Goodbye little Bonnie (More pretty girls than one)--My home's across the Smoky Mountains--Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender (Child No. 73) (2x)--Water is wide
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-7RR-4988
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.
Interview for Goldsmith's biography of Moses Asch. "Making People's Music"
Local Numbers:
PG-CT-009
General:
CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. rr.
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.
Imterviews made during research phase of Moses Asch biography, Making People's Music
Local Numbers:
PG-CT-043
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: United States, Washington (D.C.), June 13, 1991.
General:
CDR copy
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. rr.
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.
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, May 18, 1975.
General:
Z-138
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.
106.32 Cubic feet (87.5 cubic feet of papers, 18.82 cubic feet of audio)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Field recordings
Correspondence
Phonograph records
Notes
Business records
Audiocassettes
Photographic prints
Black-and-white negatives
Audiotapes
Date:
1890-2011
bulk 1950-1994
Summary:
This collection, with bulk dates from 1950-1994, documents the life of Ralph Rinzler and his professional activities as Director of Field Programs for the Newport Folk Festival, Director of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (formerly the Festival of American Folklife) and the Office of Folklife Programs (now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage), and the Smithsonian Institution's Assistant Secretary for Public Service. Includes personal papers, business records, correspondence, notes, photographs, audiotapes and field recordings.
Scope and Contents:
The Ralph Rinzler Papers and Audio Recordings encompasses a wide range of materials from Rinzler's prolific personal and professional life. Predominantly consisting of clippings, collected texts, correspondence, meeting notes, photographs, and production materials, this collection charts Rinzler's role in the mid-twentieth century emergence of community-based and institutional efforts to preserve, sustain, and amplify cultural heritage. As an assemblage of materials from all aspects of his life, the Ralph Rinzler Papers also reflect the many integral relationships he developed throughout the years with his colleagues, contemporaries, family, and friends.
Arrangement note:
The collection is currently arranged in 9 archival series as follows:
1. Biographical
2. Collected Texts
3. Correspondence
4. Events
5. Fieldwork
6. Meetings and Organizations
7. Notable Figures
8. Publishing and Production
9. Audio
The papers and photographs contained in the first 8 series are processed at an intermediate level, which means that all material was rehoused in archival folders, with folder-level arrangements and descriptions. Individual items within folders may not be fully arranged or described, due to the collection's level of complexity when it was deposited in the Archives.
When possible, folders were arranged alphabetically within series and subseries.
Biographical/Historical note:
Ralph Rinzler (1934-1994) was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and was interested in music at an early age. He was given a collection of ethnographic recordings from the Archive of Folk Song of the Library of Congress by his uncle, Harvard University ballad scholar George Lyman Kittredge, and they soon became his favorites. He became actively involved in the Folk Revival while attending Swarthmore College, organizing an annual festival on campus. He received his B.A. in 1956, and did graduate work at Middlebury College and the Sorbonne in French literature and language. Upon his return to the United States, he played mandolin for four years with the Greenbriar Boys, at times touring with singer Joan Baez. During the 1960s, he also studied, recorded, and worked with performers of traditional music, such as Doc Watson and Bill Monroe, both of whom gained international recognition in part through his efforts. In 1964, Rinzler accepted the position of Director of Field Programs at the Newport Folk Foundation, which involved the planning and programming of the Newport Folk Festival.
Rinzler came to the Smithsonian in 1967 as co-founder of the Festival of American Folklife (now the Smithsonian Folklife Festival) with James Morris in what was then the Smithsonian's Division of Performing Arts. After the 1976 Bicentennial Festival, Rinzler became the founding director of the Office of Folklife Programs (now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage) to establish a center for research, publication, and presentation of programs in American culture and tradition. As Director, he initiated Smithsonian Folklife Studies, a publication series, and did research for the Celebration exhibit, which opened at the Renwick Gallery in 1982. Rinzler was appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Service in 1983 and Assistant Secretary Emeritus in 1990. Ralph Rinzler died on July 2, 1994.
Shared Stewardship 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:
The materials in this collection were deposited into the archives of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage over a number of years by Ralph Rinzler, Kate Rinzler, and Jeff Place in honor of the aforementioned. From the 1980s until Ralph Rinzler's passing in 1994, the Center received the majority of the audio tapes and photographs in this collection directly from Rinzler. With Rinzler's death in 1994, Jeff Place reviewed and deposited the majority of Rinzler's papers at the Center.
Until her passing in 2011, Kate Rinzler donated materials to this collection, with more continuing to arrive via her estate (as of May 2021). Many of these items were rehoused in the Kate Rinzler Papers.
Restrictions:
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.
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.
Side 1. I'm not ashamed on my Lord, opening prayer (7:30 (C)) -- Blessed are the poor in spirit (2:30 (D)) -- Inside the pearly gates (4:32 (C)) -- Where could I go but to the Lord (2:30 (D)) -- Amazing grace (3:30 (D)) -- Side 2. My Lord will welcome me there (5:25 (D)) -- Buckle up my shoe (3:02 (A)) -- Walk in Jerusalem (1:12 (A)) -- Yonder come day (2:29 (A)) -- All these years Lord (1:38 (B)) -- Come by here M'Lord (1:40 (B)) -- Run sinner run (4:12 (D)) -- May God be with you, closing prayer (1:00 (B)).
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-LP-0076
Front Porch.79001
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Tifton, GA Front Porch 1979
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recording credits: A. Recorded at Mt. Calvary Church, Tifton, Ga., August 10, 1977 ; B. Recorded at the home of Mrs. Fannie Lee Teals, Tifton, Ga., August 9, 1977 ; C. Recorded at the Singing Convention held at Mount Zion Church, Damascus, Ga., August 21, 1977 ; D. Recorded at the Neighborhood Center, Oak St., Ocilla, Ga., August 3, 1978.
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. 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.
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.
101 I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Freedom / Bernice Johnson Reagon, Jimmy Collier.
102 Precious Lord / Ed Walton.
103 Ooh Baby Baby / Norman Molton.
104 Mule Train / Robert Sinclair. Harmonica.
105 Coal Train / Robert Sinclair. Harmonica.
106 Panama Limited / Robert Sinclair. Harmonica.
107 Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen / James Thornton.
108 Drums and Spoons / Birds of Paradise (Musical group). Spoons (Musical instrument).
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-7RR-0075
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, May 29, 1968.
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.
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.
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.
Recorded in: Houston (Tex.), United States, Texas, May 4, 1965.
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.
No special rider (4 min., 12 sec.) -- Prisoner bound blues (4 min., 22 sec.) -- You've got to see your mama every night (3 min., 3 sec.) -- Cow cow blues / C. Davenport (4 min., 21 sec.) -- Gin house blues / Troy Henderson (4 min., 20 sec.) -- New Vicksburg blues (4 min., 3 sec.) -- London shout (2 min., 51 sec.) -- Oh, daddy / B. Smith (3 min., 19 sec.) -- Little Brother's early pieces & history (7 min., 39 sec.) -- No special boogie (2 min., 57 sec.).
Track Information:
101 No Special Rider / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
102 Prisoner Bound Blues / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
103 You Gotta See Your Mama Every Night / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
104 Cow Cow Blues / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
105 Gin House Blues / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
201 New Vicksburg Blues / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
202 London Shout / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
203 Oh Daddy / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
204 LB's Early Pieces and History / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
205 No Special Boogie / Backwards Sam Firk, Jeanne Carroll, Little Brother Montgomery. Piano.
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-LP-0152
Adelphi.1003
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Silver Spring, MD Adelphi 1969
Participant or Performer Note:
Blues; Little Brother Montgomery, piano and vocals, Jeanne Carroll, vocals, and Backwards Sam Firk, guitar.
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in Chicago, Sept. 1, 1969.
General:
Program notes by Dick Spottswood on container; biographical notes by Mike Stewart on container.
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.
101 Mary (Penitentiary) / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
102 Late Hours at Midnight / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
103 Way Down South / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
104 Rocky Mountain Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
105 Santa Fe Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
106 Rainy Day Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
201 Juanita Stomp / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
202 Miss Baker's Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
203 Meningitis Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
204 Early in the Morning / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
205 Going Down Slow / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
206 Childhood Dream Blues / George McCoy, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk, Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-LP-0133
Adelphi.1004
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Silver Spring, MD Adelphi 1969
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: East Saint Louis (Ill.), United States, Illinois.
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.
101 On the Road Again / Furry Lewis. Guitar,Kazoo.
102 My Wife is Getting Old / Furry Lewis, Bukka White. Guitar,Kazoo.
103 Why Don't You Come Home Blues / Furry Lewis. Guitar.
104 Lela / Furry Lewis, Gus Cannon. Guitar,Banjo.
105 Oh, Babe / Furry Lewis. Guitar.
201 I've Got a Bird to Whistle / Furry Lewis, Backwards Sam Firk. Guitar.
202 Give Me an Old Lady / Bukka White, Backwards Sam Firk. Guitar.
203 Furry's Worried Blues / Furry Lewis. Guitar.
204 Gibson Hill / Bukka White. Guitar.
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-LP-0138
Adelphi.1007
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Silver Spring, MD Adelphi 1969
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Memphis (Tenn.), United States, Tennessee.
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.
Cairo [on container: Cairo Blues] (Henry Townsend) (3:22) -- Uncle Sam called me (Arthur Big A Weston) (3:49) --Things have changed (George McCoy & Jimmie Brown) (3:53) -- Two trains (Jimmie Brown & Bill Hatfield) (3:30) --Bumble bee (Ethel McCoy) (2:40) --Webster's blues (Henry Brown & B. Sam Firk) (4:33) --Train (George McCoy & Jimmie Brown) (3:48) --Highway 49 (Arthur Weston & George Roberson) (3:56) --Christmas blues (Henry Townsend & B. Sam Firk) (3:45) --Baby let me come back home (Clarence Johnson, Henry Townsend & Andrew Cauthen) (2:45) --Tired of being mistreated (Henry Townsend & Andrew Cauthen) (2:52) -- Henry's jive (Henry Brown, Henry Townsend & B. Sam Firk) (5:15).
Track Information:
101 Cairo Blues / Henry Townsend. Piano.
102 Uncle Sam Called Me / Arthur Weston, George Roberson. Guitar,Harmonica.
103 Things Have Changed / George McCoy. Guitar.
104 Two Trains / Jimmie Brown. Guitar.
105 Bumble Bee / Ethel McCoy. Guitar.
106 Webster's Blues / Henry Brown. Piano.
201 Train / George McCoy. Guitar.
202 Highway 49 / Arthur Weston, George Roberson. Guitar,Harmonica.
203 Christmas Blues / Henry Townsend. Piano.
204 Baby Let Me Come Back Home / Henry Townsend, Andrew Cauthen, Clarence Johnson. Guitar,Harmonica.
205 Tired of Being Mistreated / Henry Townsend, Andrew Cauthen. Guitar,Harmonica.
206 Henry's Jive / Henry Townsend, Jimmie Brown, Backwards Sam Firk. Piano,Guitar.
Local Numbers:
FP-RINZ-LP-0148
Adelphi.1012
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Silver Spring, MD Adelphi 1969
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Saint Louis (Mo.), Missouri, United States.
General:
Program notes ([1] p.) inserted. Performer(s): Blues; sung and played by various musicians. Production notes: Recorded Sept. 1969.
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.
