Tape recordings containing oral history and radio show recordings of country and western music, collected and produced by Dorothy Horstman.,Recordings include such musicians as Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Hank Snow, and Roy Acuff.
Scope and Contents note:
The Dorothy Horstman Oral History Field and Radio Show recording consist of 351 cassette audio tapes and 164 reel-to-reel audio tapes documenting her field research and radio shows dedicated to the creative process associated with the composers of Country and Western songs. Also included in her collection are 82 reel-to-reel audio tapes complied by Mrs. Horstman and her colleague Mr. Frank Mare. Mr. Mare is a microbiologist from New Jersey, currently residing in Covington, GA. In his free time he is an avid collector of Country and Western recording of the 1920s and 1930s, a music critic, a writer of liner notes, and an information guide to the Country and Western music genre.
The collection is organized into three series. Series 1 comprises the 351 cassette audio tape recordings of the oral history interviews that Mrs. Horstman conducted in the field. They contain the social history of the music, the creative process behind song writing for each artist or theme, and often include biographies and backgrounds of the individuals she interviewed. Series 2 contains 164 reel-to-reel audio tapes of Mrs. Horstman's WNYC radio shows. They trace the history and influence of the music, often using primary material from her interviews that no longer exist in other forms. The shows are devoted to individual artist, composers, or themes, and often include her own commentary and insight. Shows 113-127 are based on the chapters of Mrs. Horstman's book, Sing Your Heart Out Country Boy. Shows in this series without a playlist could not be listened to because of preservation reasons and therefore are unavailable for use. Series 3 comprises the 82 reel-to-reel audio tapes compiled by Frank Mare and Mrs. Horstman. They consist of tape recordings of songs that are in Mr. Mare's personal collection. They were made at the request of Mrs. Horstman as part of her research of the music and her personal
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into 3 series.
Series 1: Oral history and field recordings, 1961-1999
Series 2: Radio show recordings, 1972-1977
Series 3: Frank Mare and miscellaneous recordings, 1959-1976
Biographical/Historical note:
Songwriter and Journalist Dorothy Horstman (1930-1999), began her love affair with Country and Western music early in life. She was born in Georgia, adopted and raised in Louisiana. She attended the University of Texas at Austin in the 1950s and became a registered nurse. In 1959 she married James Horstman and would later make her home in New York City, taking her love for Country and Western music with her. It is here that her interest in the creative process of song writing moved from a personal interest to one that would include a more public persona. Although never academically trained, Mrs. Horstman spent four decades between 1954-1999, conducting countless interviews with some of the most important artist and performers in Country and Western music. Following the example of Sigmund Spaeth, Dorothy left no door closed in her search for the facts and origin to a particular song. In the mid-1970s, she put her research to work in her own weekly WYNC radio show. Many will remember her signature opening of "Hello Country Fans. . ."
In 1975 Mrs. Horstman published her first book titled, Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy, in it she continued to work with the concept she originated known as song annotation or the process of learning the origin and inspiration of a song and its connection to the people.
Prior to her death in September 1999, Dorothy had just completed work on her second book titled, America's Best Loved Country Songs. It is being posthumously published.
Dorothy Horstman once wrote that "Country music is as American as mom's apple pie. . . (covering such values as) God, country, home, mother, good and evil, right and wrong." Spanning four decades the Dorothy Horstman Oral History Field and Radio Show recording collection portrays the astonishing range of this genre. Contained within it are such country legends as Jimmie Rodgers who, is not only known as the "Father of Country Music," but who also helped move country music from its hillbilly roots of instrumentals to its modern day vocal sound and style. Ernest Tubb, who throughout his fifty year career in the business helped some of country music's greats, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Pasty Cline, Charlie Walker, and Hank Snow get their start. Roy Acuff once named the "King of Country Music" by baseball great Dizzy Dean, who along with Fred Rose formed Acuff-Rose Publications, Nashville's first country music publishing company. And the Carter Family, also known as the "first family of country music," who blended tradition songs and lyrics with their own musical and vocal techniques to help put country music on the map during the 1930s.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Madi and Fritz Horstman, 2000.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research and access to user copies of tapes, on site by appointment.
Rights:
Copyright restrictions. Fritzi and Madi Horstman retain all rights to these recordings. Contact the Archives Center for more information.
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, 1982.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Original performance and interview audio recordings, audio outtake materials, program masters, and finished program tapes from the Smithsonian Institution/National Public Radio series WADE IN THE WATER. Collection documents the influence of religion on various African American sacred and secular music styles, including gospel, spirituals, classical, popular, and jazz.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into one series.
Provenance:
Made at the national Museum of American History, 1992.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Unrestricted research use of reference audio cassettes only. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Reproduction fees for commercial use. Copyright restrictions. Contact repository for information.
Radio DJ Bobby Bennett interviewed two members of 'The Jewels' - Sandra Bears and Grace Ruffin, who were students at Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. Bears and Ruffin spoke of their inspirations; their song 'Opportunity;' still performing after 40 years; their upcoming performance at the Smithsonian; and performing with James Brown. They also addressed questions and comments from people who called into the radio program. Program included music by 'The Jewels' performed in the 1960s. Beverly Lindsay joined the conversation and spoke of the upcoming Smithsonian exhibition 'Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the present' and the exhibition's opening reception where the 'The Jewels' would be performing. Music by other artists also on the recording.
Radio program - music and interview. Part of the Teenarama Collection. Dated 20000201.
Biographical / Historical:
The documentary 'Dance Party: The Teenarama Story' examined the popularity of 1950s and 1960s teen dance television shows, including 'The Teenarama Dance Party,' 'American Bandstand,' 'The Buddy Dean Show,' and 'The Milt Grant Show.' 'The Teenarama Dance Party' was an all-black teen dance show produced and broadcasted in Washington, D.C. The show aired from March 7, 1963 to November 20, 1970 on WOOK-TV Channel 14, which was the nation's first Black TV station. The show was produced live six days a week; and hosted first by Bob King and later by a rotation of hosts. In addition to being a dance show, 'The Teenarama Dance Party' was a training ground for teens. Production staff mentored the teenagers in the art of broadcast production. The teens trained as camera operators, floor directors, and technical engineers; and served as production assistants.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV005291_B
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Bobby Bennett Spoke with The Jewels and Beverly Lindsay, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
One homemade scrapbook documenting the radio career of young Jean Clairmook. The book contains letters, greeting cards, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The creator of the scrapbook is unknown.
Arrangement:
1 series.
Biographical / Historical:
Jean Claire Rian was born March 22, 1925 in Redwood City, California to Monte and Claire Rian. She began her musical career at an early age singing on the radio as Jean Clairmook. At the age of two and one-half years of age she sang at a Shriners' luncheon at the Palace Hotel which was broadcasted. Clairmook married William Henry Blasser and had four children. She died on December 3, 2016 at the age of ninety-one in Cupertino, California.
Source: Broadcast Weekly, March 28, 1931
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Ed Jackson "Book of Radio Personalities" Scrapbook NMAH.AC.0861
George H. Clark Collection Radioana Collection NMAH.AC.0055
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Series: Radio NMAH.AC.0060
National Bureau of Standards Radio Collection NMAH.AC.0217
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Thirty-four tapes of radio shows Wells did on radio station KJAZ in San Francisco on the subject of women in jazz. Some of the sessions featured interviews, while others featured recorded music. The performers and interviewees are listed below.
Arrangement:
1 series.
Biographical / Historical:
Film director and producer, Wells was once a disc jockey on radio station KJAZ in San Francisco.
Related Materials:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
John and Devra Hall Levy Collection, NMAH.AC1221
Ella Fritzgerald Papers, NMAH.AC0584
Bill Holman Collection, NMAH.AC0733
W. Royal Stokes Collection of Music Photoprints and Interviews, NMAH.AC0766
Joel Dorn Papers, 1966-1987, NMAH.AC.0536
Jeffrey Kliman Photographs, NMAH.AC0628
John Gensel Collection of Duke Ellington Music, NMAH.AC0763
Leonard Gaskin Papers, NMAH.AC0900
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Smithsonian Institution, Division of Performing Arts, Accession T90055
Provenance:
Donated by Audrey Wells to the Archives Center in 2005.
Restrictions:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
