Art - Overview
The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.
"Art - Overview" showing 447 items.
Page 5 of 45
Jimmy Martin
- Description
- Jimmy Martin (James Henry Martin, 1927-2005) has been described as "the king" of the bluegrass lead singers. Early in his career, Martin played and wrote with Bill Monroe, and worked briefly with the Osborne Brothers. In 1955 he began to lead his own group, the Sunny Mountain Boys.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.012
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.012
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Accordian Player, Louisiana
- Description
- The first accordion was built in Germany in 1822. It took close to one hundred years before it was introduced into country music.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1977
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.027
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.027
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Waylon Jennings
- Description
- Waylon Jennings's first single, the Cajun song "Jole Blon," was produced by Buddy Holly in 1958. Jennings (1937-2002) moved to a more hardcore country sound by the 1970s. Rejecting slick commercial conventions of the time and demanding more control of his music, Jennings's professional and personal lifestyle personified what became known as the Outlaw Country movement.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1975
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.029
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.029
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stringbean
- Description
- Nationally known by the 1950s, "Stringbean" David Akeman (1915-1973) was a country comedian and exceptional banjo player. He is credited with reviving interest in the banjo in bluegrass and country music. He made his first banjo from a shoebox and string, and later went on to play with Bill Monroe's Band. Uncle Dave Macon mentioned Stringbean in classic jokes and traditional tunes, and was among the first Opry members to join the cast of Hee Haw. Publicity photographs in the background of this picture include Jean Shepherd, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Stringbean himself, Bobby Lord, Bill Anderson, Flatt and Scruggs, the Browns, and the Four Guys.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.031
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.031
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Holy Modal Rounders
- Description
- The Holy Modal Rounders, a folk/country band, was formed in 1961 by guitarist Steve Weber (right) and banjoist and fiddler Peter Stampfel in New York City's Greenwich Villiage. The popular music label, Rounder Records, owes its name to this innovative and controversial band.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.032
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.032
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Jeannie C. Riley
- Description
- Best known for her crossover hit, "Harper Valley PTA," Jeannie C. Riley (b. 1945) is pictured her on her tour bus.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1973
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.033
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.033
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Mack Magaha
- Description
- Mach Magaha (1929-2003) was a sought-after bluegrass fiddler. A member of Don Reno and Red Smiley's Tennessee Cut-Ups in the 1950s and 1960s, he next worked with Porter Wagoner for nearly twenty years.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1975
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.037
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.037
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoney and Wilma Lee Cooper
- Description
- The Coopers welcomed Henry Horestein in their home, a great example of the accessibility of stars just thirty years ago. Wilma Lee (Leigh Leary, b. 1921) and Stoney Cooper (Dale Troy, 1918-1977) ranked as one of the great husband-wife teams in country music. Their musical careers helped to bridge older and newer styles.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1974
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.038
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
"Hot Nuts" Fred's Lounge, Mamou, Louisiana
- Description
- Fred's Lounge was a well-known honky-tonk in the heart of Cajun country. The bar opened at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings to host the droves of visitors who came to hear the local bands that played from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1977
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.039
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.039
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Carol Lee Cooper
- Description
- Carol Lee Cooper (b.1942) provided vocal backup with her Carol Lee Singers for almost all the Grand Ole Opry acts beginning in the 1960s. Often without sheet music to work from and no time for a rehearsal, she devised a special system of hand signals for conducting the singers. On the dressing table is a lyric book in which she wrote the words of the songs and made notes. The photographer can be seen on the far right in the mirror.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1974
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.044
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.044
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center