Sam Eskin Collection, 1939-1969
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2005700200
General International Standard for Archival Description
Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Encoded by Judy Ng, May 2007 ; Revised by Nora Yeh, July 2008
May 2007 ; Revised by Nora Yeh, July 2008
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Sam Eskin Collection, 1939-1969 1939-1969
16,568 items (15,795 manuscripts, 716 sound recordings, and 57 graphic materials)
Eskin, Sam
Biographical History for: Sam Eskin Collection, 1939-1969 1939-1969
Biographical History Sam Eskin was a self-made man who tried his hand at a variety of professions and eventually found an outlet for his artistic expression in folk music. Born in Washington, D.C. on July 5, 1898, Eskin grew up in Baltimore but left home at a young age to explore the world. Consequently, his formal education ended with the eighth grade. Over the course of the next twenty-five years, Eskin's experiences as a taxi driver, clerk, magazine reporter, logger, merchant seaman, cattle hand, cannery worker, and traveling United Parcel Service (UPS) consultant exposed him to a wide variety of songs, including work songs, sea shanties, and American versions of traditional ballads. In 1938, he began seriously collecting and performing folk music. With the job security and benefits accrued after a fifteen-year stint with UPS, by 1945, Eskin was free to pursue his interests in the collection and performance of folk music. During the period between 1938 and 1945, Eskin gathered material with a growing awareness of folksong scholarship, reading widely on the subject to familiarize himself with the significance of folksongs as cultural and social documentation, and as an aesthetic means of expression for the people who sang them. As a self-taught folklorist, Eskin's primary interests were the collection, preservation, and evaluation of American folksongs, indigenous music, dance music, primitive drumming, oral storytelling, and oral histories. Eskin's papers and correspondence document an awareness of folk music's connection with folklore and musicology, which is reflected in the sound recordings he collected in the field. Eskin's interest in recording folk music came at a period of technological transition, and his early and successful investments in UPS stock provided him with the financial freedom to experiment with newly emerging recording formats. Eskin embraced new technologies and upgraded his disc and reel-to-reel tape recorders, amplifiers, and speakers on a regular basis. At his permanent home in Woodstock, New York, he was infamous for showing new friends and visitors the eight foot long wooden optimal base speaker he had built. The evolution of sound recording techniques in America from the 1930s to the 1960s is reflected in Eskin's own moves from acetate discs to wire recordings to reel-to-reel magnetic tape. From 1945 to 1953, Eskin embarked on several cross-country trips through the United States and Mexico, traveling from state to state in a silver trailer from which he made field recordings, notations, and transcriptions. By the mid 1950s, Eskin began a series of trips abroad, visiting Jamaica, Cuba, England, Scotland, Spain, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, and Thailand, while often recording and collecting samples of the local music and lore he encountered. With his casual demeanor and energetic passion for music, Eskin easily made new acquaintances and maintained correspondence with a number of musicians he met in his travels. Eskin also shared his thoughts on folk music through correspondence and visits with other folklorists in the field, including renowned collectors and performers Pete Seeger and Sydney Robertson Cowell. Professionally, Eskin lectured at various universities, workshops, and folk festivals, and released two commercial albums, Sea Shanties and Loggers Songs , and the four-disc set Sam Eskin Songs and Ballads . From 1948 to 1972, working with fellow enthusiasts and music producers Emory Cook and Moses Asch, Eskin also contributed original source material, co-produced, or performed on 19 albums released under the Cook Laboratories/Folkways Records label. Bibliography: Greer, Chia. Remembering Sam Eskin. Home Page. 13 December 2001 http://www.casa-chia.org/Sam/eskin00.html .
Scope and Content While Sam Eskin's interests were broad in scope, his multi-format collection of manuscripts, published materials, sound recordings, and still images concentrates and builds upon his early interests in American folk music. The collection centers around field recordings Eskin made in the United States from 1938 to 1966. Not only are these recordings the source material for a number of his original song notations and transcriptions, certain performers' names reappear in his correspondence, business records, notes, and photographs. Another topical connection between the manuscript and audio portions of the collection is bawdy humor. From the beginning, Eskin marked risque field recordings with a Greek delta symbol, and created a Humorous subdivision for his bawdy song transcriptions. He also maintained a healthy file of limericks that mirror the tone and intent of his "delta" recordings. The manuscript portion of Sam Eskin Collection contains original and printed material, broken into eight main categories: 1) administrative records related to the transfer and acquisition of the collection; 2) clippings/articles related to folk music; 3) Eskin's correspondence with other enthusiasts, performers, and scholars; 4) Eskin's notes and drafts for lectures, presentations, and radio interviews; 5) mailings and advertisements from societies and studios, including festival programs and newsletters; 6) ideas, notes, quotations, and song lists jotted or typed onto slips of paper; 7) a collection of bawdy limericks; and 8) a comprehensive collection of song notations and transcriptions. The last category includes the majority of the manuscript items. Many of these notations were taken directly from original disc and reel-to-reel field recordings and remain in subdivided categories organized by Eskin. It should also be noted that, while a handful of these manuscript items are related to traditional Mexican music, the majority of these manuscripts are directly related to folk music in the United States. Prominent individuals Eskin corresponded with include: Jorge Luis Arriola, Sidney Robertson Cowell, Arthur Kyle Davis, E.L. Doctorow, J.D. Elder, Alta and Austin Fife, Jim Geary, Bess Lomax Hawes, Joseph Hickerson, Joe Helmer, George List, Seymour B. Liebman, Alan Lomax, Ben Gray Lumpkin, Dorothy Mehrton, Archie Leroy Musick, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Irwin Silber, and Margaret Valiant. The audio portion of this collection consists of disc and reel-to-reel field recordings, duplicates, and commercial recordings. A complete list of commercial recordings transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcast, and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress is available in the Folklife Reading Room. Even more than the manuscript series, these sound recordings reflect Eskin's diverse musical interests, his exploration into different genres, and his experimentation with field recording techniques. Although Eskin did not keep formal records of field recording sessions, information regarding songs, locations, and performers are noted on disc sleeves, reel-to-reel boxes, and select items located in the manuscript portion of the collection. While a few of the American performers in these recordings were prominent artists at the time, Eskin made a number of recordings with artists who did not achieve commercial recognition until much later in their careers. Some of Eskin's recordings are performed by unidentified artists. Eskin's first field recordings were made on discs, which he used from 1940 to 1949. During this time, his many cross-country trips from New York to California were spent recording American folk music. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Eskin made audio copies of these field recordings on 16-inch preservation discs. Concerned over the viability of magnetic tape, he also made 16-inch discs of reel-to-reel field recordings made from the early 1950s, and transferred a small selection of commercial jazz and blues songs, commercial releases of international music, radio broadcasts, and miscellaneous recordings onto the 16-inch disc format. The 12-inch discs included in this collection appear to be given to Eskin by an unidentified collector. Eskin switched to reel-to-reel tape in 1949. When it was clear that magnetic tape had become a recording standard, Eskin migrated his disc recordings onto tape, and began duplicating of his own tapes, other collectors' recordings, and commercial songs or albums. While he continued making field recordings in the United States, beginning in 1950 Eskin collected music during his more frequent travels abroad. His visits to Mexico, Israel, Spain, and the British Isles yielded a respectable cache of field recordings, which are supplemented by recordings he made in the Middle East, the Caribbean, and East Asia. Also included in AFC 1999/004 are two sets of commercial recordings containing songs performed by Eskin: Sam Eskin Songs and Ballads (four 10-inch discs, 2 sets) and Vistas of Israel (four 16-inch discs). In 1952, Eskin duplicated thirty-one of his reel-to-reel tape field recordings for the Archive of Folk Song (AFS 10,501-10,506). Eskin also collaborated on a second duplication project to make copies of his earliest disc field recordings for the Archive of Folk Song in 1960 (AFS 11,712-11,719). Additional original recordings used in these duplication projects are included in this collection. The graphic images in this collection consist of 55 black-and-white prints of various sizes, one color print, two negatives, and a handful of unused postcards depicting views of instruments and instumentalists. Two thirds of the photographic subjects have been identified as field recording performers. The remaining subjects, while unidentified, are also assumed to be performers. The database created for this collection contains listings and locations for the graphic images and musical transcriptions and notations, as well as searchable title, performer, and descriptive fields pertaining to Eskin's instantaneous discs, reel-to-reel tapes, and original field recordings. This database is available in the Folklife Reading Room.
series
Series I: Manuscripts
Includes collection guide, correspondence, publications, song transcriptions and notations, notes, and ephemera.
subseries
Administrative
file
Collection Guide; additional concordances listing: 1) disc and reel-to-reel recordings in the collection and 2) a complete listing of commercial recordings transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcast, and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS) at the Library of Congress
Administrative Information for Sam Eskin Collection, 1939-1969
Correspondence
Correspondence (1 of 7) A-C
Correspondence with: Sally Adams; Dwight Akers; Charles B. Barker; Yvonne Belmont (Gregory); Julie Bidou; Homer Brown; Terrence Burrow; Ken Carter; Norman Cohen; Al Cox; and Marian Curtis
Correspondence (2 of 7) D-H
Correspondence with: R. Davidson, Arthur Drayton; Jacob Elder; Frank Fletcher; Folkworld Inc. (Beth Bryant); Laurie Forti; Livingston Gearhart; Clifford Gessler; Sylvia Woodall Gibson; Edmund Gilligan; Arthur [Harp]; Mrs. James H. Haight; Frances Hannett; Bess Lomax Hawes; Joseph Hickerson; and Frank Hoffman
Correspondence (3 of 7) I-L
Correspondence with: Indiana University (George List); Instituto Indigenista Nacional (Jorge Luis Arriola); Norma Keleti; Mr. D. Joshlin; Edgar C. Leaycraft; George Lennon; Liberty Mutual; Seymour B. Liebman; Alan Lomax; and Ben Gray Lumpkin
Correspondence (4 of 7) M-R
Correspondence with: Mrs. Guy Manley; Mrs. John T. Manning; [?] Manning; Archie Musick; New American Library (E.L. Doctorow); Tom Paxton; Joe Nicholas; Royal McBee Corp.; Clem Richardson; Nathan Resnick; Mrs. Peter R. [Paris]; Joseph Opperman; Dan O'Meara; Raymond Olitt; William Oliver
Correspondence (5 of 7) S-Z
Correspondence with: Salisbury State College (Grace S. Chaires); Pete Seeger; C.A. Southwick Jr.; O. Strong; Lannis Sutton; [Mrs. I. Taylor]; Tiger Thompson; Arnold Tubman; United States National Student Association; Virginia Folklore Society (Arthur Kyle Davis Jr.); [A. Weaver]; WHAT-FM (Richard Harvey); Helen Wolfert; and Parker Woods
Correspondence (6 of 7): Sender Signed Only First Name
Correspondence with: Barry; Bob; Carmelia; Des; Edith; Joe; Margaret; Paul; Ruth; Sara; and [Stan]
Correspondence (7 of 7): Unsigned/Illegible Signature
Six letters with illegible signatures
Business Contracts/Receipts
1) Release forms signed by the following performers (additional information written on the back of some slips): Luvicie Beasley; Ruth Ellen Becker; Mrs. F.A. Cogswell; Dorothy Cravath; Jaime de Angulo; Myrtle G. Street Downing; Lloyd Fowler; Francis Frost; Emma Gibson; Sara Hinton; Willie [Holt]; Mary Ellen Miller; Moon Mulligan; Vernon Nash; Desmond S. Powell; Isabel Seabrook; Kathleen Anna Seabrook; Lannis Sutton; Mrs. Peggie Tharp; and Fred A. Uncklus 2) Royalty receipts for the album Songs and Ballads by Sam Eskin
Organizations (1 of 3): Canadian Folk Music Society
Three form letters, dated 1963 and 1964
Organizations (2 of 3): International Folk Music Council
Three form letters, dated 1957, 1962, and 1963; two conference programs; member rules; and one newsletter dated 1963
Organizations (3 of 3): Ulster County Folklore Society
Correspondence that discusses Eskin's role in the formation of the society
Publications
Newsletters
Contains the following: New York Folk Guitar Club (n. 5/6, 6 pp.; n.11, 6 pp.); The Folknik (v.7.1, 5 pp.; v.7.2, 2 pp.; v.7.5, 4 pp.); John Edwards Memorial Foundation (v.1.1, 12 pp.; pamphlet, 1 p.); North East Folklore Society (form letter); Old Town School of Folk Music (n.4, 2 pp.); and Philadelphia Folk Song Society (March 1964, 1 p.)
Festivals (1 of 3) A-M
Listings, programs, flyers, and invitations from: Library of Congress Archive of Folk Song Folk Festivals in the United States and Canada (1963-1964, 4 pp.; 1973, 40 pp.); Breton Folklore Festival program (1962, 4 pp.); 6th Annual Berkeley Folk Music Festival (1963; staff card); Cornell Folk Festival program (1962, 2 pp.); English Folk Music Festival program (1959, 12 pp.); Florida Folk Festival program (1963, 3 pp.; 1964, 13 pp.); Georgia Festival of Music Registration flyer (1966, 2 pp.); England Haslemere Festival program (1967, 12 sides); Hootenanny: A Folk Song Festival program (1962, 4 sides); Indian Neck Folk Music Festival (invitation, 3 pp.; directions, 1 p.; program, 1 p.); Long Beach Institute of Folklore and Mythology program (no year, 1 p.); and 11th Annual Miramichi Folksong Festival (form letter, 1 p.)
Festivals (2 of 3) N
Listings, programs, flyers, and invitations from: National Folk Festival Inc. (form letters, information, lectures/essays, updates, 22 pp.; 30th Annual Folk Festival program, 7 pp.; 33rd Annual Folk Festival flyer, pp.); New England Folklore Weekend flyer (1962, 1 p.); and Newport Folk Festival corporate structure, organizational outline (1963, 5 pp.)
Festivals (3 of 3) O-Z
Listings, programs, flyers, and invitations from: 15th Annual Ozark Folk Festival program (three copies, 8 pp.); Philadelphia Folk Festival (1962; flyer 1 p., program 8 pp.); and Western Folklore Conference program (1 p.)
Staging/Voice Exercises
Eskin's performing requirements (typed form letter, 1 p.) and pre-performance voice exercises (handwritten notations, 4 pp.)
Song Lists
Song Lists in Alphabetical Order
Five lists of American folksongs: List 1 (typed; indicates major and minor keys, 3 pp.); List 2 (typed, 1 p.); List 3 (typed, 2 pp.); List 4 (typed, 4 pp.); and List 5 (handwritten, 1 p.)
Song Lists by Genre
Six lists of American folksongs: List 1 (handwritten, 1 p.); List 2 (typed, 2 pp.); List 3 (typed, 2 pp.); List 4 (typed, indicates major and minor keys, 2 pp.); List 5 (typed, 1 p.); List 6 (typed, 1 p.). Genres include: American; ballad; British ballads (tragic; other); British songs (humor; other); carousing; children; history; holler; humorous; Irish; lawbreakers; lively; loggers; love; miners; moral; Negro secular work songs; non-folk; nostalgia; outlaws; pioneer/cowboy; shanty; short sentimental; spiritual; trouble; White spirituals; and work songs
Song Lists in Numerical Order
Eleven lists of American folksongs: List 1 (typed, 2 cards); List 2 (typed, 6 cards); List 3 (typed; 4 cards); List 4 (typed; 1 card); List 5 (typed; 10 cards); List 6 (typed; 2 cards); List 7 (handwritten; 20 cards); List 8 (2 cards); List 9 (typed; 1 card); List 10 (handwritten; 12 leaves); and List 11 (handwritten; 5 pp.)
Eight lists of American folksongs: List 1 (3 copies, typed, indicates major and minor keys, 1 p.); List 2 (typed, indicates major and minor keys, 1 leaf); List 3 (handwritten, 1 card); List 4 (typed, 1 leaf); List 5 (typed, 1 leaf); List 6 (typed, indicates full running times, 1 leaf); List 7 (typed, 1 leaf); and List 8 (typed, 1 leaf)
Folksong Alive
Information for Folksong Alive (manuscript for publication, unfinished) (1 of 2)
Includes correspondence with: Cy Grant; E.L. Doctorow; Nathan Resnick, and Irwin Silber. Also includes: header notes and background information on fourteen songs (typed, 14 pp.); notes on folk music taken from other published sources (typed, 16 pp.); quotations and notes defining folk music (typed and handwritten, 35 leaves)
Information for Folksong Alive (manuscript for publication, unfinished) (2 of 2)
Includes quotations and notes on the following folk music topics: evolution (typed and handwritten, 14 leaves); interpretation (typed and handwritten, 3 leaves); miscellaneous (typed and handwritten, 21 leaves); and vocabulary (typed and handwritten, 10 leaves). Also includes a list of bibliographic resources (typed, 2 pp.)
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive --untitled
Includes a title index of American folksongs, 87 songs. Also includes song notations and transcriptions from field interviews and recordings (typed and handwritten, 34 songs)
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive (1 of 5) A-B
14 songs; includes a title index of American folksongs (1 draft and 2 final copies, typed, 94 songs), and a genre index to American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive (2 of 5) C-G
21 songs
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive (3 of 5) H-L
22 songs
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive (4 of 5) M-R
15 songs
Songs Grouped by Eskin: Folksong Alive (5 of 5) S-Z
19 songs
Songs by Genre
Song Genre: Children's Songs
Notations and/or transcriptions of songs; also includes notes on individual songs and/or performers (typed and handwritten, 11 songs)
Song Genre: Cowboy Songs (1 of 2) A-L
"As I Walked..." to "Little Old..."; lyrics to cowboy songs (typed, 15 songs)
Song Genre: Cowboy Songs (2 of 2) M-Z
"My Love..." to "Zebra..."; lyrics to cowboy songs (typed, 13 songs)
Song Genre: Flamenco
Notations of songs in the following Flamenco styles: Bulerias, Farruca, Granadinas, Sevillanos, Soleares, and Zambra (handwritten, 22 songs)
Essays and Notes: Flamenco
"Andalusian Music" (essay, typed, 3 pp.); "Randolph Victor" (essay, typed, 10 pp.); "Cante Flamenco" (essay, typed, 23 pp.); notes on Andalusian music (handwritten, 2 leaves); "Ramon Montoya" (essay, typed, 3 pp.); and "The Rasgueado" (essay, typed, 3 pp.)
Song Genre: Humor (1 of 8) A-B
"A soldier..." to "Bully-O-Rio" (16 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (2 of 8) C-D
"Canadian..." to "Down in the..." (15 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (3 of 8) E-H
"Engineer's..." to "Humoresque" (14 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (4 of 8) I-L
"I Don't..." to "Lydia..." (15 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (5 of 8) M-N
"Mademoiselle..." to "Now My..." (14 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (6 of 8) O-P
"Of all the..." to "Prettiest..." (15 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (7 of 8) Q-S
Song Genre: Humor (7 of 8) Q-S (20 songs)
Song Genre: Humor (8 of 8) T-Z
"Tailor's..." to "Winnipeg..." (19 songs)
Song Genre: Loggers' Songs (1 of 2) C-J
"Canada I.O." to "Jimmy Whalen"; includes Eskin's title index to loggers' songs. Also includes notations and/or transcriptions to loggers' songs (typed and handwritten, 8 songs)
Song Genre: Loggers' Songs (2 of 2) L-S
"Lass of..." to "Shanty-man's Life"; includes notations and/or transcriptions of loggers' songs (typed and handwritten, 13 songs)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (1 of 6) A-B
"Alabama" to "Boston Come..."; also includes Eskin's title index to shanty songs (10 songs;)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (2 of 6) C-D
"Calton Weaver" to "Dreadnought" (9 songs)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (3 of 6) F-J
"Firedown Below" to "Joshua..." (11 songs)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (4 of 6) L-R
"Leave Her..." to "Roving" (8 songs)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (5 of 6) S
"Sailor Loves" to "Sur la route..." (10 songs)
Song Genre: Sea Shanties (6 of 6) T-W
"There's a fire..." to "Whiskey..." (6 songs)
Song Genre: Sea-Island Songs
Transcribed sea songs from Lydia Parrish's Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands (handwritten, 5 songs)
Songs by Personal Name
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Christman, Henry
16 anti-rent songs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Downing, Myrtle (1 of 4) A-E
3 lists, 7 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Downing, Myrtle (2 of 4) F-I
7 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Downing, Myrtle (3 of 4) J-P
9 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Downing, Myrtle (4 of 4) Q-Z
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Miller, Mickey
1 list, 12 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Nevins, Ann (1 of 2) A-F
4 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Nevins, Ann (2 of 2) G-Z
8 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Nunan, Peadar and May
10 songs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: O'Brien, Sean
7 songs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Oliver, Bill
8 songs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Opperman, Joseph
letter of correspondence; 3 songs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: [Cowell], Sydney Robertson (1 of 2) A-K
10 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: [Cowell], Sydney Robertson (2 of 2) L-Z
12 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Striebel, Fritzi
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Sutton, Lannis (1 of 4) A-E
3 letters of correspondence; 8 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Sutton, Lannis (2 of 4) F-I
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Sutton, Lannis (3 of 4) J-S
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Sutton, Lannis (4 of 4) T-Z
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Sutton, Lannis
17 American folksongs in numerical order
Notebook: Old Songs (1 of 2) (Archival 1-11 of 28); 9 American folksongs
Notebook: Old Songs (2 of 2) (Archival 12-28 of 28); 8 American folksongs
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Unckless, Fred
Songs Grouped by Personal Names: Wolfert, Helen
Letter of correspondence; 3 songs
Songs by Title
Songs by Title: A (1 of 3)
"Abdul..." to "All..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: A (2 of 3)
"Amsterdam" to "As I Walked Out..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: A (3 of 3)
"As I Walked Over..." to "Away..." (7 songs)
Songs by Title: B (1 of 7)
"Bad..." to "Barbara..." (18 songs)
Songs by Title: B (2 of 7)
"Barley..." to "Better..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: B (3 of 7)
"Biddy..." to "Bless..." (15 songs)
Songs by Title: B (4 of 7)
"Blind..." to "Boloed" (16 songs)
Songs by Title: B (5 of 7)
"Boney" to "Bowling..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: B (6 of 7)
"Boys..." to "Brose..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: B (7 of 7)
"Brown..." to "Buttermilk..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: C (1 of 5)
"C.C. ..." to "Charly..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: C (2 of 5)
"Charming..." to "Climbing..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: C (3 of 5)
"Coal..." to "Come..." (15 songs)
Songs by Title: C (4 of 5)
"Commanche" to "Crazy..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: C (5 of 5)
"Croodin'..." to "Cutty..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: D (1 of 4)
"Dabbling..." to "Dearest..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: D (2 of 4)
"Death..." to "Die..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: D (3 of 4)
"Diggers..." to "Don't..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: D (4 of 4)
"Down..." to "Dying..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: E
"Earl..." to "Evolution" (15 songs)
Songs by Title: F (1 of 3)
"Fair..." to "Farmer's..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: F (2 of 3)
"Farther..." to "Footsteps" (12 songs)
Songs by Title: F (3 of 3)
"Fortune..." to "Fuller..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: G (1 of 4)
"Gae..." to "Get..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: G (2 of 4)
"Gipsy..." to "God..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: G (3 of 4)
"Goin..." to "Grasshopper" (11 songs)
Songs by Title: G (4 of 4)
"Great..." to "Gypsy..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: H (1 of 4)
"Had..." to "Hearts..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: H (2 of 4)
"Heave..." to "Henry..." (5 songs)
Songs by Title: H (3 of 4)
"Here..." to "Holy..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: H (4 of 4)
"Home..." to "Hush..." (15 songs)
Songs by Title: I (1 of 5)
"I Am..." to "I Know..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: I (2 of 5)
"I Loathe..." to "I Was..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: I (3 of 5)
"I Wish..." to "In Good..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: I (4 of 5)
"In My..." to "In The..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: I (5 of 5)
"Indian's..." to "I've..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: J (1 of 5)
"Jack..." to "Janet..." (7 songs)
Songs by Title: J (2 of 5)
"Jaybird..." to "Jody" (11 songs)
Songs by Title: J (3 of 5)
"Joe..." to "John Heilaman" (8 songs)
Songs by Title: J (4 of 5)
"John Henry" to "Johnny..." (6 songs)
Songs by Title: J (5 of 5)
"John's..." to "Jumbo" (5 songs)
Songs by Title: K (1 of 3)
"Kansas..." to "Kenny..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: K (2 of 3)
"Kentucky..." to "Kirtle..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: K (3 of 3)
"Kisses..." to "Koska..." (5 songs)
Songs by Title: L (1 of 5)
"Ladies..." to "Lavender's..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: L (2 of 5)
"Learn..." to "Li'l..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: L (3 of 5)
"Lincolnshire" to "Little Ooma" (14 songs)
Songs by Title: L (4 of 5)
"Little Rosewood..." to "Lord..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: L (5 of 5)
"Lorinia" to "Lyndon's..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: M (1 of 6)
"Mai..." to "Mary..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: M (2 of 6)
"Mattie..." to "Meidel..." (8 songs)
Songs by Title: M (3 of 6)
"Mermaid..." to "Money..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: M (4 of 6)
"Moonlight" to "Mr." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: M (5 of 6)
"Mudderless..." to "My Lodging" (7 songs)
Songs by Title: M (6 of 6)
"My Love..." to "My Sweetheart's..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: N (1 of 2)
"Naomi..." to "Night..." (6 songs)
Songs by Title: N (2 of 2)
"Nine..." to "Now..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: O (1 of 4)
"O Bury Me..." to "Oh Fathers..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: O (2 of 4)
"Oh Mary..." to "Old Ewe..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: O (3 of 4)
"Old Grey..." to "Old Stormy..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: O (4 of 4)
"Ole Shady" to "Ox-Driving..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: P (1 of 3)
"Paddy..." to "Peter Gray" (10 songs)
Songs by Title: P (2 of 3)
"Picnic..." to "Poor Old Man" (10 songs)
Songs by Title: P (3 of 3)
"Poor Paddy..." to "Pudding" (10 songs)
Songs by Title: Q
"Quart Bottle" (1 song)
Songs by Title: R (1 of 3)
"Raggle..." to "Renfro..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: R (2 of 3)
"Ridge..." to "Rosie..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: R (3 of 3)
"Rosy McGee" to "Rye Whisky" (9 songs)
Songs by Title: S (1 of 8)
"Safe..." to "Seeds..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: S (2 of 8)
"September Song" to "Shoot..." (15 songs)
Songs by Title: S (3 of 8)
"Shortenin..." to "Sir Robert..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: S (4 of 8)
"Sir Simon..." to "Somebody" (15 songs)
Songs by Title: S (5 of 8)
"Son..." to "Spanish..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: S (6 of 8)
"Spotted..." to "Squire..." (4 songs)
Songs by Title: S (7 of 8)
"St. James..." to "Storms..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: S (8 of 8)
"Strawberry..." to "Swonanoa..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: T (1 of 4)
"Tall..." to "This Old..." (13 songs)
Songs by Title: T (2 of 4)
"This Train" to "Titanic" (10 songs)
Songs by Title: T (3 of 4)
"To Work..." to "Tune..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: T (4 of 4)
"Turkish..." to "Two..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: U
"Uncle..." to "Utah..." (5 songs)
Songs by Title: V
"Venezuela" to "Voyageur's..." (6 songs)
Songs by Title: W (1 of 5)
"Wabash..." to "We..." (14 songs)
Songs by Title: W (2 of 5)
"Weaver..." to "Whaler's..." (10 songs)
Songs by Title: W (3 of 5)
"What's..." to "When..." (11 songs)
Songs by Title: W (4 of 5)
"Where..." to "Who..." (12 songs)
Songs by Title: W (5 of 5)
"Whoopee..." to "Wreck..." (15 songs)
Songs by Title: Y (1 of 2)
"Yankee..." to "You..." (9 songs)
Songs by Title: Y (2 of 2)
"Young Albun" to "Young Man..." (7 songs)
Songs by Title: Z
"Zeb..." to "Zek'l..." (2 songs)
Songs by First Line
Songs by First Line (1 of 3)
"A small..." to "My mammy tol' me..." (17 songs)
Songs by First Line (2 of 3)
"No mo' moanin'..." to "Two things I" (16 songs)
Songs by First Line (3 of 3)
"Up rode the..." to "You've got to..." (15 songs)
Notebooks
Fresno Ballet Book : Original Index
Index to American folksongs (not complete, master photocopy, handwritten, 3 pp.)
Fresno Ballet Book : Archival Index
Title index to songs created by the American Folklife Center; lists song titles and their corresponding folder and original sheet number
Fresno Ballet Book : A
5 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : B
Fresno Ballet Book : C
6 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : D
Fresno Ballet Book : E
1 song
Fresno Ballet Book : F
2 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : G
Fresno Ballet Book : H
Fresno Ballet Book : I
Fresno Ballet Book : J
Fresno Ballet Book : K
Fresno Ballet Book : L
9 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : M
Fresno Ballet Book : N
Fresno Ballet Book : O
Fresno Ballet Book : P-Q
4 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : R
Fresno Ballet Book : S
Fresno Ballet Book : T-U
Fresno Ballet Book : V
Fresno Ballet Book : W-X
11 songs
Fresno Ballet Book : Y-Z
Fresno Ballet Book : Illegible Titles
Includes master photocopy transcriptions of American folksongs from the Fresno Ballet Book whose songs titles are illegible (handwritten, 5 songs)
Songs: Transcriptions (Notebook 1 of 5)
Notations and transcriptions of American folksongs recorded in a bound music book belonging to Sam Eskin (7 3⁄4" by 6 3⁄4", Sit Lux Music Book No. 1815, handwritten, 41 songs)
Songs: Transcriptions (Notebook 2 of 5)
Notations and transcriptions of American folksongs and Jewish songs recorded in a bound music book belonging to Sam Eskin (7 1⁄4" by 4 3⁄4", Schirmer's Manuscript Music Book No. 1, handwritten, 19 songs; pages 5-10 have been cut out)
Songs: Transcriptions (Notebook 3 of 5)
Notations and transcriptions of American folksongs recorded in a bound music book belonging to Sam Eskin (9" by 7 3⁄4", Presser's Music Writing Books, handwritten, 23 songs; many of the songs have been crossed out)
Songs: Transcriptions (Notebook 4 of 5)
Notations and transcriptions of American and Spanish (Flamenco) folksongs recorded in a spiral bound music book belonging to Sam Eskin (9 1⁄4" by 11 3⁄4", Coles' Wire Bound Music Blank Book, handwritten, 24 songs)
Songs: Transcriptions (Notebook 5 of 5)
Notations and transcriptions of American folksongs recorded in a bound music book belonging to Sam Eskin (9 1⁄2" by 8", Warner's Harmony Student's Blank Music Book, handwritten, 35 songs)
Songs: Notebook (1 of 3)
"A Wonderful Dream" written by Doctor Watts (4" by 6 1⁄4", handwritten, 12 pp.; binding and cover are gone)
Songs: Notebook (2 of 3) Unknown Author
A poem or song written by anonymous author (8" by 6 1⁄2", handwritten, 52 pp.; cover is gone, binding is loose, adhesive tape on the front page)
Songs: Notebook (3 of 3)
A poem or song titled "Wishing You A Very Good 1941" written by [Martha from Connie] (7" by 10", typed, 6 pp.; stapled binding)
Songs: Transcriptions, Bound (1 of 3)
Notations and transcriptions of Flamenco songs recorded in a bound blank book belonging to Sam Eskin (5" by 8", handwritten, 35 songs; hardback, tan canvas cover). Song genres include: Bulerias (4 variations); Farruca (3 variations); Granadinas (6 variations); Sevillanas (12 variations); Soleares (15 variations); Zambra (1 variation)
Songs: Transcriptions, Bound (2 of 3)
Notations and transcriptions of American folksongs recorded in a bound blank book belonging to Sam Eskin (5 1⁄4" by 6 1⁄2", handwritten, 23 songs; hardback, brown canvas cover, water damage from top to bottom of 1/3 of the book)
Songs: Transcriptions, Bound (3 of 3)
Songs: Transcriptions in Binder-style Notebook
Index
Songs: Transcriptions in Accordion-style Folder
Limericks and Quotations
Limericks (1 of 3)
"A base drummer..." to "But the Bishop was..."; Bawdy limerick clippings; also includes typed and handwritten limericks (60 limericks)
Limericks (2 of 3)
"From Brooklyn..." to "There was a young maid..."; Bawdy limerick clippings; also includes typed and handwritten limericks (40 limericks)
Limericks (3 of 3)
"There was a young maiden..." to "With..."; Bawdy limerick clippings; also includes typed and handwritten limericks (76 limericks)
Bound Notebook: "Stories, Etc."
Quotations recorded in a bound blank book belonging to Sam Eskin (5" by 7", handwritten, 25 pp. filled; hardback, red cover)
Notes and Lectures
Notes: Names of Performers, Informants
Names of 30 performers and informants gathered by Eskin; additional information can be found on the back of some slips (handwritten, 30 leaves)
Notes: Addresses and Phone Numbers
Contact information for performers and informants gathered by Eskin; (handwritten, 19 leaves)
Notes: Song Fragments
Song fragments, poems, and quotations gathered by Eskin (handwritten, 26 leaves)
Notes: Limerick/Rhyme Fragments
Limerick and rhyming fragments gathered by Eskin (handwritten, 5 leaves)
Notes: Information about Folksong Recordings
Includes oeuvre of folklorist Alberto Hemsi (typed, 1 p.) and notes (handwritten, 2 leaves)
Notes: Vocabulary Terms and Definitions
Includes correspondence defining "Creole" (typed, 2 pp.) and Andalusian music (typed, 2 pp.). Also includes definitions for the following terms: shanties, Calypso, Calypso instruments, Chinese instruments, and ethnomusicology (handwritten, 5 leaves)
Notes: Folksong
Includes notes on folksong and folk music (handwritten, 4 leaves)
Notes: Folksong Publications
Includes a bibliography of folksong resources (typed and handwritten, 1 p.); also includes published clippings and personal references to folksong resources (typed and handwritten, 20 leaves)
Notes: Information for a Folksong Radio Program
Eskin's notes for a radio program interview, "F.S.L." (handwritten, 8 pp.); also includes related notes (handwritten, 3 leaves), and a transcript of a program interview given for KYIM (typed, 1 p., [December 1948 February 1949, Yuma, AZ])
Notes: Chords and Hand Positions
Includes a drawing of a cotton picker's hand position (hand drawn, 1 p.); fingerings and guitar hand positions (handwritten, 4 pp.); diagram depicting how to make a wooden whistle from a twig (master photocopy, 1 p.); guitar fret diagrams (handwritten, 3 pp.); and a clipping of an English concertina keyboard (published, 1 p.)
Notes: History of Various Places
Includes the following articles: "Australia" (published, 2 pp.); "Revolutionary Movements in Canada" (typed, 2 pp.); and "A Short History of New York State" (typed, 1 p.)
Notes: Easter Traditions
Includes the following: a photograph clipping of an Easter egg cracking tradition; notes on Easter tradition (typed, 1 leaf); notes and questions concerning the tradition (handwritten, 2 leaves); and excerpts from The Easter Book by Francis Weiser (handwritten, 2 pp.)
Music, Discussion of
Excerpts from The Literature of Folkmusic ; includes an introductory essay (typed, 2 pp.), bibliography and further resources (typed, 6 pp.), and an essay titled, "Sound, Scales, and Modes" (typed, 10 pp.)
Publicity Data for Sam Eskin
Drafted by Eskin and intended to be used as a publicity release; provides background history, experiences, philosophy, and growing involvement with folk music (handwritten, 3 pp.)
Lectures: "Shifting Definitions of Folksong or What is a Folksong?" (1962)
Includes the following: 2nd Annual University of Chicago Folk Festival program; a draft of Eskin's lecture on American folk music, "Shifting Definitions of Folksong, or What is Folksong?" (typed, 6 pp.); and a final draft of "Shifting Definitions of Folksong" (typed, 13 pp.)
Lectures: "Lore of the Folk, From the Folk, To All the Folk" (1962)
Draft of Eskin's lecture on American folk music, "Lore of the Folk, From the Folk, To All the Folk" written for the Ulster County Folklore Society (1 original copy, 3 onion skin copies, typed, 2 pp.)
Lectures, Untitled (1 of 2)
Includes the following: introduction notes for a lecture (typed, 1 leaf); lecture "#1," which introduces American folksongs, leaves space for them to be played, and ends with an interpretive tie-in (typed, 9 pp.); lyrics to "Salt Horse" (typed, 1 leaf); and an untitled lecture that follows the same format as "#1," using different material (typed, 6 pp.)
Lectures, Untitled (2 of 2)
Includes the following: an untitled lecture that introduces American folksongs, leaves space for them to be played, and ends with an interpretive tie-in (typed, 5 pp.); an untitled lecture that follows the same format using reel-to-reel tapes (typed, 8 pp.); an untitled radio show talk with a play list of American folksongs (typed, 4 pp.); draft of an untitled lecture on American folksongs (handwritten, 3 pp.); another draft of an untitled lecture with notes on potential folksongs (handwritten, 4 pp.); and a draft written for a talk given on the KFDM radio station [Beaumont, TX] (typed, 3 pp.)
Assignments
Includes: a syllabus for an English Literature class, Folksongs and Narrative Poems (typed, 2 pp.); song lists marked UCLA (handwritten, 2 cards, November 3, 1948); and a song list for a memorial program (handwritten, 1 leaf, Woodstock, N.Y. May 28, 1949)
Articles
Articles/Clippings: Animals
Clippings on: hoop-snakes (1 p.); and animal kingdom (1 p.)
Articles/Clippings: Ceilidh/Hootenanny
Clippings on: ceilidh folk celebration (1 p.) and related term hootenanny (1 p.)
"Games Little People Play" (2 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Dulcimer
Clippings on: constructing a dulcimer (3 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Folk Festivals
Includes the following articles: "Sun Valley Ketchum Folk Festival" (1 p.); "Festival of Music" (International Folkmusic Council, 2 pp.); "1st Annual Newport Folk Festival" (1 p.); and "5th Annual Miramichi Folksong Festival" (3 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Folk Music Performers
Articles and clippings on the following performers: Joan Baez, Napoleon Coste, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Woody Guthrie, Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, John Jacob Niles, Harry Partch, Jeannie Robertson, and Jean Thomas
Articles/Clippings: Folk Music Popularity
Includes the following articles: "Songs for Our Time" (20 pp.); "Listen to the Folksingers" (February 1963, 6 pp.); and "Folk Frenzy" (July 1960, 1
Articles/Clippings: Folk Music Recordings
Clippings on: the album Bolters Bushrangers and Duffers (1 p.); the Archive of Folksong at the Library of Congress (1 p.); and the recording studio Folkways Recordings (1 p.)
Articles/Clippings: Folk Music in Various Locations
Clippings on: Bahamas, Colonial Williamsburg, (French) Canada, Israel, Mallorca, New Orleans, Rome, South Africa, and Trinidad
Articles/Clippings: Folklife
Includes the following article: "I Drove Mules on the C. and O. Canal" (1 p.); and an untitled essay published in Times Farm (2 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Folklore and Stories
Includes the following articles: "Problems of Collecting Oral Literature" (6 pp.); "Comeback of Goldilocks et al." (4 pp.); and "Ghost on the High Tor" (1 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Folksong Collectors
Clippings on the following collectors: Richard Dorson, Alan Dundes, Sam Eskin, Douglas Kennedy, and Alan Lomax
Articles/Clippings: Houston Folklore Group
Clippings on the Houston Folklore Group and Houston folk musicians: "Down Beat" (1 p.); and "Sound of Houston" (2 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Musical Genres
Clippings on: bagpipes (highland), bluegrass, blues, carols, convivial songs, Creole slave songs, freedom songs, Indian (India) traditional songs, Israeli traditional folk music, Jewish music, and rock and roll
Articles/Clippings: Ships
Includes the following articles: "The She in Ships" (1 p.); and "Life on the Alabama " (34 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Songs
Clippings on American folksongs including song lyrics and/or scores (13 songs)
Articles/Clippings: Spanish Articles
Includes the following articles: "Nuestra Musica" (written in Spanish, five-day article series, 5 pp.); and "Margen" (3 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Terms and Definitions
Includes the following articles: "A Glossary of Fight Terms for TV Fans" (1 p.); "Gullah Dialect and Humanities" (1 p.); and a clipping on corrido narration (2 pp.)
Articles/Clippings: Ulster County Folklore Society
Includes articles with references to the following: Sam Eskin, performers (Nigerian Trinidad Artists and Pete Seeger), organization of the Society, organizing a hootenanny festival, and individuals belonging to the Woodstock folk music coterie
Articles/Clippings: Miscellaneous
Includes the following articles: "Graffiti" (1 p.); "60 Ft. Serpent, Sighted Off Nantucket, Is Cross-eyed" (1 p.); and "Red Net Grows, Rightists Hear" (1 p.)
Articles/Clippings: Posthumous
Includes the following articles: "Marcus Daly Enters Heaven" (6 pp.); and "Leadbelly in New York" (master photocopy, 4 pp.)
Ephemera
Report: The Ethnic Culture Survey Report
The Ethnic Culture Survey Report of the Middle States' Conference on Folk Culture provides an overview of the conference, abstracts discussion by morning session presenters, and summarizes other events in the conference (typed, 11 pp.)
Press Releases/Business Cards
Includes releases and cards for the following individuals: H. Crab and Son, Daniel and the Deacon [Gerald E. Parsons, Jr.], Bill Hoffman, Paul C. Johnson, and Art Sutton
Advertisements: Books
For books related to folk music, history, and music instruments (5 ads)
Advertisements: Camps/Study Tours
For travel related to world touring and folk music (4 ads)
Advertisements: Concerts/Festivals
Includes the following: Artists Equity Association press release (1 p.); Edinburgh University Society Folk Song Concert flyer (January 1964, 2 pp.); and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission press release (typed, 7 pp.)
Advertisements: Instruments and Toys
Includes advertisements for the following: Mari guitar strings, Limberjack (folk toy), the Autoharp, La Casa de Las Guitarras (written in Spanish), and nylon strings for guitar
Advertisements: Recordings
Includes the following album advertisements: Heather and Glen and Texas Barrelhouse Piano . Also includes catalogs and miscellaneous advertising mailers for Folkways Recordings, Shenandoah Sales, Folk-Legacy Records, Inc., Colorado Folksong, Traditional Stringed Instruments, and World Tapes for Education
Recording Notes
Includes the following: 1) Recording notes for the Old Harp Singers; includes notes on Jim Trentham, Dewey Cook, and Edna Cook (8" by 10", Knoxville Writing Tablet, handwritten, 20 pp. 2) Recording notes for Ayala Kaufman and George Woddail (5 leaves); typed lyrics from songs sung by Pete Seeger (2 songs), Robin Roberts (3 songs), Ruth Welcome (3 songs), and Lori Campbell (2 songs) 3) Eskin's notes on the UNESCO World Collection of Recorded Folk Music and Collection Universelle (7 pp.) 4) Evening set lists and notes on songs performed at the 5th Annual Miramichi Folksong Festival (typed, 10 pp.) 5) Notes on sound recordings made in Malaga (handwritten, 3 pp., March 14th, 1960) 6) Track list for two recorded tapes of Spanish and Cuban music recorded by Eskin (typed, 3 pp.) 7) Notes on recordings made in Mexico (handwritten, 6 pp., January 1957) 8) Transcribed song lyrics (3 songs) 9) Track list of songs recorded (typed, 1 p., February 7, 1957) 10) Notes (3 songs) and track lists (5 tapes) for Spanish songs (master photocopy, 7 pp.)
Songs, Published
Includes the following material: Folk-lore Musical Mallorquin v.II , a music book of songs and notations (in Spanish, 15 pp.); Popular Songs of the Ranch and Range (master photocopy of folksong lyrics, 54 songs); Song Sheet of the Arden Town Fair lyrics (11 songs); Festival Songs lyrics (14 songs); The Inniskilling Dragoon lyrics (3 songs); A Sampler of Japanese Songs pamphlet (32 pp.); The Old Settler placemat from the Acres of Clams Restaurant (1 p.); and photo copystand copies (3" by 4", 31 images)
The Gospel According to St. John: A Book for Your Daily Need
Booklet: Bible chapter (3" by 4 1⁄2", 79 pp.)
Indexes
Tape-by-Tape Song List
Additional Tape Lists (NYSHA)
Sound Recording Documentation
Photocopies of disc labels and the spines and back covers of reel-to-reel tape boxes
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR001-SR043
6 1/2-inch and 8-inch discs
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR044-SR066
10-inch discs (1 of 3)
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR067-SR102
10-inch discs (2 of 3)
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR103-SR153
10-inch discs (3 of 3)
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR154-SR178
12-inch discs
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR179-SR228
16-inch discs (1 of 2)
Disc Label/Sleeve Photocopies, SR229-SR280
16-inch discs (2 of 2)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, Box Spines, SR281-SR716
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR281-SR324
American Folkmusic, original Eskin numbers 1-68
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR325-SR375
American Folkmusic, original Eskin numbers 69-136
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR376-SR419
Mexico, original Eskin numbers 2-48
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR420-SR458
Recordings Abroad (folder 1 of 3)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR459-SR503
Recordings Abroad (folder 2 of 3)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR504-SR545
Recordings Abroad (folder 3 of 3)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR546-SR559
Individuals
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR560-SR593
Duplicates--commercial and Eskin field recordings
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR594-SR613
Duplicates--Eskin field recordings
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR614-SR617
Migrant Camp
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR618-SR647
Duplications, Commercial (folder 1 of 3)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR648-SR683
Duplications, Commercial (folder 2 of 3)
Reel-to-reel Photocopies, SR684-SR716
Duplications, Commercial (folder 3 of 3)
10" Disc Sleeve (with lyrics)
Contains a 10-inch disc sleeve with handwritten lyrics to the song "Pretty Mohee" and "Many Years Ago"
Disc Album Photocopies
Photocopies of Sam Eskin Songs and Ballads and Migrant Camp
Items from 16-inch discs
Contains the following items: 3 typed/handwritten track listings that had fallen from the original 16-inch disc sleeve; 1 disc label; and 3 canvas index tabs that had fallen from the original disc sleeve
Contains items removed from the following reel-to-reel boxes: (SR # ) 160, 176, 282, 287, 288, 293, 297, 299, 302, 304, 307, 310, 313, 321, 322, 323, 324, 331, 350, 359, 360, 361, 368, 369, 370, 376, 377, 380, 384, 386, 392, 399, 408, 409, 416, 417, 418, 419, 421, 422, 451, 466, 473, 497, 506, 513, 519, 520, 521, 524, 525, 526, 533, 554, 559, 560, 563, 570, 571, 581, 584, 585, 588, 592, 594, 598, 601, 607, 608, 609, 612, 614, 632, 638, 640, 643, 645, 647, 648, 649, 661, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 684, 687, 691, 693, 696, 697, 705, 713, 714, and 716. Items removed include: typed/handwritten track listings, notes, business cards, transcriptions, and correspondence. Note: the majority of these items are typed/handwritten track listings for individual boxes; concordances between AFC SR and NYSHA #s in Folder 277.
Reel-to-reel Box (back cover)
Contains the back cover of a reel-to-reel box, which is not part of any other box in the current collection. Handwriting on the box indicates this box may have once housed "BOUN Tape #2", recorded on Oct. 22, 1957
Oversized Materials
Oversized materials from Manuscripts series
Sound Recording Containers
Two phonograph albums (empty) with "Sam Eskin: Songs and Ballads" on front cover.
One phonograph album (empty) and one original sleeve for SR172.
Original sleeves for SR001 to SR042 (no original sleeve for SR043).
Original sleeves for SR044 to SR178 (no original sleeve for SR043).
Original sleeves for SR179 to SR232.
Original sleeves for SR233 to SR280.
Series II: Sound Recordings
See Collection Concordance for a summary of sound recordings by format. See Collection Database (Folder 1) for a full description of recordings, as well as searchable title, performer, and descriptive fields pertaining to Eskin's instantaneous discs, reel-to-reel tapes, and original field recordings.
Series III: Graphic Images
Photographic images of informants and graphic images of postcards. For additional description of images, please refer to the Collection Database (Folder 1) for a Log of Visual Images.
Identified females photographs (PH01-PH08)
Includes photographs of Myrtle Downing, Luvicie Beasley, and Yvonne Belmont Gregory (9 images)
Unidentified females photographs (PH09-PH12)
Includes black and white photographs of three unidentified females (4 images)
Identified males photographs (PH13-PH30)
Includes black and white photographs of [Harry/Haywire Mac] McClintock, Captain Robinson, Ernest Wardell, and Charlie Rose (21 images)
Unidentified males photographs (PH31-PH44)
Includes black and white photographs of five unidentified males (14 images)
Postcards (E01-E08)
Includes 7 postcards and 1 postcard envelope. Four postcards depict bombard and biniou (Breton bagpipe) players; one card depicts a statue of a guitar player, one card depicts a harp player, and one card depicts a hurdy-gurdy player
Series IV: Electronic Media
See Folder 1 for the 100 mb zip disk containing the Collection Database.