Object Details
- Introduction
- After the 1967 Festival proved to be a great success, the Smithsonian decided that the Festival of American Folklife would become an annual event. The 1968 Festival took place July 3-7 on the National Mall, between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive and between 10th Street and 14th Street, south of the Museum of History and Technology and the Museum of Natural History (see site map). It followed the same approach that had proven effective in 1967, but innovated by also including a program focused on a single State, Texas. As in 1967, the Festival was organized by the Division of Performing Arts, James R. Morris, Director, and directed by Festival Director Ralph C. Rinzler. The 1968 Program Book included information to complement each of the programs, ranging from discussions of the definitions of folklore and folklife to the relations between folklife and cultural history. Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, in his introduction to the booklet, noted that: The Festival of American Folklife offers the Smithsonian Institution an opportunity to show through demonstration and performance some aspects of the cultural roots of the people of the United States. The Festival is a living exhibition of the creativity of the many ethnic groups that make up the culture of this country. After the 1967 Festival proved to be a great success, the Smithsonian decided that the Festival of American Folklife would become an annual event. The 1968 Festival took place July 3-7 on the National Mall, between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive and between 10th Street and 14th Street, south of the Museum of History and Technology and the Museum of Natural History (see site map). It followed the same approach that had proven effective in 1967, but innovated by also including a program focused on a single State, Texas. As in 1967, the Festival was organized by the Division of Performing Arts, James R. Morris, Director, and directed by Festival Director Ralph C. Rinzler. Crafts Performances Texas The 1968 Program Book included information to complement each of the programs, ranging from discussions of the definitions of folklore and folklife to the relations between folklife and cultural history. Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, in his introduction to the booklet, noted that: The Festival of American Folklife offers the Smithsonian Institution an opportunity to show through demonstration and performance some aspects of the cultural roots of the people of the United States. The Festival is a living exhibition of the creativity of the many ethnic groups that make up the culture of this country.
- Festival speakers and consultants
- Bruce Jackson, 1936-, New York Guthrie (Gus) Meade, 1932-1991, Washington D.C. Mack McCormick, Texas Robert Messinger, New York Sandy Paton, Connecticut Caroline Paton, Connecticut Jean Ritchie, New York Mike Seeger, 1933-2009, Washington, D.C. Dick Waterman, Massachusetts
- Shared Stewardship of Collections
- The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage acknowledges and respects the right of artists, performers, Folklife Festival participants, community-based scholars, and knowledge-keepers to collaboratively steward representations of themselves and their intangible cultural heritage in media produced, curated, and distributed by the Center. Making this collection accessible to the public is an ongoing process grounded in the Center's commitment to connecting living people and cultures to the materials this collection represents. To view the Center's full shared stewardship policy, which defines our protocols for addressing collections-related inquiries and concerns, please visit https://doi.org/10.25573/data.21771155.
- Creator
- Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
- Names
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival
- Topic
- World music
- Folklore
- Food habits
- Folk music
- Folk festivals
- arts and crafts
- Folk art
- Creator
- Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1968 Festival of American Folklife
- Summary
- The Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The materials collected here document the planning, production, and execution of the annual Festival, produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1999-present) and its predecessor offices (1967-1999). An overview of the entire Festival records group is available here: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.
- Historical note
- The Festival of American Folklife, held annually since 1967 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1998. The 1968 Festival of American Folklife was produced by the Smithsonian Division of Performing Arts. For more information, see Smithsonian Folklife Festival records.
- Extent
- 1 Cubic foot (approximate)
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
- The Rinzler Archives is continually engaged in digitization of archival materials to facilitate preservation and ready access by users. However, given the diversity of legacy formats of the originals, some older materials may not be available. Notably, certain older audio recordings cannot be played because of deterioration of the tape stock, and the Archives has no playback equipment for EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) or multi-track audio recordings. Where listening or viewing copies are available, this is generally indicated for each item. Users are encouraged to contact Archives staff to verify that the materials of interest to them are already accessible, or to determine if they can be digitized as needed.
- Date
- July 3-7, 1968
- Archival Repository
- Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
- Identifier
- CFCH.SFF.1968
- Type
- Collection descriptions
- Archival materials
- Video recordings
- Photographic prints
- Notes
- Audiocassettes
- Digital images
- Business records
- Sound recordings
- Negatives
- Videotapes
- Plans (drawings)
- Slides (photographs)
- Correspondence
- Contracts
- Audiotapes
- Memorandums
- Citation
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1968 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections , Smithsonian Institution.
- Arrangement note
- Arranged in 4 series. Series 1: Program Books, Festival Publications, and Ephemera Series 2: Crafts Series 3: Performances Series 4: Texas
- Rights
- Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
- Genre/Form
- Video recordings
- Photographic prints
- Notes
- Audiocassettes
- Digital images
- Business records
- Sound recordings
- Negatives
- Videotapes
- Plans (drawings)
- Slides (photographs)
- Correspondence
- Contracts
- Audiotapes
- Memorandums
- Scope and Contents note
- This collection documents the planning, production, and execution of the 1968 Festival of American Folklife. Materials may include photographs, audio recordings, motion picture film and video recordings, notes, production drawings, contracts, memoranda, correspondence, informational materials, publications, and ephemera. Such materials were created during the Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as in the featured communities, before or after the Festival itself.
- Restrictions
- Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
- Record ID
- ebl-1503512422706-1503512422712-0
In the Collection
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