http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/eadafc.af007005 Ray M. Lawless Collection AFC 1970/003 American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
April 1996 Guides to the Collections in the Archive of Folk Culture

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2004695188

Encoded by Judy Ng, June 2006 ; Revised by Nora Yeh Finding aid written in English January 2010 Nora Yeh Collection Summary AFC 1970/003 Ray M. Lawless Collection 1952-1965 Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home 6 boxes 2.5 linear feet 224 folders Lawless, Ray McKinley, 1896- English Research materials including questionnaires, some correspondence, and photographs of approximately 200 folksingers and singers of folksong (a few of them are performers of art songs and classical music) collected by Ray M. Lawless to illustrate his book, Folksingers and Folksongs in America (New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1960; second edition, 1965). 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.

 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.

 Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 People Lawless, Ray McKinley, 1896- collector. Subjects Folk music--United States. Folk singers--Ireland. Folk singers--Scotland. Folk singers--United States--Correspondence. Folk singers--United States--Photographs. Folk songs, English--United States. Popular music--1951-1960. Popular music--1961-1970. Form/Genre Clippings. Correspondence. Manuscripts. Photographic prints. Programs. Administrative Information Arrangement

Biographical materials of performing artists in the collection are organized alphabetically by the correspondent's last name.

 Access

Viewing access to the collection is unrestricted. Duplication of collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions. For specific questions, researchers should consult with the American Folklife Center reference staff.

 Acquisition

The collection was donated to the Folklife Center Archive by Mrs. Hazel K. Lawless in 1970. Photographic negatives created from prints for reference purposes have been added to the collection. The number of negatives may increase over time as photoprints from this collection are requested.

 Preferred Citation

Ray M. Lawless Collection (AFC 1970/003), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

 Collection Concordance by Format Quantity Physical Extent (original) Location Item Numbers Manuscript Materials 224 folders AFC Box 1-6 Graphic Images 142 black-and-white photographs AFC n/a
http://lccn.loc.gov/2004695188 Container List 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.

 1 1 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.

 1 2 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.

 1 3 Adams, Derrols S.

Correspondence and questionnaire; portrait (negative and print)

 1 4 Allison, John

Correspondence and questionnaire; news clippings.

 1 5 Archer, Frances, and Beverly Gile

Correspondence and questionnaire; programs; press release.

 1 6 Arkin, Alan

Questionnaire.

 1 7 Baez, Joan

News clippings; portrait (negative and print); magazine write-ups.

 1 8 Bailey, Jay

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, 1 large and 1 small prints.

 1 9 Baillargeon-Cote, Helene

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 1 10 Bair, Fred

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 1 11 Balfour, Nemonie

Portrait, photoprint.

 1 12 Ball, E. C.

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 1 13 Barker, Horton

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 1 14 Barnes, Bobby and Wilmer

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; news clippings; portrait (prints).

 1 15 Barry, Margaret

Questionnaire.

 1 16 Beers, Robert ("Fiddler"), and Evelyne Beers (Mrs. Fiddler)

Correspondence; questionnaires; press releases; programs; reviews; portrait (prints).

 1 17 Belafonte, Harry

Correspondence; biography; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clippings; magazine write-ups.

 1 18 Bender, Bill

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 1 19 Benton, Jessie

Biography; questionnaire.

 1 20 Bikel, Theodore

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 1 21 Black, Nettie

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 1 22 Boette, Marie

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 1 23 Bonyun, Bill

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; news clippings.

 1 24 Boswell, George

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 1 25 Boyle, Mary Ella

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 1 26 Brand, Oscar

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (prints); programs; song texts; New York Folklore Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 4.

 1 27 Broonzy, "Big Bill"

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (negative and prints).

 1 28 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)

 1 29 Buckley, Bruce

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 1 30 Burnett, W. H.

Questionnaire.

 1 31 Byrne, Jerry

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 1 32 Cahn, Rolf

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 1 33 Missing

1 34 Cameron, Isla

Questionnaire.

 1 35 Campbell, Booth

Questionnaire; photoprints.

 2 36 Cansler, Loman

Correspondence; news clippings; news write-up; phonograph recording release (Folkways FH 5324); portrait (print).

 2 37 Chalmers, Keith

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait (print).

 2 38 Chase, Dorothy

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 39 Churchill, Stuart

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; biography; photoprint.

 2 40 Clark, Keith

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; song score; stories; crafts.

 2 41 Clark, Rogie

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clippings; portrait (print); program.

 2 42 Clauson, William

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 2 43 Clayborn, James R., and Garland K.

Questionnaire.

 2 44 Clayton, Paul

Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; programs; the University of Virginia Magazine, Spring 1956, vol. 1, no. 1.

 2 45 Cobos, Ruben

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program.

 2 46 Colby, Fred

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 47 Coltman, Robert

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 48 Copeland, Dave

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 49 Cornett, "Banjo" Bill

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; photoprint.

 2 50 Creswell, Grace

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, photograph and painting, (print); programs; news clipping; biography.

 2 51 Crisp, Rufus

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 52 Cronin, Elizabeth

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; biography; review.

 2 53 Dagel, Kathy

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 54 Missing

2 55 Dane, Barbara

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography.

 2 56 Danufsky, Philip

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 2 57 Darling, Erik

Correspondence; questionnaire; sketch of instruments; list of phonograph recordings.

 2 58 Davis, Rev. Gary

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print and negative); news write-up.

 2 59 Davis, Mary Jo

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; portrait (print).

 2 60 Davis, Mr. and Mrs. T.M.

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 2 61 Dehr, Rich

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 2 62 Deller, Alfred

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 63 Devall, Dick

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 2 64 Diard, Marion

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 2 65 Dobson, Bonnie

Program; portrait (print).

 2 66 Duncan, Bob

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clippings; program; portrait (print); biography; brochures.

 2 67 Dyer-Bennet, Richard

Correspondence; portrait (print); program; biography.

 2 68 Elliott, Bill

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 2 69 Elliot, Jack and June

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait and photograph, (prints and negative).

 2 70 Eskin, Sam

Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; program; photoprint; record notes: song texts.

 2 71 Faier, Billy

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 2 72 Flatt and Scruggs

Portrait; news clippings.

 2 73 Flowers, Robert E. Lee

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 74 Foster, Pat

Questionnaire.

 3 75 Fuller, Jesse

Correspondence; questionnaire; magazine write-up; biography; news clippings; photoprint; record notes.

 3 76 Gainer, Patrick W.

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 77 Gard, Robert

Correspondence.

 3 78 Gibson, Bob

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program.

 3 79 Ginandes, Shep

Questionnaire.

 3 80 Glazer, Joe

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 81 Glazer, Tom

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); programs; sketch.

 3 82 Golden, Terry

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); photoprints; biography.

 3 83 Gooding, Cynthia

Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up, portrait (print).

 3 84 Gordon, Hally Wood

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 3 85 Greer, Dr. and Mrs. I.G.

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 86 Gregory, Frosia

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 87 Grimes, Anne

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program; biography.

 3 88 Grise, George C.

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; portrait (print).

 3 89 Hall, Kenneth M.

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 90 Hamilton, Frank

Questionnaire.

 3 91 Hammond, John

News clipping; portrait (print).

 3 92 Hammontree, Doney

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 93 Hatcher, T. Ben

Questionnaire.

 3 94 Hayes, Roland

Correspondence; questionnaire; program.

 3 95 Haynes, Valerie

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 3 96 Hays, Lee

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 97 Hellerman, Fred

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 98 Hickerson, Joe

Questionnaire.

 3 99 High, Fred

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprints.

 3 100 Hillhouse, Cora

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 101 Hilton, L.M.

Correspondence; questionnaire; portraits (print); program.

 3 102 Hinton, Sam

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; program; portrait (print).

 3 103 Holland, Lori

Questionnaire.

 3 104 Holt, Will

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program.

 3 105 House, Wallace

Program.

 3 106 Houston, Cisco

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (negative and print).

 3 107 Hunter, Max

Correspondence; questionnaire; article.

 3 108 Huntington, E.G.

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 109 Hurd, Peter

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; newsclippings.

 3 110 Isaacson, Dan

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 111 Ives, Burl

Correspondence; news clippings; news write-ups; programs; portraits (print).

 3 112 Jarrett, Merrick

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 3 113 Jemison, Gene

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news clipping; portrait (print); photograph (print and negative).

 4 114 Kazee, Buell

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (negative and print).

 4 115 Kincaid, Barry

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 4 116 King, Martha

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clipping; magazine write-up.

 4 117 Kornfeld, Barry

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 4 118 Kossoy, Sisters

Questionnaire.

 4 119 Kukler, Aolph and Augusta

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; photoprint.

 4 120 Kunitz, Charlene

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; program.

 4 121 Kweskin, Jim, and Jug Band

Program; magazine write-up; news clipping; photoprint.

 4 122 Lane, Lawrence

Correspondence.

 4 123 Langstaff, John

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait printed on programs; news clipping; magazine write-ups.

 4 124 Leadbelly

Correspondence; portrait on record notes.

 4 125 Ledford, Homer

Portrait (print).

 4 126 Lee, Archie

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 4 127 Lee, Katie

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print); news clipping.

 4 128 Lloyd, A.L.

Questionnaire.

 4 129 Lomax, Alan

Correspondence; news write-up; biography; article.

 4 130 Long, Maud

Questionnaire; photoprint.

 4 131 Loudermilk, Romaine

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 4 132 Lunsford, Bascomb

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint; program.

 4 133 MacColl, Ewan

Correspondence; questionnaire; program.

 4 134 McCord, May Kennedy

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait, negative and print; news clipping.

 4 135 McCurdy, Ed

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); news clipping.

 4 136 McNeil, Brownie

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portraits (print).

 4 137 Maples, Jo

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 4 138 Marais and Miranda

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 4 139 Marcotte, Will and Jean

Questionnaire.

 4 140 Mechau Family

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news write-up; portrait (print).

 4 141 Meyer, Roy

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 4 142 Mickelson, Eric

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 4 143 Mills, Alan

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; news write-up; news clipping; portrait (print).

 4 144 Mitchell, Merlin

Questionnaire; portrait (print).

 4 145 Mobley, Pleaz W.

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 4 146 Moon, Jacob and Winnifred

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 4 147 Morris, Jimmy (Driftwood)

Correspondence; questionnaire; 2 song scores by J. Morris.

 4 148 Morrison, Absie

Questionnaire.

 5 149 Moser, Artus

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprint.

 5 150 Mueller, Joan

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography.

 5 151 Murai, Jean

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); programs.

 5 152 Murray, Jim and Carmen

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 153 National Music League Vocal Trio

Program; portraits (print).

 5 154 Neal, Ruth

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); biography.

 5 155 Neibarger, Nancy, and Pearl Kelly

Photoprint.

 5 156 Nickerson, Camille

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 157 Niles, John Jacob

Correspondence; questionnaire; news write-up; biography; programs; portraits (print); news clipping; article.

 5 158 Nye, Hermes

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print); program.

 5 159 O'Bryant, Joan

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping.

 5 160 O'Hara, Mary

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 5 161 Okun, Milt

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 162 Oldfather, Charles

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 5 163 Oster, Harry

Correspondence; questionnaire; new write-up; portrait (print).

 5 164 Paley, Tom

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 5 165 Peacock, Ken

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 5 166 Pennington, John B.

Song book: song texts only.

 5 167 Powell, Desmond

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 168 Le Quatour, Alouette

Correspondence; questionnaire; photoprints; program; biography, English and French; reviews.

 5 169 Reed, Jared

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portraits (print).

 5 170 Reed, Susan

Correspondence; program; news clipping; program.

 5 171 Ritchie, Edna

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 5 172 Ritchie, Jason

Correspondence; portrait (print).

 5 173 Ritchie, Jean

Correspondence; program; news clipping; news write-up; portrait (print) and negative.

 5 174 Ritchie, Jewel

Correspondence; photoprint.

 5 175 Ritchie, May

Correspondence.

 5 176 Ritchie, Una

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 5 177 Roberts, Robin

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 178 Robinson, Earl

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 5 179 Robinson, Frank V.

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 5 180 Ross, Rob

Correspondence; questionnaire; Folkways record notes: portrait, song texts.

 5 181 Roth, Herbert

Questionnaire; news clipping.

 5 182 Rubin, Ruth

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait (print).

 5 183 Rudie, Robert

Portrait (print).

 6 184 Saletan, Tony

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 185 Sandburg, Carl

Correspondence; biography; news clippings; portrait (print).

 6 186 Scammell, A.R.

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 6 187 Schlamme, Martha

News clipping; portrait (print) on brochure; program; biography; reviews.

 6 188 Scott, Molly

Correspondence; news clipping.

 6 189 Scott, Tom

Correspondence; biography; program.

 6 190 Seeger, Pete

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; portrait (print); news clippings; program; his How to play the 5-string Banjo; Folkways record notes.

 6 191 Sellers, John

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 192 Silverman, Jerry

Correspondence; questionnaire; record notes.

 6 193 Smith, Fred

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 194 Smith, Winifred

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 195 Sparks, Lloyd

Questionnaire.

 6 196 Starr, Mary Agnes

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; program; portrait (print).

 6 197 Stekert, Ellen

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 198 Stone, Eleanor

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 199 Stracke, Win

Correspondence; questionnaire; programs; portrait (print); reviews; news clippings; biography.

 6 200 Sturgill, Virgil

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print); news clipping.

 6 201 Summers, Andrew R.

Questionnaire; program; portraits (print).

 6 202 Tarwater, Rebecca

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 203 Tate, Charles, and Family

Correspondence; questionnaire; festival programs.

 6 204 Temple, Pick

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; photoprint and portrait (print)s.

 6 205 Terry, Sonny

Photograph (print and negative).

 6 206 Thomson, Paul S.

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 207 Tyler, Ruth

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 208 Usher, Alex

Correspondence; questionnaire; portraits (print).

 6 209 Van Wey, Adelaide

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; program; portraits (print).

 6 210 Vincent, Jenny Wells

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; programs; portrait (print).

 6 211 Warner, Frank

Correspondence; questionnaire; biography; portrait (print).

 6 212 Washington, Jackie

Correspondence; questionnaire; news clipping; program; portrait (print).

 6 213 Weissman, Dick

Questionnaire.

 6 214 Welsch, Roger

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 215 West, Harry and Jeanie

Correspondence; portrait (print); program.

 6 216 White, Josh

Biography.

 6 217 Whitmire, Ross C.

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 218 Wilder, Dick

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 219 Williams, Betty V.

Questionnaire; news clipping; program.

 6 220 Williams, Cratis

Correspondence; questionnaire; portrait (print).

 6 221 Wilson, Stan

Correspondence; questionnaire; program; portrait (print).

 6 222 Wood, Theodore

Correspondence; questionnaire.

 6 223 Yarbrough, Glen

Questionnaire.

 6 224 Zeitlin, David

Correspondence; questionnaire.