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Audio recordings of Stephen Foster Memorial events, ca. 1950-1970.
Amount:
307 audio tapes
Medium Included:
audio reel-to-reel recordings
Organization/Arrangement:
Chronological
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
In 1935, the Florida Legislature designated "Old Folks at Home" (often referred to as "Way Down Upon the Suwannee River") as Florida's state song. Over the next two decades, several Floridians began to push for a memorial to the song's composer, Stephen Collins Foster, who was considered by many to be the nation's first commercial songwriter. Finally, after years of lobbying by groups such as the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the state opened the Stephen Foster Memorial as a 250-acre park in White Springs in 1950 on the banks of the Suwannee River. The park would eventually comprise of a carrilon tower, a Stephen Foster Museum, landscaped park grounds, and an annual Florida Folk Festival, along with other public programs. That same year, the state created the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission to administer the development and maintenance of the park. In 1969, the Dept. of State's Division of Cultural Affairs assumed administration of the park. In 1979 the memorial became a part of the Florida Park Service and now carries the name of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park (79-322, SB 1208).
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Memorial sponsored several public programs, most of which celebrated the music of Stephen Foster as well as the genre of folk music. Such programs included chorus performances, concerts by national folk artists, educational programs, and holiday concerts. The Memorial also strove to preserve its own history, including interviewing founding members and recording special events, such as the museum's opening ceremonies.
Summary:
This series is comprised of reel to reel recordings created by the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission. Arranged chronogically (undated items appear at the end), these recordings document the Memorial's public programs and special events, as well as interviews with Memorial Commission members and of social gatherings. Most of these recordings were created by the Memorial's director and curator, Foster Barnes. In addition, four of the reels are soundtracks for promotional films created by the Stephen Foster Memorial.
Finding Aids:
Item listing available. Searchable database of item-level descriptions of Florida Folklife sound recordings available online at: https://www.floridamemory.com/audio/. 0
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Associated Materials:
For Florida Folk Festival recordings from 1954 through 2001, as well as other Stephen Foster Memorial events, see series S1576, Bureau of Florida Folklife Programs, Florida Folklife Archive, Audio Recordings of Florida Folk Festival Performances and Other Folk Events. For records of the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission's radio programs, see series S2042, Stephen Foster Memorial (White Springs, Fla.), Promotional Radio Program Audio Recordings. For promotional films created by the Stephen Foster Memorial Commission, see series S1615, Bureau of Florida Folklife Programs. Florida Folklife Archive, Video Recordings of Florida Folklife Events, Programs, and Television Broadcasts (clips from some of those videos can be found online at https://www.floridamemory.com/video/folklife.php).
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Boltin, Thelma Ann, 1904-1992
Stephen Foster Center. Stephen Foster Memorial (White Springs, Fla.)
Museums Florida Music Societies, etc Folk art Florida Folk artists Florida Folk dance music Florida Folk festivals Florida Folk music Florida Folk music groups Florida Folk music. Folk singers Florida Folk songs Florida Folklife. Folklore Florida Folklore Performance Florida Folklore and children Florida Spirituals (Songs) Anniversaries Meetings.
Sound recordings. aat Audio recordings.
Hamilton County (Fla.)
Florida Folk Festival
for detailed listing.