Search Results

Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Names:

Courlander, Harold, 1908-1996  Search this

Guthrie, Woody, 1912-1967  Search this

Jenkins, Ella  Search this

Leadbelly, 1885-1949  Search this

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Seeger, Pete, 1919-2014  Search this

Extent:

841 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Business records

Correspondence

Phonograph records

Photographic prints

Audiotapes

Date:

1926-1986

bulk 1948-1986

Summary:

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://folklife.si.edu/archives#shared-stewardship.

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.

Topic:

Folk music  Search this

Folk dance music  Search this

Electronic music  Search this

Oral interpretation of poetry  Search this

Oral interpretation of fiction  Search this

Music -- 20th century  Search this

Music -- 19th century  Search this

Music -- 18th century  Search this

Jazz  Search this

Folk music -- United States  Search this

World music  Search this

Sounds  Search this

Vocal music  Search this

Popular music -- 20th century -- United States  Search this

Genre/Form:

Business records

Correspondence

Phonograph records

Photographic prints

Audiotapes

Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk533b8a927-559a-44ac-98d2-f32d871058b4

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-cfch-asch

Producer:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Contents:

Experiments with brass, steel, copper pipes-fundementals overtones--Short wave band 6- 12MC

Local Numbers:

FW-ASCH-7RR-0753

General:

CDR copy FW-ASCH-7RR-0753, recorded on 7/14/1953 and 7/15/1953, is entitled "Sound Patterns." The recording was probably made by Frederic Ramsey, jr., as his name and address are stamped both inside and outside of the tape box. The tape consists of two subdivisions, as briefly described on the tape box. The first is "EXPERIMENTS WITH BRASS, STEEL, COPPER PIPES - FUNDAMENTALS, OVERTONES - Roger Maren, Amelia and Frederic Ramsey, Jr." The second subdivsion is "SHORT WAVE - BAND, 6 - 12 MC. Carriers, monitored and un-monitored with & without crystal phasing; code picture transmission; scrambled voices." ( But I don't hear any scrambled voices.)

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.

Topic:

Sounds  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-7RR-0753

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / CD / CDR copy

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk55e66a79f-9cc4-4841-9126-d9c01ba0ed8e

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref19252

Recorder:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Performer:

Starlight Gospel Singers  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Alabama

Contents:

Say a word for me--In that new Jerusalem--Who's that knocking at my front door--Oh Lord, I'm so glad I got that religion--Shout to my Lord--On my knees--I'm too close--By and by--Old ship of Zion--The Lord God is my shepherd

Local Numbers:

FW-ASCH-7RR-2767

General:

CDR copy

FW-ASCH-7RR-2767 are field recordings made by Frederic Ramsey on the same field trip that resulted in the Folkways series "Music From the South." Unfortunately, most of the four pages of notes in the tape box don't correspond to the songs on the tape. However, "I'm Too Close" sung by Ella Cash, is found both on the tape, and on one of the typewritten pages in the tape box. And four of the eight songs of the Starlight Gospel Singers are on both this tape and on "The Music From the South, Volume 8: Young Songsters," (FW02657). Based on the four pages of notes, Ella Cash was recorded in Little Rock Baptist Church in Heiberger, AL, on May 2, 1954, and the Starlight Gospel Singers were recorded on at least three occasions in April and May, 1954, in the vicinity or in the towns of Heiberger, Greensboro and Sprott, all in Alabama. Members of the Singers are Nathaniel Benson, Joe Massey, Cleophus Sanders, James Belcher, Leo Holman, Arthur James Gill. The typewritten sheets have been removed from tape box and will be placed in a Frederic Ramsey folder.

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.

Topic:

Gospel music  Search this

African Americans  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-7RR-2767

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / CD / CDR copy

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk520163bd6-7b26-4e6e-be1d-4d48a5dec46a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref25689

Performer:

Johnson, Blind Willie  Search this

Producer:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Texas

Contents:

Nobody's fault but mine--Motherless children--If I had my way--I'm gonna run to the city--Jesus is coming soon--Keep your lamp trimmed and burning--God don't ever change--Take your burden to the Lord

Track Information:

101 It's Nobody's Fault But Mine / Guitar.

102 Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground / Guitar.

103 Mother's Children Have a Hard Time / Guitar.

104 If I Had My Way / Guitar.

105 I'm Gonna Run to the City of Refuge / Guitar.

106 Jesus is Coming Soon / Guitar.

107 Lord I Just Can't From Crying / Guitar.

108 Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burnin' / Guitar.

109 Let Your Light Shine on Me / Guitar.

110 God Don't Ever Change / Guitar.

111 Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There / Guitar.

Local Numbers:

FW-ASCH-7RR-5054

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.

Topic:

Blues (Music)  Search this

Guitar  Search this

African Americans  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-7RR-5054

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / CD / CDR copy

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5d7858eb9-e019-4c7e-a941-c5d6407f906f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref26738

Artist:

Johnson, Blind Willie  Search this

Performer:

Johnson, Blind Willie  Search this

Producer:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Texas

Contents:

John the revelator

Track Information:

101 John the Revelator / Guitar.

102 You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond / Guitar.

103 Rain Don't Fall on Me / Guitar.

104 Trouble Will Soon Be Over / Guitar.

105 Church, I'm Fully Saved Today / Guitar.

106 The Soul of a Man / Guitar.

107 Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right / Guitar.

108 Go with Me to That Land / Guitar.

109 Sweeter as the Years Roll By / Guitar.

110 Take Your Stand / Guitar.

Local Numbers:

FW-ASCH-7RR-5055

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.

Topic:

Blues (Music)  Search this

Guitar  Search this

African Americans  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-7RR-5055

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / CD / CDR copy

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk58d1a5d2d-cc44-4872-a426-8731c1bc19b4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref26739

Performer:

Leadbelly, 1885-1949  Search this

Producer:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

New York

Louisiana

Contents:

Cotton song--Sally Walker--Sukey jump--Black girl--Rock Island Line--Blind Lemon--Bottle up and go

Track Information:

101 Cotton Fields / Guitar.

102 Sally Walker / Guitar.

103 Sukey Jump / Guitar.

104 Black Girl (In the Pines) / Guitar.

105 Rock Island Line / Guitar.

106 Blind Lemon / Guitar.

107 Bottle Up and Go / Guitar.

Local Numbers:

FW-ASCH-7RR-5695

Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:

Recorded in: New York, United States.

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.

Topic:

Blues (Music)  Search this

Folk songs -- United States  Search this

Guitar  Search this

African Americans  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-7RR-5695

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / CD / CDR copy

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk52e8598bf-febb-4a2f-8deb-73a4a5448f5c

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref27378

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Recorder:

Goldsmith, Peter David, 1952-2004  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (analog.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Place:

New Jersey

United States

Contents:

Interview for Goldsmith's biography of Moses Asch. "Making People's Music"

Local Numbers:

PG-CT-008

General:

CDR copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.

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.

Topic:

Oral history  Search this

Folk music -- United States  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item PG-CT-008

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / Peter Goldsmith

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk51b3ff631-639d-4558-ac9b-b56ef897c52a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref28638

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Recorder:

Kenton, Gary, 1950-  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound disc (digital, 4 3/4 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound discs

Place:

New Jersey

United States

Contents:

Interviews done for Gary Kenton's unpublished biography of Moses Asch.

Local Numbers:

PG-CDR-0015

Gary Kenton.0015

Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:

Recorded in: United States, New Jersey, 1983.

General:

CDR copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.

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.

Topic:

Oral history  Search this

Folk music -- United States  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item PG-CDR-0015

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / Peter Goldsmith

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5c53c4741-8aa7-4b9c-a22e-5c57390f7e34

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref28656

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Recorder:

Goldsmith, Peter David, 1952-2004  Search this

Names:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (analog.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Place:

New Jersey

United States

Contents:

Imterviews made during research phase of Moses Asch biography, Making People's Music

Local Numbers:

PG-CT-0021

General:

CDR copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.

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.

Topic:

Oral history  Search this

Jazz  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item PG-CT-0021

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / Peter Goldsmith

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk569aa0cc2-47b3-4f12-849e-a794472b94d5

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref28661

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Peter Goldsmith Papers  Search this

Recorder:

Goldsmith, Peter David, 1952-2004  Search this

Names:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (analog.)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Place:

United States

Contents:

Imterviews made during research phase of Moses Asch biography, Making People's Music

Local Numbers:

PG-CT-036

General:

CDR copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.

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.

Topic:

Oral history  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item PG-CT-036

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / Peter Goldsmith

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5c6a2d1a1-aa5e-4fc8-b174-baa460d609f6

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref28675

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Peter Goldsmith Papers  Search this

Recorder:

Kenton, Gary, 1950-  Search this

Names:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Collection Creator:

Asch, Moses  Search this

Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (analog.)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Local Numbers:

PG-CT-046

General:

CDR copy

Restrictions:

Restrictions on access. Listening only. No Duplication Allowed.

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.

Topic:

Oral history  Search this

Folkways Records  Search this

Collection Citation:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.ASCH, Item PG-CT-046

See more items in:

Moses and Frances Asch Collection

Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / Peter Goldsmith

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk530600846-fb1e-49f6-96b7-7bf68f96afeb

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref28683

Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

8.83 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Place:

Southern States -- Music

Date:

1945-1959

Summary:

This collection contains open reel recordings made by noted jazz scholar Frederic Ramsey during his tour of the American South in the 1950s.

Scope and Contents:

The collection includes 400? Open reel audio tapes. They are from Ramsey's fieldwork and various projects, many for Folkways Records. The bulk of the recordings come from Ramsey's fieldwork in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana in 1954-56.

Arrangement:

The tapes are organized and shelved by accession number.

Biographical / Historical:

Frederic Ramsey Jr. (1915-1995), son of painter Charles Frederic Ramsey, was a jazz scholar and author who worked with a number of musicians in the South and the New York/New Jersey area, notably Lead Belly. After receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1953, Ramsey undertook a tour of the South in order to explore and document the African-American music environment. His goal was to record the speech and music of persons at least sixty years of age or older in an attempt to trace the evolution of the musical genre that would become jazz. Ramsey produced a number of recordings for the Folkways label in the 1950s-1960s.

[From Jeff: Frederic Ramsey Jr. (1915-1995) was a jazz critic, scholar, fieldworker and record producer. He was the author of a number of books on jazz, including Jazzmen (with Charles Edward Smith) and the Jazz Record Book. He became one of the main producers for Moses Asch at Asch, Disc, and Folkways Records of jazz and blues. Ramsey was one of the first to deploy an open reel tape recorder using it in New York City in 1949 to record Lead Belly in a set of sessions at his apartment, that were to be Lead Belly's last. What was noteworthy about this is that a reel to reel deck allowed one to record a longer recording than the previous 4 minutes on instantaneous discs. This allowed Led Belly to stretch out and do his extended rhymes and longer songs and to tell stories of his life. It was released by Folkways as a 2 LP 2-records each set. Each side was one track so more material could be fit in. The new LP format allowed for Folkways to create anthologies of music with multiple tracks per side. This allowed Ramsey the ability to create a 11-volume anthology of jazz in the early 1950s. It was the first of many anthologies for Folkways. He also received a Guggenheim fellowship in 1954-56 to go to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to record vernacular African American music. This included field hollers, spirituals, and brass bands. It was Ramsey's desire to find the roots of jazz in early African-American music forms. He recorded hundreds of tapes they make up the bulk of Ramsey Tape Collection. A 10 LP set Music from the South was released from these trips. Also, there was a book Been Here and Gone with his magnificent photographs from the trip. Other notable recordings released by Folkways include an interview album of Baby Dodds, a box set of shape-note singing, and recordings of a, then, teenaged Michael Hurley. In 1975, with other grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Ford Foundation, he researched the life of Buddy Bolden. After the death of Frederic Ramsey Jr., folklorist Kip Lornell arranged the donation of Ramsey's tape and record collection to the Smithsonian.]

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://folklife.si.edu/archives#shared-stewardship.

Related Materials:

Frederic Ramsey's personal papers are available at Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies.

Ramsey's photograph collection (many from the same field projects) can be found in the collections of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.

Provenance:

This collection was donated by Frederic Ramsey's daughter Alida Porter in 1996.

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.

Topic:

Blues (Music)  Search this

Music -- African-American  Search this

African American musicians  Search this

Jazz musicians  Search this

Jazz -- Louisiana -- New Orleans  Search this

Jazz  Search this

Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5ebc883ed-96f3-4f1b-9e4b-1b8fde86e4f4

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-cfch-rams

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Container:

Box 7RR, Item 320

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Washington (D.C.)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0320

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.

Topic:

United States -- History  Search this

Documentary  Search this

Protest  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, File RA-RAMS-7RR-0320

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5f86c7597-78c1-4144-8515-69f560ec685e

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref211

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Washington (D.C.)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0321

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.

Topic:

United States -- History  Search this

Documentary  Search this

Protest  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, Item RA-RAMS-7RR-0321

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes / Peace Moratorium March, NOV 15 1969 (CDR copy)

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk59519474b-3458-45a7-9ffb-a8eb6d49cf18

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref2118

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Washington (D.C.)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0322

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.

Topic:

United States -- History  Search this

Documentary  Search this

Protest  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, Item RA-RAMS-7RR-0322

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes / Peace Moratorium March, NOV 15 1969 (CDR copy)

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5817ee155-c643-4911-a8d1-10954280ff95

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref2119

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Washington (D.C.)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0323

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.

Topic:

United States -- History  Search this

Documentary  Search this

Protest  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, Item RA-RAMS-7RR-0323

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes / Peace Moratorium March, NOV 15 1969 (CDR copy)

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk560b7033d-cf63-4d48-874c-6be109606169

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref2120

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

Ohio

United States

Kent (Ohio)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0325

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.

Topic:

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Protest  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, Item RA-RAMS-7RR-0325

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes / Kent Massacre dubbed from WBAI MAY 06 1970

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5b3a8ba54-63ca-4992-9a1d-3b976c123bdb

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref2121

Recorder:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 10 in.)

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Addor (N.C.)

North Carolina

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-10RR-0327

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.

Topic:

Rites and ceremonies  Search this

Protest  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, Item RA-RAMS-10RR-0327

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes / Church Service in Addor, SEP 23 1956

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk56c07a045-de0d-4761-821e-90b781cc81f5

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref2123

Performer:

Kerry, John, 1943-  Search this

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound recording (sound-tape reel, analog, 7 in.)

Container:

Box 7RR, Item 324

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound recordings

Place:

United States

Washington (D.C.)

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-7RR-0324

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.

Topic:

Vietnam War, 1961-1975  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, File RA-RAMS-7RR-0324

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / Open Reel Tapes

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk57d6c0225-6883-4e8a-8030-fd145f4e349d

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref213

Performer:

Staple Singers  Search this

Collection Creator:

Ramsey, Frederic, 1915-1995  Search this

Extent:

1 Phonograph record (analog, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.)

Container:

Box LP, Item 177

Culture:

Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Phonograph records

Track Information:

101 This Little Light of Mine.

102 What Are They Doing.

103 A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall.

104 You Got Shoes.

105 Will the Lord Remember Me.

201 My Dying Bed.

202 Masters of War.

203 Let Jesus Lead You.

204 Prayin' Time.

205 Use What You Got.

206 I Can't Help From Cryin' Sometime.

Local Numbers:

RA-RAMS-LP-0177

Riverside.3527

Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):

New York Riverside

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.

Topic:

Gospel music  Search this

Folksong revival  Search this

African Americans  Search this

Collection Citation:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

CFCH.RAMS, File RA-RAMS-LP-0177

See more items in:

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings

Frederic Ramsey audio recordings / 33 1/3 RPM Records

Archival Repository:

Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk59dc3abea-60d7-4b19-b0c0-d07de6264bdb

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-cfch-rams-ref1003