State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives TENNESSEE ARTS COMMISSION FOLK ARTS PROGRAM RECORDS, 1889-2017 RECORD GROUP 340 COLLECTION SUMMARY Creator: Tennessee Arts Commission. Folk Arts Program Cogswell, Robert Inclusive Dates: 1889-2017, bulk 1976-2014 Scope & Content: Consists of materials representing an official record of the Folklife Program of the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) from its inception through the directorship of Dr. Robert (Roby) Cogswell. Totaling approximately 38 linear feet and housed in 65 boxes, the Folk Arts Program Records include office files, research files, correspondence, photographs, slides, negatives, ephemera, and a large amount of audio/visual materials. The collection documents Tennessee’s rich folk art culture as well as local traditions and art forms. The highlight of the assemblage is the approximately 22,000-image photography grouping which includes printed photographs, slides, negatives, contact sheets, and digital files. The collection focuses on folk artists and art forms as well as traditional and cultural art. Key topics include the 1986 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, information on artists who have received the National Heritage Fellowship and Tennessee Folklife Heritage Awards, and grants awarded by TAC. (Please see “Scope and Content” for each of the eight series to view a more detailed description of subjects.) Physical Description/Extent: 38 linear feet Accession/Record Group Number: RG 340 Language: English Permanent Location: ASRS, IX-D-2-5v Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, Tennessee, 37219 Administrative/Biographical History 1965 Tennessee House of Representatives creates a Commission on Performing Arts to study artistic facilities in the state 1967 Tennessee General Assembly creates the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC) “with the special mandate to stimulate and encourage the presentation of the visual, literary, music and performing arts and to encourage public interest in the cultural heritage of Tennessee” 1984 Tennessee Arts Commission establishes its Folk Arts Program October 1984 Dr. Robert Cogswell becomes Director of the Folk Arts Program 1986 Tennessee folk artists participate in the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C. 2000 Name of Folk Arts Program is changed to Folklife Program 2002 Folklife Program transitions from film to digital photography 2002 Jennifer Core is Folklife Program Assistant -2004 2003 TAC begins initial efforts to scan photographs and create a digital -2004 images database 2009 Dana Everts-Boehm is Folklife Program Assistant -present 2013 Christina Skinker works with Cogswell to October catalog the program’s 22,000-image photographic collection and -2014 May scan selected items 2014 Cogswell retires December Robert Cogswell Robert (Roby) Cogswell, a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and M.A. and Ph. D. degrees from the Indiana University Folklore Institute. He taught in the American Studies Program at the University of Louisville and conducted public folklife projects for the Kentucky Arts Council before joining the staff of the Tennessee Arts Commission in 1984. As Director of the Folklife Program, Roby researched, documented, and wrote about Tennessee folk arts, provided technical assistance and information services about the state's folk culture, initiated and conducted special projects, and managed grant programs. He has served as a festival consultant for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, and the National Folk Festival, and he has chaired the Folk Arts Advisory Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. Roby retired from the Tennessee Arts Commission in December 2014. Organization/Arrangement of Materials Series I. Folklife Program Files, 1976-2014 Boxes 1-6 Series II. Deceased Artist Files, 1925-2014 Boxes 7-9 Series III. Grant Funding, 1970-2010 Boxes 10-12 Series IV. Organizations and Events, 1899-2014 Boxes 13-17 (bulk 1976-2014) Series V. Experts/Individuals, 1907-2014 Box 18 Series VI. Photographs, 1899-2013 Boxes 19-26 (bulk 1984-2013) Series VII. Ephemera, 1983-2014 Box 27 and oversize folder 28 Series VIII. Audio/Visual Materials, 1947-2014 Boxes 29-63 Series IX. Basketry, 1889-2017 Boxes 64-65 Conditions of Access and Use Restrictions on Access: No restrictions. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction: While the Tennessee State Library and Archives houses an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use. Index Terms Personal Names: Acuff, Charlie, 1919-2013 Alexander, Lamar, 1940- Allen, Jewell Alvic, Philis Anderson, Virgil, 1902-1997 Armstrong, Howard, 1909-2003 Ashley, Clarence, 1895-1967 Atkinson, Ben, 1921-2000 Baker, Kenny, 1926-2011 Barbee, Eldia Barnes, George, 1840-1919 Belfour, Robert, 1940- Berry, Sarah, 1819-1898 Big Bo Big Maybelle, 1924-1972 Bigay, Daniel Blaustein, Richard Blaylock, Laura, 1892-1985 Blizard, Ralph, 1918-2004 Bogan, Ted, 1910-1990 Boggs, Dock, 1898-1971 Bolden, Hawkins, 1914-2005 Bond, Eddie (Fiddler) Bowman, Charlie Box, Taylor J. Boyle, Frank, 1933-2001 Brandon, Luke Brewer, Finley J. Brewster, W. Herbert (William Herbert), 1897-1987 Bright, Fletcher Buchanan, James, 1907-2008 Bullard, Helen, 1902- Calhoun, Dale, 1937-2007 Campbell, Blind James, 1906- Cantú, Norma E., 1947- Carathers, Mildred, 1913-2011 Carathers, Ruth Ann Cardwell, Vina Mae Carter, Roland M., 1942- Christian, Jacky Clark, Cortelia Clayton, Georgia Cleveland, Michael (Fiddler) Cline, Kitty Cora, 1876-1973 Cogswell, Kathy Cogswell, Robert Condra, Estelle, 1944- Cooper, Wilma Lee, 1921-2011 Cox, Ida, 1889-1967 Cross, Hugh, 1904-1970 Davenport, Clyde, 1921- Davenport, Homer Davis, Hoyt Jake Davis, Ida Pearl, 1921-2007 Davis, Ted, 1940-2008 Decker, Charles F., 1832-1914 Defosche, Mike Dixon, Dean Douglas, Bob, 1900- Driver, Taft, 1912- Duncan, Byrd, 1900-1986 Duncan, Stuart Edmondson, William, 1882?-1951 Estes, Sleepy John, 1899-1977 Estes, Viella, 1921-2007 Evans, David, 1944- Evans, Lizzie, 1865-1941 Finster, Howard, 1916-2001 Fodor, Clara, 1920-2008 Forrester, Howdy, 1922-1987 Fox, Curly Fraley, J. P. Franks, Randall Frye, Elcie Mae Fulcher, Bobby Garrett, Bud, 1916-1987 Garrett, Carl Garrett, Henry (Vocalist) Ghent, Aubrey Gordon, Bart J., 1949- Gore, Al, 1948- Granade, John Adam, 1763?-1807 Griffith, James S. Green, Archie Green, Homer, 1910-2002 Grier, Walter, 1898- Haile, Hascal, 1906- Hale, Theron Haley, Alex Hall, H. Richard Handy, W. C. (William Christopher), 1873-1958 Harlan, Howard L. Harris, Anselmo, 1849-1938 Harris, Deadrick Harris, Wash Harsh, Nathan Harvey, Bessie, 1929-1994 Helms, Mary Dougherty Hemphill, Jessie Mae Hibdon, Thelma Hicks, Dee Hicks, Johnny Ray, 1925-2000 Hodgins, Alma Horner, Charles Jean Hoskinson, Danny, 1956-2008 Howard, Clint, 1930- Hughes, Ruby Irwin, John Rice, 1930- Jarrett, Alvin, 1904-1993 Jefferson, Blind Lemon, 1897-1929 Jones, Loyal, 1928- Jones, Waynell, 1926- Keahey, Tommy, 1918- Keith, Leslie Kemp, Cordell, 1909-2005 Keys, Will, 1923-2005 Kimzey, Anne King, B. B. King, Elvin, 1924-2002 Knowles, Dan Krauss, Alison, 1971- Landry, Bill Laury, Booker T., 1914-1995 Lawson, Doyle Light, Joe, 1934-2005 Longworth, Mike, 1938- Louvin, Charlie, 1927-2011 Lowery, Bill Macon, Uncle Dave, 1870-1952 Mangrum, Blind Joe, -1932 Martin, Jimmy Maupin, Thomas Mayes, Henry Harrison, 1898-1986 McBee, Hamper, 1931-1998 McCarroll, Jimmy McConnell, Doc McDowell, Fred McGee, Kirk, 1899-1983 McGee, Sam, 1894-1975 McGhee, Brownie, 1915-1996 McWherter, Ned R., 1930-2011 Meade, Guthrie T., 1932-1991 Meaders, Cleater, 1921-2003 Merritt, Nelda Joan Mize, Robert, 1920-2003 Monroe, Bill, 1911-1996 Moon, Arlin, 1917-2008 Morrison, Naomi Moss, Frazier Muddy Waters, 1915-1983 Neeves, Glen Nemerov, Bruce Newberry, Dallas Nixon, Hammie O’Day, Molly, 1923-1987 Orr, Jay Owen, Blanton, 1945-1998 Pace, Roy, 1926-2011 Palmer, Kathleen Dunn, 1943- Peeler, Armistead Peeler, Parlee Pitchford, Gayel Prince, Dan, 1951- Pugh, Dow Rachell, Yank Raichelson, Richard M., 1941- Rankin, Hystercine Rector, Red Richardson, Deanie Robison, Carson Rodriguez, Dionicio, 1891-1955 Rutherford, Leonard Sasser, James R. Sayre, Maggie Lee, 1920- Schnaufer, David Schoemaker, George H. Scott, Revin Scott, Tom, 1899- Scott, Willie, 1902-1986 Scruggs, Earl Seeger, Mike, 1933-2009 Seroff, Doug Shearon, Stephen Mark Shipley, Reese Sisson, Allen Slayden, Will Smith, Arthur, 1898-1971 Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937 Smith, Blaine Smith, Jerry Lee Smith, Lucille, 1910- Speller, Henry, 1902-1997 Spencer, Robby Spicer, Robert, 1921-2002 Spradlin, Retta, 1903-1978 Stephens, Uncle Bunt Stewart, Alex Lewis, 1891-1985 Stewart, Florrie Stoneman, Patsy (Musician) Streeter, Colia, 1891-1965 Streeter, Vannoy Stringfield, Clarence, 1903-1976 Stubbs, Eddie Sundquist, Don, 1936- Swan, Billy Sweezy, Nancy Sweezy, Sam Tabor, Frank, 1893-1961 Taylor, John Y., 1893- Texas Ruby Thomas, Earl (Vocalist) Townsend, Bob Townsend, Parks, 1909-1991 Treadway, James, 1935- Tripp, William Blevins, 1955- Trischka, Tony, 1949- Troxell, Clyde, 1911-1994 Tullock, Jake Turner, Clay Underwood, Alberta, 1926- Van Story, Marcus Vandergriff, Russ Vinson, Mose, 1917-2002 Waggoner, Tim, 1940-2013 Waldvogel, Merikay, 1947-