Accession Number: 47
John C. Campbell Folk School Records
Selected Records, 1923-1983
Selected Photographs, c. 1925-1985
17 boxes
3.3 linear ft.
Online Catalog Record (BANC)

Overview
History
Series Description

Part A - Selected Documents

Series I - Board and Corporation Meetings, Minutes and Reports, 1925-69
Series II - Directors’ Office Files. 1923-1969
Series III - Scrapbooks and Publications, 1952-82

Part B - Selected Photographs, c. 1925-1985

Series I - Brochures and News Releases, c. 1970-83
Series II - General File, c. 1925-1983
Series III - Betty Denash Photograph Albums c. 1930-1950
Series IV - Larry Pontier Prints c.1980
Series V - Doris Ulmann Copy Prints and Copy Negatives c. 1922-1933

Access and Use

Provenance: The John C. Campbell Folk School collection was compiled by the Settlement Institutions of Appalachia / Berea College Research Resources Project (1979-1986), and funded by the Appalachian Fund and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The records of the John C. Campbell Folk School were collected and organized 1982-1983 by Project staff and then microfilmed at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.Selected John C. Campbell Folk School photographs were collected, organized, and reproduced by Project staff in 1986.

Access: The microfilm master negative is owned by Berea College. A use copy is available in Hutchins Library’s Archives and Special Collections Department. Because Berea College does not own the copyright for the manuscripts or printed documents included in this microfilm edition, it is the responsibility of the researcher to secure permission to publish from the John C. Campbell Folk School or its successors and assigns.

The copy negatives and a set of copy prints are owned by Berea College and are available in Hutchins Library’s Special Collections and Archives Department. Berea College has permission to reproduce all or part of the school’s photographs, use them in slide or film presentations, display them, or loan them for displays, and to allow their use by researchers for reproduction and publication.

Preferred Citation: Either "John C. Campbell Folk School Records, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, Ky," when documents are cited, or "John C Campbell Folk School Photographic Collection, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, Ky," when images are used.

Related Berea College Archives

• Appalachian Oral History Collection, 1972-1973 SAA 59 [Marguerite Butler Bidstrup interviews]
• Council of the Southern Mountains Records, 1912-1970, SAA 1
• John C. Campbell Folk School Papers, SAA 24
• Settlement Institutions of Appalachia Records, 1970-1982 , SAA 36

Related References

• Howard A. Kester papers, 1923-1972 Edited by Edward M. Wayland. Microfilm
• Howard A. Kester papers, 1923-1972. Edited by Edward M. Wayland.
• The Appalachian Photographs of Doris Ulmann

Other Related Archives

• John Charles and Olive Dame Campbell Papers (#3800).
• John C. Campbell Folk School Records, 1928-1988 (#5040)

Part B: Selected Photographs, c. 1925-1985

Series Description and Subject List, Part B

15 Boxes, 1,913 Photo-reproductions

Overview, Part B

The photographs belonging to the John C. Campbell Folk School collection range from those taken for insurance documentation and random snap-shots, to elaborate photo studies and arrangements depicting various aspects of Appalachian life and culture. There were over 7,000 original images, but many of these were duplicates. Ultimately, only 1,913 photographs (27%) of the total collection were selected for duplication.

Overall, the photographic collection is extremely strong in its documentation of folk school activities, particularly in the areas of Danish and other traditional folk dance and traditional handicrafts, including ceramics, weaving, wood, and metal work.

The duplicated photos are numbered on the back, and arranged alphabetically by primary subject. (See Collection Contents Summary following the series descriptions.) An in-house index classifies the photos also by secondary subject, by date, and by the original series, as desribed below. Thus the identification numbers allow researchers to locate photos by series, by date, or by subject.

This series consists of 705 promotional, but nonetheless exceptional photographs, which document school activities, campus, and handicrafts. Subjects given particular emphasis include folk art techniques, artifacts, and craftspeople at work.

Photographs included in this series document Folk School activities, environs, handicrafts, craftspeople, and campus. The series contains 1,104 images selected from a variety of original formats including loose prints, mounted prints, albums, 35mm slides, and original negatives. Predominate dates are from c. 1950-1983. Particular emphasis is given to folk arts, craftspeople, and their work. Folk dancing is also given attention with a number of photographs taken at various festivals and special events.

The four albums and a set of duplicate loose prints that comprise this series, record school activities involving woodcarving, weaving, dyeing, campus buildings and farm, and folk dancing. The photographs were taken and / or collected by Denash herself. Early carvers and instructors are extensively featured in this series. Denash photograph dates range from about 1930 through 1950. Album titles include "Crafts, Houses, Farm"; "People and Recreation": "Supplies"; and "Woodcarving."

Loose prints and 35mm negatives from the 1980s contained in this series include studies of craftspeople and workshops as documented by Brasstown area photographer, Larry Pontier. Included are views of black-smithing, copper sculpture, lapidary, woodworking, pottery, and other crafts. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

This series contains copy prints and copy negatives of original photographs by nationally recognized photographer Doris Ulmann. Mrs. Ulmann traveled extensively throughout the southern Appalachian region during the late 1920s and early 1930s documenting various aspects of mountain life and culture.

In an effort to preserve Ulmann images belonging to the John C. Campbell Folk School, the North Carolina Department of Archives and History agreed to duplicate many of these original prints. Images selected for inclusion in the SIA collection were taken directly from the copy negatives of these original prints. Also included are several copy prints taken from images not duplicated in the North Carolina Archives’ project. These photographs are primarily portraits of local residents and include various craftspeople, folk school staff members and students.

Part B: Collection Contents Summary, Alphabetically Arranged by Primary Subject: Selected Photographs, c. 1925-1985

Box 3: Activities

Box 4: Activities (Cont.), Animals

Box 5: Architecture, Artifacts

Box 6: Artifacts (Cont.)

Box 7: Artifacts (Cont.), Campus Buildings and Grounds

Box 8: Campus Buildings And Grounds (Cont.), Ceremonies, Dress, Events

Box 9: Events (Cont.), Folk Art

Box 10: Folk Art (Cont.)

Box 11: Folk Art (Cont.)

Box 12: Folk Art (Cont.) Interiors

Box 13: Interiors (Cont.), Landscapes, Music

Box 14: Music (Cont.), Occupations, People

Box 15: Portraits

Box 16: Portraits (Cont.), Portraits/Staff, Sports, Street Scenes, Studies

Box 17: Studies (Cont.), Theater, Transportation

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