, SE1 OFFICE

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RECEIVED

October 1979 Volume JI, Number 4

AMERICAN FOLKLIFE ON CYLINDER RECORDINGS: A FEDERAL CULTURAL CHALLENGE

WhenJesse Walter Fewkes took Edi­ son's new cylinder recording machine in 1890 to document songs and stories of the Passamaquoddy Indians in Maine, he inaugurated for the United States and the world the use of the phonograph to preserve folk cultural expression. From that date until the early I 930s, though disc-recording machines were in use by commercial record companies, the only portable re­ cording apparatus for field documen­ tation offolk music and folklore was the Mountain Chiefofthe Blackfoot Tribe listens lo a cylinder recording and lTans/.aus the song into cylinder .recording machine. During sign languagefor Frances Densmore. TM picture was tokn in 1916 in Washington, D.C., by that era a wide variety of scholars and Harris and Ewing. (Smithsonian Jnstitut.iun) other collectors made cylinder record­ ings in the field, for research purposes tural affair.--principally the Library of led to the development of the Federal as well as to preserve those forms of Congress, but also the Smithsonian Cylinder Project. Cooperating in this expression for posterity. Institution, the National Archives, and two-year program are the American Many of those early recordings have perhaps other agencies. These cyl­ Folk.life Center, the Bureau of Indian long since perished through breakage, inders preserve many different tradi­ Affairs, and the Smithsonian Institu­ disintegration, mold, melting of the tions, but the great majority ofthemare tion, with advisory and planning assis­ wax, or other reasons. Still others are historic documents of Native American tance from the National Endowment yet extant in private hands and in vari­ culture. for the Arts andother Federal agencies. ous museums, libraries, or other insti­ The need to locate, organize, and The project's goal is to duplicate all the tutions. But the largest body ofcylinder preserve the large body of cylinder cylinder recordings of folk cultural recordings lies in the hands of various recordings and related documentary expression now in the handsofthe Fed- Federal agencies concerned with cul- materials found in these collections has Continued page 6 esteem. Emblematic of the times, judg­ relationship which both strengthens FOLKLIFE CENTER NEWS ing from documentation in Center field' the'legitimacy and enhances the effec­ projects, are the "home museums" tiveness of community custodians. I a quarterly publication ofthe every community seems to have should like to suggest three key func­ AmnicanFollclift Center spawned, where the collecting and pre­ tions for professional folklorists which serving impulse ofthe home-owner has are in harmony with both their aca­ at the come to dominate the interior decor of demic training and their responsibility Library ofCOflgress the house. to the communities they study. The This broadly based movement raises first function is lrnow-how, particularly AlanJabbour, Director interesting questions about what I shall with regard to the use of the cultural call the "custodians of culture." Field­ forums of the modern world. A good Ray Dockstader, Deputy Director workers in folklore and folk.life have folklorist can create a dignified, Elena Brad unas often thought ofthemselves as, in some thoughtful, and accurate book, or pro­ Carl Fleischhauer sense, the official custodians of tradi­ duce an attractive exhibit, or edit a Howard W. Marshall Folklile Specialists tions that have been preserved only documentary LP record, or create a unconsciouly and by chance, ifat all, at Continued page 7 Peter T. Barris, Folllite Researcher the grassroots. But local communities Eleanor Sreb, Executive Assistant have probably always had their own Brett Topping, Administrative Secretary custodians, whether fonnally desig­ BOARD OF TRUSTEES Doris Craig, Clerk-Receptioniat nated by the community or self­ Raye Virginia Allen, Wouhington. D.C., Tel: 202 287-6590 appointed through personal devotion. and Texas, Chairman If, as many people assert, the positions Edward Bridge Danson. Arizona, Vice­ of these community custodians were Chairman Archive ofFalk Song eroded by the juggernaut of progress JanetAndenon, Oregon Joseph C. Hickerson, Head throughout much of the 20th century, Mary Berry, Assistant Secretary for Educa­ Gerald E. Parsons, Jr., Reference Librarian they are certainly beginning to flourish tion, DepartmentofHealth, Education Patricia M. Markland, Indexer-Secretary again today. It is impossible to do field­ and Welfare E. Tel: 202 2~7-5510 work in American communities with­ David Draper, California out meeting or being referred to local Ronald C. Foreman.J r., Florida Washington, D.C. 20540 Forrest J. Gerard, Assistant Secretary for people who have already isolated cer­ Indian Affairs, Department of the tain aspects of traditional culture as Interior worthy of preservation, documenta­ Wayland D. Hand, California DIRECTOR'S COLUMN tion, serious research, and formal re­ Alex P. Mercure, Assistant Secretary for vival within their community. Rural Development, Department of Based upon the Folk.life Center's What, then, is the role ofthe "profes­ Agriculture field projects and office contacts, it is sional"-whether a folklorist, historian, C.John Sobotka, J r., Mississippi fair to say that the preservation move­ anthropologist, museum curator, li­ St.John Terrell, New jersey ment is a profound impulse at Ameri­ brarian, or other cultural specialist-in William Whalen, Director, National Park ca's grassroots today. l hasten to add the burgeoning preservation move­ Service that I am not speaking exclusively of ment? Have the professionals, after those Americans who fonnally identify generations of communicating their Ex Officio Members themselves as ''preservationists." Amer­ views and concerns to the general ican Indians--so often a barometer of public, helped kindle grassroots aware­ Daniel J. Boorstin, The Librarian of national cultural stirrings-are ener­ ness and activity that supersedes their Congress getically seeking to preserve and revive own work? S. Dillon Ripley. Secretary of the Smith­ sonian Institution tribal history and traditions. Language To the contrary, at least for profes­ Livingston 1.. Biddle, Jr., Chairman, Na­ sional folklorists, the demand has never maintenance has become a serious con­ tional Endowment for the Aru cern among the millions of Americans been greater. But the day is past when Joseph D. Duffey, Chairman, National En­ who hold ethnic title to languages other folklorists can afford to imagine that dowment for the Humanities than English. Older forms and styles of they are the sole official custodians of Alan Jabbour, Director, American Folklife music, craft, story, building, and cus­ the nation's folk cultural expression. Center tom are waxing everywhere in local Rather, professionals must establish a

2 FOLK.LIFE CENTER NEWS NEW REFERENCE AND Folklore Graduate Programs in North folklore societies and serial publications FINDING AIDS AVAILABLE America. 1 p. Joseph C. Hickerson. in North America. FROM ARCHIVE OF Requests for individual lists and for North American Record Cqmpmties the complete inventory ofthe Archive's FOLKSONG Specializing in Folk Music and Folk­ 170 published aids, all of which are The Archive of Folk Song has re­ lore. 8 pp.Joseph C. Hickerson with offered free of charge, may be ad· cently expanded its inventory of refer­ Ritchiej. Porter. dressed toJoseph C. Hickerson, Head, ence and finding aids available to the Archive of Folk Song, Library of Con­ public. Listed below are the aids, giving Long-Playing Recordings of Sacred gress, Washington, D.C. 20540. pagination and compiler, that have Harp Singing. 2 pp. Marsha Maguire. been revised or compiled over the past WORKSHOPS ON THEME OF twelve months, primarily through the efforts ofseveral interns. Folkloreand the W.P.A.: A Preliminary ETHNIC COMMUNITY LIFE Bibliography. 7 pp.Joseph C. Hick­ PRESENTED IN SEAITLE New Reference Aids erson with Herbert Halpert. Au.toharp: A Select Listing of Instruc­ A grassroots movement has been tion Books and Articles. 4 pp. New Finding Aids developing over the past year among Marsha Maguire. Mexican-American Folksong and Music Seattle's numerous ethnic communi­ on Field Recordings in the Archive ties: as a result of monthly meetings Five String Banjo: A Listing of Con­ of Folk Song. 2 pp. Katherine W. held at ethnic community centers temporary Instruction Books. 7 pp. Johnston. throughout the city, community Richard Brislin. groups have been learning more about Michigan Material in the Archive of each othei; and discovering that they Dobro Instruction Books: A Bibliog­ Folk Song. 2 pp.Janet C. Moore. have similar concerns and aspirations. raphy. Ip. Katherine W.Johnston. Initiated by ethnic community repre­ Revised Finding Aids sentatives, the meetings have been sup­ Hammered Dulcimer and Related In­ Archive ofFo/Jc Song: A Bibliography. 6 pp. ported by Rosanne Royer, wife of struments: A Bibliography. 7 pp. J~seph C. Hickerson. Mayor Charles Royer. The interest and Evan Stein. awareness has caused individuals rep­ Archive of Folk Song Descrifllion. 4 pp. resenting over forty ethnic communi· A Bibliography of the Plucked (Appa­ Joseph C. Hickerson. ties and cultural organizations to form lachian or Mountain) Du.kimer and the Ethnic Heritage Council of the Related Instruments. 10 pp. Beth­ Commncially Issu.ed Recordings ofMatnial Pacific Northwest, dedicated to pre­ any Aronow. in the Archive of Folk Song. 2 pp. serving and strengthening regional Joseph C. Hickerson. ethnic culture and history. Logging and Lumbermens' Songs ofthe In response to the Council's enthu­ U.S. and Canada. 3 pp. Elizabeth Field Recordings ofCalifornia Indians in siasm. the American Folklife Center Knapp. the Archive of Folk Song. 2 pp. has organized an Ethnic Heritage Joseph C. Hickerson. Work.shop, a series ofpresentations for Rhythm & Blues: A Bibliography of those interested in exploring, enrich­ Books. 4 pp. David B. Goren with Georgia Materials from the W.P.A. in ing, and documenting ethnic commu­ Barry Lee Pearson. the Archive of Folk Song. I p. nity life. The workshop was offered at Charles Perdue. Seattle Center from September 28 Irish Tin-Whistl.e Instruction Books. A through September 30, 1979, to reg­ Bibliography. 1 p. Susan Rainsford. Additional lists in the final stages of istered applicants. Joining the Folklife preparation include bibliographies on Center in sponsorship ofthe workshop Revised Reference Aids computers and folklore, graffiti in were theEthnic Heritage Council ofthe Folklore and Folk Music Archives in the America, Native American music, Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Public United States and Canada. 11 pp. Jimmie Rodgers, and recent folios of Library with assistance from the Na­ Joseph C. Hickerson. early country and bluegrass songs. A tional Endowment for the Humanities, finding aid on recorded songs sung by and Seattle Center. Workshops out· Copyright and Folksongs. 3 pp. Kath­ American children will be available lined the criteria and techniques erine W.Johmton. shortly, as well as revised directories of Contintudpage 8

OCTOBER 1979 3 Agnes Vantlerburg. Removing the sack ofroasted camas.

JOTTINGS FROM MONTANA sored by the tribal council, and most provides a much appreciated summer participants are school-aged children learningexperience. from the tribe, with a few young adul~. During our visit we joined the stu­ The sweet smoky aroma of baked Located at the edge ofa clearing in the dents in the roasting of camas. The camas is surprassed only by its taste mountains west of Arlee, the camp is bulbs, which had been dug before our when it comes out ofthe roasting pit: a surrounded by conifers and situated arrival, must be carefully identified to flavor not unlike that ofa sweet potato near a fast-flowing mountain stream. avoid mistaking them for a look-alike or fig. Camas, a member ofthe lily fam­ Mrs. Vanderburg teaches by having which is extremely toxic. They are ily, is a wild plant that was once a staple students participate in camp activities roasted for three days in an earth­ food for Native Americans of the Flat­ ranging from catching and cleaning covered pit lined with layers of stones, head Tribe. The technique for prepar­ trout to tanningelkand deer hides. Stu­ branches, and ferns; the later stages of ing camas is one ofthe tribal traditions dents also gather berries, roots, bulbs, the process involve heating the pit with taught by Agnes Vanderburg at her and other wild plants. a surface fire. We joined in the work of camp on the Flathead Reservation in In the 1880s the Flathead Tribe was burying thecamasand laterstoodin the northwestern Montana. moved north from the Bitterroot circle of children and adults who InJuly, several members ofthe Mon­ Valley around Stevensville to the watched Mrs. Vanderburg spade into tana Foll

4 FOLKLIFE CENTER NEWS AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER CONTINUES FIELDWORK. IN PARADISE VALLEY, NEVADA

Another phase of the American Folklife Center's Paradise Valley Folk­ life Project will take place in the latter part of October 1979. This portion of the project will supplement the docu­ mentation of ranching and community life in the valley begun in May 1978 and continued with visits in July and Octo­ ber 1978 to observe seasonal changes in ranching activities. As in the earlier phases, the coordi­ nator of the fieldwork team will be Howard W. Marshall of the Center staff, who will complete his documenta­ tion of vernacular architecture in the valley. A study of the town ofParadise Valley will be undertaken by Dr. Keith Cunningham of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, who will inter­ view residents on the history and de­ velopment ofthe valley within the con­ Agnes Vanderburg and Kay Young. text of regional development and traditions. An historical archaeological perspec­ tive will be added to this phase of the project through the excavation and analysis of "dugout" dwellings, rem­ nants of the town's short-lived Chinese community on the banks of Cotton­ wood Creek. A team of archaeologists from the University of California at Berkeley will undertake the research, led by Dr. James Deetz, director of the Lowie Museum and professor of anthropology at the university. William Smock, a professional photographer from Oakland, California, will accom­ pany field team members. Marshall and Richard E. Alhborn, curator, Division of Community Life, Smithsonian Institution, will also con­ tinue their visits to ranchers in the valley to gather information and solid­ ify plans for an exhibit on buckaroo life in northern Nevada. The exhibit is ten­ tatively planned for joint presentation Raw and roasted camas. (Photos by Michael Crummett) C()fltinued page 8

OCTOBER 1979 5 Cylinder Recordings brittle; the softness of the outer layer , of th~ cylinders made by the collector, eral Government. Contributing to the allowed the phonograph needle to cut a published and unpublished manu­ organizational and preservation activi­ program on the cylinder, and the brit­ scripts related to the collection, with ties ofthe project are Thomas Vennum tleness provided some resistance to transcriptions of some of the record­ of the Smithsonian Institution's Folk­ damage. While they are more difficult ings. and field notebooks with technical life Program, serving as project direc­ to store and maintain than the later entries on the recordings. During the tor, ethnomusicologists Maria La Vigna phonograph discs, cylinders are not duplication, engineer and ethnomusi­ and Ronald Walcott from the Univer­ subject to the same distortion problems cologist consult to insure correlation sity of California at Los Angeles, and that plague disc recordings, and the between identification details and cyl­ Erika Brady, a folklorist from Indiana sound quality of a well-preserved cylin­ inder content. University as well as an experienced der recording can be quite good. In transferring the cylinders to tape recording technician. The project is Organization and preservation ofthe each cylinder is deaned and placed on a being carried out in the Library ofCon­ cylinder recordings begins with locat­ cylinder machine model closely resem­ gress, which contains both the largest ing the cylinders. Once located, an in­ bling the apparatus on which the re­ existing cylinder collection and the best ventory is taken to determine whether cording was made; the program is then engineering and archival expertise for recorded acoustically or electrically. the project. Acoustic recording is relatively simple: The machines that Fewkes took into the machine is set up much as Edison the field in 1890 and that were later would have done it, with original repro­ used by Walter McClintock, Helen ducer and horn attached and a separate Roberts, Frances Densmore, and many electrical motor providing the power. other early ethnographers, were vari­ Thena microphone is carefully lowered ants of the prototype cylinder sound into the horn and the preservation recorder first demonstrated by recording is made. In most cases, how­ Thomas Edison in 1877. The original ever, electric recording is preferable; a design was simple: a handcrank rotated cartridge which accepts specially a spiral-grooved cylinder wrapped with designed styli is fitted to the speaker of tinfoil. On one side of the cylinder, a the original machine. The technician needle attached to a thin, sound­ chooses a stylus for the cartridge from sensitive diaphragm could be engaged an assortment ofstylus sizes and config­ to emboss a pattern made by sound urations in order to match the unique onto the tinfoil; on the other side, a groove size of each cylinder. While the similar device could be engaged to pick cylinder revolves, the technician must up and play back the sounds from the Wax cylinders. control the angle ofthe needle's contact embossed pattern in the grooves on the with the wax manually. Speed of the foil. Over the next two decades Edison the cylinders have been properly iden­ original recordings is variable, and this perfected and refined his phonograph tified. Labels may appear on the stor­ too is manually controlled. An equal­ into a highly marketable commodity. age boxes themselves, listing the name izer is used to filter out surface noise By 1900 an Edison Home Phonograph of the collector, performers, tribes rep­ when possible, and to coax the voice of could be purchased for thirty dollars, resented, titles ofsongs recorded on the the singer into full prominence. with blank wax cylinders priced at a cylinder, dates and recording locations, The order in which the cylinders are quarter. The machine was compact, and the collector's catalog numbers. being duplicated relates to the amount portable, and self-contained; spring­ Often, however, only a numberand col­ of information accompanying them. driven models were available as well as lector's name appear on the storage Fully identified cylinders of which no electrical for use in areas with no elec­ boxes. Once the cylinders are identi­ copies exist will be transferred to tape tricity. fied, they are grouped by collector. first. The coilection being processed at Such ingredients as paraffin, stearic Next a packet ofdocumentary mate­ this writing consists of 55 cylinder re­ acid, caustic soda, and aluminum oxide, rials is prepared for the engineer who cordings of the Karuk Tribe of north­ possibly with a touch of olive oil or will transfer the cylinders to tape. The ern California, collected by Helen frankincense, went into the composi­ packet will include whatever is available Roberts during March and April 1926. tion of the wax cylinders themselves. that may provide identification and This collection has detailed labels on Produced from carefully guarded for­ technical information on the cylinders. the storage boxes, and the supplemen- mulas, the cylinders were both soft and A complete packet can include listings Continued page 7

6 FOLKLIFE CENTER NEWS CylinderRecordings copies, and storage boxes; and related they hope to enrich the cultural life of tary materials include all of Roberts' sources of documentation, such as their tribe, while encouraging language unpublished manuscripts and field transcriptions and translations. maintenance. notebooks relevant to the collection, The goals of the Federal Cylinder Both groups were introduced to the among which are 703 pages of musical Project are not only to preserve the cyl­ Center's Federal Cylinder Project team transcriptions of the recorded songs. inders, in the literal sense of copying and their activities. Duplication of unidentified collections them before they deteriorate, but also will be scheduled later to allow time for to make possible a useful dissemination REPORT PREPARED FROM careful research which will involve con­ ofthose copies so that their contents are sulting collectors' lists, listening to the more widely available to the public, ARIZONA FOLKLIFE SURVEY recordings, grouping the cylinders by including current members of tribal the geographic area of the recorded and other groups originally recorded A report based on responses to the materials, and consulting individuals on the cylinders. By combining preser­ Center's Arizona Folk.life Survey, con­ who have expertise and knowledge vation and dissemination as mutually ducted by mail during 1977, has been about a particular musical region. complementary goals, and by mount­ prepared this summer with the assist­ Through this means, annotations will ing the project comprehensively and ance ofMary Hufford ofthe U Diversity be written to accompany the preserva­ with all available scholarly expertise, of Pennsylvania. The survey canvassed tion tapes of the unidentified cylinder the challenge posed by the cylinder museums, libraries, institutions, cul­ recordings. recordings can be addressed most ef­ tural organizations, and individuals The projectteam is preparing a com­ fectively and for the greatest public throughout the state to determine the panion catalog which will contain all of benefit. nature and extent of the region's folk the data that they have been able to cultural resources. Some results of the gather on each selection of a given survey were reported in the October cylinder. There will be spacein the cata­ NATIVE AMERICAN 1978 Folklife Center News. log to list the original collector's catalog VISITORS TO FOLKLIFE In all, 45 specific collections varying number for the cylinder; the "title" of CENTER in size from holdings of hundreds of the selection and other information on thousands of artifacts and printed song genre; the performer; the tribe; Nat;ive Americans have been fre-­ materials to collections ofseveral dozen date and location of the recording; Li­ quent visitors to the library of Con­ items are listed and described in the brary of Congress inventory numbers gress over the years, often particularly report. While there are undoubtedly for .relevant card files, tape copies, disc attracted to the collections of the further resources in the area that were Archive of Folk Song. During the week not located by this survey, the itemiza­ of August 20-24, the Folk.life Center tion ofpublic and private collections of was visited by a group from Laguna all sizes provides an overview of the Pueblo, New Mexico, associated with range and composition of Arizona's the Johnson O'Malley Indian Educa­ folk cultural resources. The report is tion Program. Stan Lucero, director of available upon request from the Ameri­ the Acoma/Laguna district, accom­ can Folk.life Center. panied by Patricia Duran-Weatherman, Tracy Wright, Katherine Smith, and Victoria Yawea, researched print and Director's Column photographic materials in the Library's radio or television program. The know­ collections relevant to projected publi­ how required for such efforts is one of cations on their pueblo and the sur­ the finest boons a professional can rounding area. offer, and community custodians will Simultaneously Frank Wright, Sr., be grateful for it. The second function and William Sterud, representing the is networking, the administrative ability Salish-speaking Puyallup tribe of to link up community custodians with Washington State, spent several days in each other and with the wider world of the Archive researching tape record­ cultural endeavor. And the third is per­ Fed£ral CylinderProject team: Erika Brady, ings of ancestral stories, songs, and spective, the ability to clarify, modify, seated,RunaldWalcott,andMariaLaVigna. tales. With copies of these materials Continwd page 8

OCTOBER 1979 7 Di.recJor's Column will be Richard Ahlborn, Carl Fleisch- , materrats based on the history of the correct, and extend a community's in­ hauer, Linda Gastaiiaga, Thomas city. Jean Coberly, director of the Li­ tuitive perception of itself and its folk Vennum, and William A. Wilson. brary's project, notes, "We feel that the traditions through a broader compara­ September workshop will initiate a flow tive knowledge of folklife. If these Seattle of historical information from the functions are effectively supplied by employed by folklorists and cultural ethnic communities into area schools professional cultural custodians, the specialists in their study of America's and libraries, so we can do a better job resulting partnership with community diverse cultural groups. of presenting the history of this area." custodians will help to insure that the Conceptualization and planning of Ros11:11ne Royer, chairperson of the current preservation impulse leads to the workshops for the Folklife Center Ethnic Heritage Workshop Commit­ the creation ofwork oflasting value. was directed by Elena Bradunas. The tee, thinks that the workshops have lectures, seminars, and demonstrations given participants the kind ofhelp they Paradise Valley were conducted by fifteen professional need to begin the documentation many by the Library of Congress and the folklorists and ethnic specialists, with groups have wanted to do for some Smithsonian Institution at the National assistance from Bradunas, Center time. Museum of History and Technology in media specialist Carl Fleischhauer, and The Seattle work.shop is the third 1980. Alan Jabbour, the Center's director. major experiment by the Folklife After field research materials are Presentations explored the compo­ Center in community work.shops. The completed, a collection ofessays by the nents ofcurrent ethnic community life, South-Central Georgia Folklife Project team members on traditional life and examining the value offamily and com­ included a series of community work­ work in the valley will be published. munity activities in the context of past shops and a special presentation for Summaries of some essays which have and present traditions. Discussion also teachers, and the Chicago Ethnic Arts been written for publication from pre­ centered on how to document and pre­ Project included as one important com­ vious visits to the valley will be pre­ serve features that embody the spirit of ponent a round of workshop sessions sented by project team members at the ethnic communities. with interested individuals from various 1979 annual meeting of the American The Ethnic Heritage Work.shop Chicago ethnic communities. The Folklore Society in Los Angeles on weekend coincided with the inception Center hopes to have further oppor­ October 25. The presentation on the of a two-year project by the Seattle tunities to investigate and refine the use theme of buckaroo life in northern Public Library, entitled "This City, of the workshop format in the pre­ Nevada will be chaired by Howard W. Seattle," which will feature illustrated sentation of technical information, Marshall, and the other participants lectures, tours, displays, and printed theories, and viewpoints.

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER WASHINGTON, D.C. 20540 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID LIBl'IAAY OF CONGRESS OFFICIAL BUSINESS U.S.MAIL PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, 1300

ISSN 0149-6840 Oztalog Card No. 77-649628