This collection, which dates from 1926-1986, documents the output of Moses Asch through the various record labels he founded and co-founded, and includes some of his personal papers. The Asch collection includes published recordings, master tapes, outtakes, business records, correspondence, photographs, and film.
Scope and Contents:
The Moses and Frances Asch Collection measures 841 cubic feet and dates from 1926-1987, with some contemporary, relevant correspondence, clippings, and ephemera added after 1987.
Most of the collection consists of audio recordings (commercial 78 rpm and long-playing records, open reel tapes, acetate discs, and test pressings), correspondence with recording artists and producers, artwork, photographs, ephemera, clippings, record production materials, writings, and business papers relating to Folkways Records. Materials relating to Folkways Records can be found primarily in the Correspondence, Folkways Production, Business Records, Photographs, Artwork, Sound Recordings, and Film series.
The collection also contains some biographical materials and personal correspondence, including materials related to Asch's first business, Radio Laboratories, located in the Biographical Materials series. Correspondence, ephemera, photographs, record production materials, business papers, and recordings relating to Asch's record labels before Folkways Records (Asch Recordings, Disc Company of America, Cub Records) are located in the Early Label Materials series as well as the Audio Recordings and Photographs series.
Arrangement note:
The collection is arranged in 10 series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1942-1987
Series 2: Folkways Production, 1946-1987
Series 3: Business Records, 1940-1987
Series 4: Woody Guthrie papers, 1927-1985
Series 5: Early Label Materials, 1940-1949
Series 6: Biographical Materials, 1926-1987
Series 7: Photographs
Series 8: Artwork
Series 9: Audio Recordings
Series 10: Film
At this time, the collection is partially processed. Please contact rinzlerarchives@si.edu for more information.
Biographical/Historical note:
The son of Yiddish writer Sholem Asch, Moses Asch was born in Poland in 1905. His childhood was spent in Poland, France, Germany, and New York. While young, Asch developed an interest in radio electronics, which ultimately lead him to his life's work, recording the music and sounds of the world. He established several record labels in succession, sometimes partnering with other record companies. Two of his fist record companies, Asch Recordings and DISC Co. of America, went bankrupt. They were followed by his best-known label, Folkways Records, which was founded in 1948 with Marian Distler (1919-1964). He was still working on Folkways recordings when he died in 1986.
Folkways Records sought to document the entire world of sound. The 2,168 titles Asch released on Folkways include traditional and contemporary music from around the world, spoken word in many languages, and documentary recordings of individuals, communities, and current events. Asch's business practices revolved around the commitment to keep every recording issued by Folkways in print, despite low sales. Asch stayed afloat by cutting costs where he could (such as color printing) and offering a high-quality product, meticulously recorded and accompanied by extensive liner notes. In doing this, he could charge a slightly higher price than other commercial outfits. Despite a tenuous relationship with financial solvency, Folkways grew to be not only one of the most important independent record companies in the United States in the 20th century, but also one of the largest and most influential record companies in the world.
Moses Asch's record labels featured famous and lesser known American writers, poets, documentarians, ethnographers, and grass roots musicians on commercial recordings. American folk icon Woody Guthrie recorded on the Asch, Disc, and Folkways labels, and the Asch Collection includes some of his correspondence, lyrics, drawings, and writings. The collection also includes correspondence with other notable musicians and artists such as John Cage, Langston Hughes, Margaret Walker, Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter, Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Alan Lomax, Henry Cowell, and Kenneth Patchen. Also in the collection are ethnographic field notes and photographs by as well as correspondence with Béla Barók, Sidney Robertson Cowell, Harold Courlander, Helen Creighton, Laura Boulton, and Samuel Charters. Asch hired various prominent artists and graphic designers including David Stone Martin, Ben Shahn, John Carlis, and Ronald Clyne to create album cover art for his recordings. Much of the original art and designs for these covers can be found in the Asch Collection.
Asch's output of recordings on various labels, including published recordings, open reel master tapes, outtakes, and acetate disks, in addition to his business papers, correspondence, photographs, and other files were acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987. The collection came to the Smithsonian with the understanding that all 2168 titles under the Folkways label would be kept available in perpetuity.
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.
Provenance:
Ralph Rinzler arranged the Smithsonian's acquisition of the Moses and Frances Asch Collection in 1987, beginning with Asch before his death in 1986 and continuing with extensive discussions between Rinzler and the Asch family. Since its acquisition, archivist Jeff Place and others have added contemporary, relevant correspondence with Folkways artists and related individuals.
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.
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.
Dholak geet (3:42) --Mahiya (3:36) --Bhatiali (3:24) --Frontier melody (2:15) --Folk dance (4:05) --Kohiyari (4:43) --Dholak geet (3:54) --Tangtakore (4:04) --Pushtu love song (4:17) -- Bhawaiya (3:52) --Folk tune (2:15) --Khatak dance (2:07) -- Khatak dance (1:00).
Local Numbers:
Folkways.425; Folkways.4425
FLP.83275
RA-RAMS-LP-0489
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1951
General:
Includes program notes by John Gonella ; Harold Courlander, editor. Production notes: Recorded in Pakistan by Pakistan government circa 1951.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Vol. 1: His work: Hunting calls and animal cries (The Congo, Brazil, Hudson Bay); Cattle calls (the Philippines, Norway) -- Brush and timber clearing (Liberia, the Philippines); Lumbering (southern United States); Housebuilding (the Cameroons); Stonecutting (Japan) --Celebrating the new house (Honduras); Silversmithing (the Navajo); Spinning (Japan); Cloth-shrinking (the Hebrides) --Roadbuilding (Haiti); River transport (Equatorial Africa); Corn-grinding (Haiti) --
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-0379
FLP.40636
FLP.40636 ;.Folkways.731
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 195x
General:
Narrated by the author with dubbings of recorded folk music.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Gauri dance (Sorastra State) -- Dance with long horns (Kulu Valley) -- Siddia dance (Hyderabad) -- Tabla tarangi (Central India) -- Folk song (Goa) -- Marital song (Nepal) -- Folk dance (Sind State) -- Khatak dance (Northwest Frontier, Pathan) -- Classical song (Pakistan) -- Wedding song (Pakistan, Pushtu) -- Geet (Kashmir).
Local Numbers:
FW-COMM-LP-04447
Folkways.4447
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1957
Participant or Performer Note:
Sung and played by native musicians, principally in India and Pakistan.
General:
Commercial
Program notes by Harold Courlander and Henry Cowell (3 p.) inserted in slipcase.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Viva viva Portugal : Darling I am growing older --Goan folk song --Thai chorus : Maine stein song --Burmese medley : Hi ho hi ho --Indonesian rhumba --Japanese hit tune --Tahitian song : Little Joe the wrangler --Russian male chorus : There's a tavern in the town.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-3349
FLP.43606
FLP.43606 ;.Folkways.86/3
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1956
General:
Originally broadcast in 1954 on the radio program, NBC's Collector's Item.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Carnival is bacchanal -- Mary Anne -- Druscilla -- Cousin family -- Dorothy, one morning -- Nous allons dodo -- Trois fois trois -- Angelique oh -- Menage qui belle.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-4254
Folkways.810
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1950
General:
Program notes by Harold Courlander, with song texts and English translations ([4] p.) inserted. Performer(s): Various calypso groups including Lord Invader, Duke of Iron, Macbeth, and Felix and his Internationals ; Merengues performed by the Jazz Majestic Orchestra, Andre Charles, director. Production notes: Recorded in Haiti by H. Courlander.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Program notes by L.A. Verwilghen (4 p.)inserted in slipcase. Performer(s): Sung and played by native musicians. Production notes: Recorded in the Belgian Congo by Leo A. Verwilghen, in 1951.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Ingane Kamalume (Zulu, South Africa) -- Shayisa Inkasa (Zulu, South Africa) -- Music of boatmen (Badouma, French Equatorial Africa) -- Orin Muritala Alhaji (Yoruba, Nigeria) -- Bara Sanaba-Bara (Ibo, Nigeria) -- Traveling song (Sudan) -- Festival song (Sudan) -- Bina Adamu (Swahili, Zanzibar)
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-10RR-0340
General:
Music from Zulu, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Equatorial Africa, Zanzibar, Brazil, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Alabama and Mississippi.
Folkways 4500
CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Uncle Bouqui gets whee-ai -- Uncle Bouqui rents a horse -- Uncle Bouqui and Godfather Malice.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-10RR-0597
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1956
General:
FW07107 / FC 7107 - Augusta Baker, storytelling specialist in the New York Public Library system, reads three of the Haitian folktales/children's stories transcribed by Harold Courlander, including "Uncle Bouqui Gets Whee-Ai," "Uncle Bouqui Rents a Horse" and "Uncle Bouqui and Godfather Malice." - Tape 1 of 2
CDR copy; sound file exists in the DAMS system
by Harold Courlander ; read by Augusta Baker.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
FW07107 / FC 7107 - Augusta Baker, storytelling specialist in the New York Public Library system, reads three of the Haitian folktales/children's stories transcribed by Harold Courlander, including "Uncle Bouqui Goes Fishing," "Uncle Bouqui Rents a Horse," and "Uncle Bouqui Gets Whee-Ai." The story "Uncle Bouqui Goes Fishing" is replaced by "Uncle Bouqui and Godfather Malice" on the official Folkways release, and is not present on the album. - Tape 2 of 2
CDR copy; sound file exists in the DAMS system
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Hunting calls and animal cries, cattle calls--Bush and timber clearing, lumbering, housebuilding, stonecutting; Celebrating the new house, silversmithing, spinning, cloth shrinking; Roadbuilding, river transport, corn grinding
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-0610
General:
Folkways 7431
"NEW VERSION";- CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
CDR copy FW-ASCH-7RR-0848, of many spliced-together segments, contains sounds of heavy rain, sounds of the jungle, including tiger roars, etc. and sounds of the person working the recording equipment, etc., along a very brief excerpt of Harold Courlander reciting the opening words of a folk tale from Indonesia (about Kantchil, a clever mouse deer (chevrotain). The tape probably was intended for use in producing the Folkways record, "Folk Tales From Indonesia" (FW07102).
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
All stories are Anansi's/How Anansi got them --Anansi, the oldest of animals/How Anansi proved it --Nyame's well/Why the frog has no tail --Two feasts for Anansi/Why Anansi is very thin in the middle --Anansi plays dead/Why Anansi hides in dark corners --The porcupine's hoe/Why there are many hoes in Ashanti.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-0933
General:
Folkways 7710
w/fragment of letter CDR copy Harold Courlander reads excerpts from his The hat-shaking dance and other tales from the Gold Coast.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Uncle Bouqui gets whee-ai --Uncle Bouqui rents a horse -- Uncle Bouqui and Godfather Malice.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-0934
General:
Folkways 7107
by Harold Courlander ; read by Augusta Baker. CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Drumming--unknown--guitar--One More River to Cross- 5 unk.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-2669
General:
CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Oh my country -- Shepherd's flute -- Tcherawata solo -- I beg you, heart -- 'Mbilta -- Masonquo solo -- Love song -- Song of praise -- Song to the emperor -- Sudanese walking songs.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-78-0072
Disc.141
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Disc
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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.
Program notes inserted in jacket. Performer(s): Native musicians playing various drums, ganbos, organ and vaccines. Production notes: Recorded in Haiti by Harold Courlander.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
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:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
