The collection documents George Eaton Simpson's fieldwork in Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Nigeria from 1936-1964. There are 704 images in several formats including negatives, prints, and slides. The photographs were primarily made by Simpson, but a few were made by Frederic Ramsey, Jr. Ramsey's prints are stamped on verso with his name. Many prints and slides are annotated by Simpson.
The collection also includes a few reprints of articles based on Simpson's field work and words and musical transcription from Savalou Ricourt, a musician of Port au Prince in 1937.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into six series:
1. Haiti, 1936-1937
2. Jamaica, 1953, 1957
3. Trinidad, 1960
4. Nigeria, 1964
5. Lantern slides, undated
6. Publications, 1940-1987
Biographical/Historical note:
George Eaton Simpson (1904-1998) was an anthropologist whose focus was the various social aspects of Caribbean religions. He wrote over 60 articles and books, and taught sociology and anthropology at Oberlin College from 1947-1971.
Born in Knoxville, Iowa, Simpson received his B.S. from Coe College in 1926, his M.A. from the University of Missouri in 1927, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1934. In 1947 he began teaching at Oberlin College in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. In addition to teaching classes, Simpson served on numerous committees and as department chair.
Simpson conducted fieldwork in the Caribbean, specifically Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad, and Nigeria. He focused primarily on Caribbean religions such as Vodun in Haiti, Rastafarianism in Jamaica, and the Spiritual Baptists in Trinidad. His fieldwork has been documented in numerous articles and books, including "The Vodun Service in Northern Haiti", "The Shango Cult in Nigeria and Trinidad", and Black Religions in the New World. He occasionally collaborated on articles with fellow anthropologists Joseph G. Moore and J. Milton Yinger. He also served as a visiting professor at several leading universities.
He was the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Wellcome Medal for Anthropological Research, the Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Relations (with J. Milton Yinger), Doctor of Humane Letters – Oberlin College, and Doctor of Humane Letters – Coe College.
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 93-14
Related Materials:
Additional photographs from Simpson are held in National Anthropological Archives Photo Lot 2001-24.
The George Eaton Simpson Film Study of Plaisance, Haiti, 1937, accession No. 92.12.1 in the Smithsonian Institution Human Film Studies Archives contains silent black and white film footage of Plaisance, Haiti shot by Simpson and his colleagues. The footage contains events also depicted in the photograph collection including work coumbites, marketplace scenes, a wedding ceremony, a funeral, drumming and dancing at a social gathering, and a dancing demonstration. Included in this accession are 21 audiotapes recorded by Simpson and Joseph G. Moore during their fieldwork in Jamaica and Trinidad.
The Joseph G. Moore Collection: Jamaican Revival and Kumina, 1957-1958, accession No. 92.1.1 in the Smithsonian Institution Human Film Studies Archives contains related material to Simpson's study of Jamaican Revival Zion and Kumina. The collection contains film footage of Morant Bay and West Kingston, Jamaica shot in 1957. The footage was originally intended for the "Odyssey" program or possibly a short feature. Some of the it ended up being featured on the CBS program "Lamp Unto My Feet" which also includes interviews with Joseph G. Moore and George Eaton Simpson. There is over 10 hours of footage, and in 1992 Simpson, Smithsonian Institution Human Film Studies Archives Director John Homiak, and research associate Ken Bilby recorded approximately 10 hours of commentary about the footage. This collection also contains audio recordings made in 1993 of a discussion between Simpson, Homiak, and Bilby concerning the relation of Jamaican Revival with Rastafari.
Sound recordings by Simpson held in the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections in the Folkways Records Collection and the Moses and Frances Asch Collection.
Oberlin College has a manuscript collection of George Eaton Simpson's papers (RG 30/64) that document Simpson's research and academic work.
Provenance:
The collection was donated to the National Anthropoligical Archives by George E. Simpson in 1992.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
The negatives are in cold storage and require advanced notice to access.
Alcoholic blues -- Women's blues -- Locomotive blues -- Bad luck blues -- Lost John -- Shortnin' bread -- Fine and false voice -- Harmonica stomp -- Beautiful city.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-0370
Folkways.35
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
New York Folkways 1956
General:
Principally blues. Biographical note by F. Ramsey, Jr. (4 p.) inserted in container.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Pig latin song--Hawaiian song (My hula love)--Drinkin' Lum y a alla--Grey goose--Silver City bound--Titanic--Death letter blues--Mary, don't you weep--He never said a mumbling word
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-10RR-3615
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: New York, United States.
General:
Tape is a dub of original master for FA2941(D), Side 2 of "Leadbelly's Last Sessions: Part 2" Originally recorded over 3 nights in September/October 1948 in the NYC apartment of Frederic Ramsey Jr. This was remastered in 1953 from the existing portions of damaged tapes, finally issued in 1962. Both sessions rereleased under SFW40068 (1994)
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
Midnight Special --Boll weevil blues --Careless love --Easy rider --Call it, cry for me --Ain't goin' drink no more --Birmingham jail --Ol' Riley --Julie Ann Johnson --It's tight like that --
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-3668
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: New York, United States, 1949.
General:
Folkways 40068
CDR copy Folkways: FA-2942 (FP 242)
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
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:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
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:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
Pig latin song--Hawaiian song--Drinkin yum a alla--Grey goose--Silver City bound--Titanic--Death letter blues--Mary don't you weep--He never said a mumbling word
Local Numbers:
FP-ASCH-10RR-5000
General:
Folkways 40068
CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
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 by appointment only. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322 for additional information.
Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
CDR copy; file exists in the DAMS system- Recording of audience watching the film "Odyssey" about Frederic Ramsey's "Been in the South" project
This tape contains audio from the film "Odyssey." The content of the program concerns the history of Jazz based on Frederic Ramsey's "Been in the South" project.
Restrictions:
Materials in the Moses and Frances Asch Collection may be examined by appointment. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections for more information.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
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:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for additional information.
