. Predominantly consisting of clippings, collected texts, correspondence, meeting notes, photographs, and production materials, this collection charts Rinzler's role in the mid-twentieth century emergence of community-based and institutional efforts to preserve, sustain, and amplify cultural heritage. As an assemblage of materials from all aspects of his life, the Ralph Rinzler Papers also reflect the many integral relationships he developed throughout the years with his colleagues, contemporaries, family, and friends.
Arrangement note:
The collection is currently arranged in 9 archival series as follows:
1. Biographical
2. Collected Texts
3. Correspondence
4. Events
5. Fieldwork
6. Meetings and Organizations
7. Notable Figures
8. Publishing and Production
9. Audio
The papers and photographs contained in the first 8 series are processed at an intermediate level, which means that all material was rehoused in archival folders, with folder-level arrangements and descriptions. Individual items within folders may not be fully arranged or described, due to the collection's level of complexity when it was deposited in the Archives.
When possible, folders were arranged alphabetically within series and subseries.
Biographical/Historical note:
Ralph Rinzler (1934-1994) was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and was interested in music at an early age. He was given a collection of ethnographic recordings from the Archive of Folk Song of the Library of Congress by his uncle, Harvard University ballad scholar George Lyman Kittredge, and they soon became his favorites. He became actively involved in the Folk Revival while attending Swarthmore College, organizing an annual festival on campus. He received his B.A. in 1956, and did graduate work at Middlebury College and the Sorbonne in French literature and language. Upon his return to the United States, he played mandolin for four years with the Greenbriar Boys, at times touring with singer Joan Baez. During the 1960s, he also studied, recorded, and worked with performers of traditional music, such as Doc Watson and Bill Monroe, both of whom gained international recognition in part through his efforts. In 1964, Rinzler accepted the position of Director of Field Programs at the Newport Folk Foundation, which involved the planning and programming of the Newport Folk Festival.
Rinzler came to the Smithsonian in 1967 as co-founder of the Festival of American Folklife (now the Smithsonian Folklife Festival) with James Morris in what was then the Smithsonian's Division of Performing Arts. After the 1976 Bicentennial Festival, Rinzler became the founding director of the Office of Folklife Programs (now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage) to establish a center for research, publication, and presentation of programs in American culture and tradition. As Director, he initiated Smithsonian Folklife Studies, a publication series, and did research for the Celebration exhibit, which opened at the Renwick Gallery in 1982. Rinzler was appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Service in 1983 and Assistant Secretary Emeritus in 1990. Ralph Rinzler died on July 2, 1994.
Shared Stewardship:
Making this collection accessible to the public is an ongoing process, tethered to the living people and cultures its materials represent. 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.
To view the Center's full shared stewardship statement, please visit https://folklife.si.edu/archives#shared-stewardship.
Provenance:
The materials in this collection were deposited into the archives of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage over a number of years by Ralph Rinzler, Kate Rinzler, and Jeff Place in honor of the aforementioned. From the 1980s until Ralph Rinzler's passing in 1994, the Center received the majority of the audio tapes and photographs in this collection directly from Rinzler. With Rinzler's death in 1994, Jeff Place reviewed and deposited the majority of Rinzler's papers at the Center.
Until her passing in 2011, Kate Rinzler donated materials to this collection, with more continuing to arrive via her estate (as of May 2021). Many of these items were rehoused in the Kate Rinzler Papers.
Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
File consists of newsletters from D.C. Auto Club Council and Cadillac-LaSalle Club and correspondence regarding car repair. Correspondents include: Ralph Rinzler, Kenneth Lackie, Steven E. Sisson, Bill O'Day.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence with Richard Derbyshire regarding archival footage. Correspondence references Happy Traum, Doc Watson, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger, Bill Monroe.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of black and white photographs and negatives. File includes: Renfro Valley barn dance crew on the stage of barn, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, Molly O'Day or Lynn Davis [?], Deford Bailey (holding a harmonica), Mazy Todd and Fred Haley.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence, envelopes, Goya Guitars folk festival brochure, Disc Collector order form, Oscar Brand clipping, insurance claim. Correspondents include: Robert Ganshaw, David Keefer, John Katz, Merrick Jarrett, Ed Kahn, John W. Griffin letter to the editor of Atlanta Journal and Constitution regarding Foggy Mountain Boys, W.E. Moeller to Bill Baiotto. File includes letter from Lisa Feldman with musical notation and lyrics for "The Haunted Falls". Materials reference the Greenbriar Boys.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence, Vanguard royalties bill, memorandum. Correspondents include: Henry Willet, Dick Lytle, Alan Bain, Michael W. Harris, Richard Derbyshire, Jo, S. Dillon Ripley, Phillip S. Huges. Correspondence references Rinzler trips to study Korean pottery (Ongi), to record Wilmot MacDonald, African Diaspora tape duplication, harpist Dewey Williams. File also includes memorandum to Peggy Loar regarding Southeastern Potteries exhibit and letter from Maraget C. Hird to Senator Bill Bradley regarding event at Smithville Mansion.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of business correspondence from 1992, memoranda regarding robbery in Louisiana. Correspondence references: Peggy Seeger, Bill Monroe, Tony Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Nancy Sweezy, Richard Kurin, Jim Stanton.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence with Neil V. Rosenberg. Correspondence references Grandpa Jones, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Roger Abrahams. Correspondence includes well wishing during Ralph's illness.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence with Sandy Rothman regarding Bill Monroe.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence with Maynard Solomon regarding Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, music of Nashville and the delta.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence, programs, publicity photo, essay by Ralph Stanley edited by John Wright, issue of Clinch Mountain Echoes with original photos addressed to Bill Monroe, interview transcript, press release, handwritten notes. Correspondents include: Ralph Stanley, Ralph Rinzler.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of letter with clipping on the furniture of Wenzel Friedrich and letter with attached note from Bill Day (William Farr Day), maker of songbows. Correspondents include: Ralph Rinzler, Constance Stapleton.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence with Mark Stryker regarding article on Bill Monroe.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence and statement received cards. Correspondents include: Robert Cantwell, Ralph Rinzler, Sarah Lewis, James Mathias, Ernest Frerichs, Laura Durand, Bill [last name not included]. Some letters relate to fellowship, grant and award applications, other letters are of a personal nature.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence and handwritten notes on a poster. Correspondents include: Bill Clifton, Ralph Rinzler, SL [initials only].
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence, clippings, obituaries, film synopsis, press release, programs, fliers. Correspondents include: Ralph Rinzler, Harold Wallace, Eddie Davis III, Helen Laughery, Ilene Landis, Carey Williams on behalf of Taj Mahal, Bill Haber on behalf of Cicely Tyson, Michael (Mike) Seeger, Jerry Garcia. Correspondence relates to awards and honors for Cotten, Cotten's death, biographical film, memorial concert. File includes photograph of portrait of Cotten and letter from the artist Brian O'Toole Makepeace. File also includes correspondence regarding work placement on behalf of Brenda Fennell, granddaugther of Cotten, and Fennell's resume.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
This series consists of textual records and photographs associated with Ralph Rinzler's personal life, from childhood through adulthood. The files are arranged in six subseries groups as follows:
1. General Biographical
2. Greenbriar Boys
3. Naushon
4. Personal Administrative
5. Photos
6. Posthumous
General Biographical includes certificates, collected texts, notes, and yearbooks from throughout Ralph Rinzler's life, most notably his years in high school and college.
Greenbriar Boys includes clippings, fliers, publications, biographies, programs, and press releases from Ralph Rinzler's time in the band. Materials in this subseries cover prominent figures and venues, such as Joan Baez, Bill Monroe, Grand Ole Opry, Earl Scruggs, and Lester Flatt.
Naushon includes correspondence, maps, photographs, and reports related to the Cape Cod island which Kate and Ralph Rinzler frequented. Naushon Island is owned by the Forbes Family, of which Kate Rinzler is a descendant.
Personal Administrative includes Ralph Rinzler's contact books, correspondence, financial records, legal documents, notebooks, and property deeds.
Photos includes black-and-white [B&W] and color prints, spanning Ralph Rinzler's life from childhood to his later years. Processing is ongoing for this sub-series and its arrangement may change over time.
Posthumous includes correspondence, drafted manuscripts, interview transcripts, photographs, and release forms relating to events and works celebrating Ralph Rinzler. Notable materials include documents from the creation of Ralph Rinzler's unpublished biography.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of correspondence, fliers, income tax form, receipts, handwritten notes, itinerary, order forms, financial statement, brochures, clippings. Correspondents include: Roy Guest, Peter Rowan, Ralph Rinzler, Ken Wollard, Belle Dow, Mary Vernon, Mike and Reina Sutcliffe, Karl Dallas. Materials reference Doc Watson, Clarence (Tom) Ashley, Bill Monroe. A number of materials relate to Doc Watson and Ralph Rinzler on tour in England.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
File consists of holiday card and letters. Correspondents include: Adam, Amar Inam, Barb, Betsy Tyrie, Betty and group, Bill Pollak, Charlotte, Joe and Caroline, Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Dabney Crosby, Dinny, Dung Dinh Khue, Eloise and group, Erwin and Viola Householder, Essie Ward, Gary and Annie Marie Floyd, Gustavo Paredes, Helen and J. D. Kim, Mrs. H Kennedy, Hunny [sp?] Sweezy, Jeanne, Linda DuBio, Lisa Taylor, Marjorie, Mark and Shelly Treece, Mary, Mike Scott, Mohamed Ghoneim Salem, Mumtaz Akbar, Mr. and Mrs. N.K. Chauhan, Ned and Jessica Duncan, Pierre and Caroline de Cabarrus, Rodger I. Eddy, Victoria and Aidan. File includes one unnamed card.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
