Ray M. Lawless Collection
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2004695188
General International Standard for Archival Description
Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center Library of Congress Washington, D.C. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home
Encoded by Judy Ng, June 2006 ; Revised by Nora Yeh
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Ray M. Lawless Collection 1952-1965
Lawless, Ray McKinley, 1896-
Biographical History for: Ray M. Lawless Collection 1952-1965
Biographical History Ray McKinley Lawless was born in Wellington, Kansas in 1896 and died March 11, 1968. A veteran of World War I, Lawless received his master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1924 and completed his doctorial studies with the same institution in 1940. For over 35 years, Lawless taught as a professor of English at Hendrix College (1924-1928), Dakota Wesleyan University (1928-1931), and Junior College of Kansas City (1932-1962), later known as Metropolitan Junior College. A lifelong scholar of American literature and folksongs, he published many articles in addition to the influential and authoritative Folksingers and Folksongs in America.
Scope and Content Between 1952 and 1959, Lawless wrote to approximately two hundred "folksingers" and "singers of folksongs," requesting information about their lives and careers in preparation for his book Folksingers and Folksongs in America. Lawless contacted both professional and non-professional singers and also wrote to several collectors of folksongs and collectors of folk instruments. The bulk of the collection consists of Lawless's correspondence with the singers, completed questionnaires, and information sent by the singers to Lawless. Most singers also sent one or more photographs. The collection includes responses to the prepared questionnaire, carbon copies of Lawless's correspondence, the original letters from his correspondents, photographs, newspaper and magazine clippings, concert programs, publicity materials, and other ephemera. It also includes some correspondence with folksingers not strictly related to the preparation of Lawless's book. For example, there is correspondence concerning the arrangement of a concert at the college where Lawless taught. The second edition of Folksingers and Folksongs in America (1965) included a "Special Supplement" with biographical information on the generation of folksingers who became prominent around 1960-64 (e.g. Joan Baez and Odetta). To research this updated edition, Lawless drew on previously published sources and did not contact the singers directly as he had in the 1950s. Few of the 1960s folksingers listed in the "Special Supplement" are represented in this collection, and those represented are documented with black-and-white photographs and clippings, not with correspondence. The folders contain many more black-and-white photographs than appear in Folksingers and Folksongs in America. The book included two kinds of illustrations: black-and-white photographs of artworks depicting folklife, and black-and-white photographs of musicians. The black-and-white photographs of artwork are in folder 2, "Artwork illustrations." The photograph(s) of each musician are under the name of each musician or musician group.
series
Series I: Correspondence
Includes carbon copies of Lawless's correspondence, the original letters from his correspondents, responses to the prepared questionnaire, photographs, newspaper and magazine clippings, concert programs, publicity materials, and other ephemera.
file
Administrative materials regarding the collection
Collection guide and correspondence. Correspondence arranged chronologically (1956-70) between the Archive of Folk Song, Exchange and Gift Division, and Mrs. Lawless.
Artwork--Illustrations
18 photoprints including 17 illustrations and 1 of unknown musicians. One negative of the illustration "WRECK OF THE '97." Each illustration is identified by title, artist, donor, and photographer, but undated.
Adams, Derrols S.
Correspondence and questionnaire; portrait (negative and print)
Allison, John
Correspondence and questionnaire; news clippings.
Archer, Frances, and Beverly Gile
Correspondence and questionnaire; programs; press release.
Arkin, Alan
Questionnaire.
Baez, Joan
News clippings; portrait (negative and print); magazine write-ups.
Bailey, Jay
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, 1 large and 1 small prints.
Baillargeon-Cote, Helene
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).
Bair, Fred
Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.
Balfour, Nemonie
Portrait, photoprint.
Ball, E. C.
Barker, Horton
Correspondence; questionnaire.
Barnes, Bobby and Wilmer
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; news clippings; portrait (prints).
Barry, Margaret
Beers, Robert ("Fiddler"), and Evelyne Beers (Mrs. Fiddler)
Correspondence; questionnaires; press releases; programs; reviews; portrait (prints).
Belafonte, Harry
Correspondence; biography; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clippings; magazine write-ups.
Bender, Bill
Benton, Jessie
Biography; questionnaire.
Bikel, Theodore
Black, Nettie
Boette, Marie
Bonyun, Bill
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; news clippings.
Boswell, George
Boyle, Mary Ella
Brand, Oscar
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (prints); programs; song texts; New York Folklore Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 4.
Broonzy, "Big Bill"
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (negative and prints).
Bryan, Charles Faulkner
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; picture of instruments from his collection; draft of article to Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin March 1952 issue; portrait (print)
Buckley, Bruce
Burnett, W. H.
Byrne, Jerry
Cahn, Rolf
Missing
Cameron, Isla
Campbell, Booth
Questionnaire; photoprints.
Cansler, Loman
Correspondence; news clippings; news write-up; phonograph recording release (Folkways FH 5324); portrait (print).
Chalmers, Keith
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait (print).
Chase, Dorothy
Churchill, Stuart
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; biography; photoprint.
Clark, Keith
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; song score; stories; crafts.
Clark, Rogie
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clippings; portrait (print); program.
Clauson, William
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).
Clayborn, James R., and Garland K.
Clayton, Paul
Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; programs; the University of Virginia Magazine, Spring 1956, vol. 1, no. 1.
Cobos, Ruben
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program.
Colby, Fred
Coltman, Robert
Copeland, Dave
Cornett, "Banjo" Bill
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; photoprint.
Creswell, Grace
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, photograph and painting, (print); programs; news clipping; biography.
Crisp, Rufus
Cronin, Elizabeth
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; biography; review.
Dagel, Kathy
Dane, Barbara
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography.
Danufsky, Philip
Darling, Erik
Correspondence; questionnaire; sketch of instruments; list of phonograph recordings.
Davis, Rev. Gary
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print and negative); news write-up.
Davis, Mary Jo
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; portrait (print).
Davis, Mr. and Mrs. T.M.
Dehr, Rich
Deller, Alfred
Devall, Dick
Diard, Marion
Dobson, Bonnie
Program; portrait (print).
Duncan, Bob
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clippings; program; portrait (print); biography; brochures.
Dyer-Bennet, Richard
Correspondence; portrait (print); program; biography.
Elliott, Bill
Elliot, Jack and June
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait and photograph, (prints and negative).
Eskin, Sam
Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; program; photoprint; record notes: song texts.
Faier, Billy
Flatt and Scruggs
Portrait; news clippings.
Flowers, Robert E. Lee
Foster, Pat
Fuller, Jesse
Correspondence; questionnaire; magazine write-up; biography; news clippings; photoprint; record notes.
Gainer, Patrick W.
Gard, Robert
Correspondence.
Gibson, Bob
Ginandes, Shep
Glazer, Joe
Glazer, Tom
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); programs; sketch.
Golden, Terry
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); photoprints; biography.
Gooding, Cynthia
Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up, portrait (print).
Gordon, Hally Wood
Greer, Dr. and Mrs. I.G.
Gregory, Frosia
Grimes, Anne
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program; biography.
Grise, George C.
Hall, Kenneth M.
Hamilton, Frank
Hammond, John
News clipping; portrait (print).
Hammontree, Doney
Hatcher, T. Ben
Hayes, Roland
Correspondence; questionnaire; program.
Haynes, Valerie
Hays, Lee
Hellerman, Fred
Hickerson, Joe
High, Fred
Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprints.
Hillhouse, Cora
Hilton, L.M.
Correspondence; questionnaire; portraits (print); program.
Hinton, Sam
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; program; portrait (print).
Holland, Lori
Holt, Will
House, Wallace
Program.
Houston, Cisco
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (negative and print).
Hunter, Max
Correspondence; questionnaire; article.
Huntington, E.G.
Hurd, Peter
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; newsclippings.
Isaacson, Dan
Ives, Burl
Correspondence; news clippings; news write-ups; programs; portraits (print).
Jarrett, Merrick
Jemison, Gene
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news clipping; portrait (print); photograph (print and negative).
Kazee, Buell
Kincaid, Barry
King, Martha
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clipping; magazine write-up.
Kornfeld, Barry
Kossoy, Sisters
Kukler, Aolph and Augusta
Kunitz, Charlene
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; program.
Kweskin, Jim, and Jug Band
Program; magazine write-up; news clipping; photoprint.
Lane, Lawrence
Langstaff, John
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait printed on programs; news clipping; magazine write-ups.
Leadbelly
Correspondence; portrait on record notes.
Ledford, Homer
Portrait (print).
Lee, Archie
Lee, Katie
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print); news clipping.
Lloyd, A.L.
Lomax, Alan
Correspondence; news write-up; biography; article.
Long, Maud
Questionnaire; photoprint.
Loudermilk, Romaine
Lunsford, Bascomb
Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint; program.
MacColl, Ewan
McCord, May Kennedy
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, negative and print; news clipping.
McCurdy, Ed
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clipping.
McNeil, Brownie
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portraits (print).
Maples, Jo
Marais and Miranda
Marcotte, Will and Jean
Mechau Family
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news write-up; portrait (print).
Meyer, Roy
Mickelson, Eric
Mills, Alan
Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news write-up; news clipping; portrait (print).
Mitchell, Merlin
Questionnaire; portrait (print).
Mobley, Pleaz W.
Moon, Jacob and Winnifred
Morris, Jimmy (Driftwood)
Correspondence; questionnaire; 2 song scores by J. Morris.
Morrison, Absie
Moser, Artus
Mueller, Joan
Murai, Jean
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); programs.
Murray, Jim and Carmen
National Music League Vocal Trio
Program; portraits (print).
Neal, Ruth
Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); biography.
Neibarger, Nancy, and Pearl Kelly
Photoprint.
Nickerson, Camille
Niles, John Jacob
Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; biography; programs; portraits (print); news clipping; article.
Nye, Hermes
O'Bryant, Joan
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping.
O'Hara, Mary
Okun, Milt
Oldfather, Charles
Oster, Harry
Correspondence; questionnaire; new write-up; portrait (print).
Paley, Tom
Peacock, Ken
Pennington, John B.
Song book: song texts only.
Powell, Desmond
Le Quatour, Alouette
Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprints; program; biography, English and French; reviews.
Reed, Jared
Reed, Susan
Correspondence; program; news clipping; program.
Ritchie, Edna
Ritchie, Jason
Correspondence; portrait (print).
Ritchie, Jean
Correspondence; program; news clipping; news write-up; portrait (print) and negative.
Ritchie, Jewel
Correspondence; photoprint.
Ritchie, May
Ritchie, Una
Roberts, Robin
Robinson, Earl
Robinson, Frank V.
Ross, Rob
Correspondence; questionnaire; Folkways record notes: portrait, song texts.
Roth, Herbert
Questionnaire; news clipping.
Rubin, Ruth
Rudie, Robert
Saletan, Tony
Sandburg, Carl
Correspondence; biography; news clippings; portrait (print).
Scammell, A.R.
Schlamme, Martha
News clipping; portrait (print) on brochure; program; biography; reviews.
Scott, Molly
Correspondence; news clipping.
Scott, Tom
Correspondence; biography; program.
Seeger, Pete
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; portrait (print); news clippings; program; his How to play the 5-string Banjo; Folkways record notes.
Sellers, John
Silverman, Jerry
Correspondence; questionnaire; record notes.
Smith, Fred
Smith, Winifred
Sparks, Lloyd
Starr, Mary Agnes
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; program; portrait (print).
Stekert, Ellen
Stone, Eleanor
Stracke, Win
Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait (print); reviews; news clippings; biography.
Sturgill, Virgil
Summers, Andrew R.
Questionnaire; program; portraits (print).
Tarwater, Rebecca
Tate, Charles, and Family
Correspondence; questionnaire; festival programs.
Temple, Pick
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; photoprint and portrait (print)s.
Terry, Sonny
Photograph (print and negative).
Thomson, Paul S.
Tyler, Ruth
Usher, Alex
Correspondence; questionnaire; portraits (print).
Van Wey, Adelaide
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; program; portraits (print).
Vincent, Jenny Wells
Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; programs; portrait (print).
Warner, Frank
Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; portrait (print).
Washington, Jackie
Weissman, Dick
Welsch, Roger
West, Harry and Jeanie
Correspondence; portrait (print); program.
White, Josh
Biography.
Whitmire, Ross C.
Wilder, Dick
Williams, Betty V.
Questionnaire; news clipping; program.
Williams, Cratis
Wilson, Stan
Wood, Theodore
Yarbrough, Glen
Zeitlin, David