James Early was interviewed by Tim Carr on June 30, 1996. He worked at the Smithsonian in the 1970s in preparation for the 1976 Bicentennial Festival of American Folklife and returned in 1984. He is now the Director of Cultural Studies and Communication at the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies. This interview discusses the course of Early's career at the Smithsonian; his assessment of the Festival of American Folklife; colleagues Rayna Green, Bernice Reagon, Ralph Rinzler, and others; how his career at the Smithsonian began; the 1976 Festival of American Folklife; his preparations for the South Africa exhibit at the 1997 Festival of American Folklife; his relationship and work with John Kinard; comments on Secretaries Ripley, Adams, and Heyman; the Enola Gay exhibit controversy and censorship at the Smithsonian; working for a Smithsonian office rather than a Smithsonian museum; hopes for future Folklife Festivals; and his research focused on Cuba.

Object Details

See more items in: Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews; Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews / Interviews

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9594, Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews