Cultures & Communities - Overview
Furniture, cooking wares, clothing, works of art, and many other kinds of artifacts are part of what knit people into communities and cultures. The Museum’s collections feature artifacts from European Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, African Americans, Gypsies, Jews, and Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. The objects range from ceramic face jugs made by enslaved African Americans in South Carolina to graduation robes and wedding gowns. The holdings also include artifacts associated with education, such as teaching equipment, textbooks, and two complete schoolrooms. Uniforms, insignia, and other objects represent a wide variety of civic and voluntary organizations, including youth and fraternal groups, scouting, police forces, and firefighters.
"Cultures & Communities - Overview" showing 19 items.
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Johnson Mountain Boys
- Description
- The Johnson Mountain Boys was a traditional bluegrass band formed in the Washington, D.C. suburbs in the 1970s. Its members were vocalist, banjoist, and guitarist Dudley Connell, David McLauglin, fiddler Eddie Stubbs, and bassist Larry Robbins. Connell worked for Smithsonian Folkways for a time and Stubbs went on to host the Grand Ole Opry.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1981
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.030
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.030
- 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
EmmyLou Harris
- Description
- Working on assignment, Henry Horenstein photographed EmmyLou Harris (b. 1947) at her home. In the 1970s, Harris represented the generation of musicians who were influenced by traditional country, rock, and folk music. Over the years, Harris has had a profound impact on contemporary popular and country music.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1980
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.034
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.034
- 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
Minnie Pearl and Pee Wee King
- Description
- "How-dee! Ah'm so glad to be here," may be one of the most familiar and beloved radio greetings, Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, 1912-1996) ranked among the premier comedians on the Grand Ole Opry and in country music. For decades she entertained audiences with gossip about the residents of her fictional town, Grinder's Switch. She joined the Opry in 1940 and later went on to star in the television show Hee Haw in the 1970s.
- Minnie Pearl's costume consisting of her famous straw hat with the dangling price tag, the pink and white gingham dress, and maryjane-style shoes became part of the National Museum of Amercian History's collection after she donated them in 1993.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1973
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.050
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.050
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Photograph of Joe Val
- Description
- In the 1970s and 1980s, photographer Henry Horenstein documented the lives and performances of country and bluegrass musicians. The time marked the end of an era of less commercialism and closer relationships between fans and musicians. It was a time when the casual atmosphere of outdoor venues was popular, and the music fans could often meet their favorite musicians in the parking lots or other areas of the grounds. In this image, taken in 1972 at Indian Ranch in Webster, Massachusetts, bluegrass musician and singer Joe Val (1926-1985) plays a Gibson mandolin in a picnic area. He is accompanied by other guitarists and is being watched by fans. Val (born Joseph Valiante) was an accomplished mandolinist and guitarist who played both traditional and progressive bluegrass in his band, the New England Bluegrass Boys.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- negative
- 1972
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.072
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.072
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center