ContentsBiographical History and Administrative History Collection Inventory |
Woody Guthrie Manuscript CollectionAFC 1940/004Prepared by Joanne Rasi2002
Biographical History and Administrative HistoryWoody Guthrie, born in Okemah, Oklahoma in 1912 and raised in Texas, moved to California during the Depression, where he met actor and activist Will Geer and toured migrant labor camps documenting conditions and injustices in the camps for The Light newspaper. He also performed on Los Angeles radio KFVD-LA, singing old-time ballads, some of which he updated with lyrics about contemporary issues. Alan Lomax, assistant in charge of the Archive of American Folk Song at the Library of Congress, first heard Woody Guthrie at a concert in New York City in March of 1940, shortly after Guthrie had relocated there. Alan Lomax arranged for Guthrie to travel to Washington, D.C. to record an oral life history that included traditional and original songs, and encouraged him to write his autobiography. Guthrie performed on several "Folk Music of America" radio shows hosted by Alan Lomax on CBS's American School of the Air. In New York, Woody Guthrie joined Lomax's sister, Bess Lomax Hawes, Pete Seeger, and others in a singing group, the Almanac Singers, for which Guthrie wrote protest ballads and songs. More information on Woody Guthrie's life and career can be found through the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives at http://www.woodyguthrie.org/. The Archive of American Folk Song was founded in 1928 at the Library of Congress to collect and preserve American folksongs. During the years when the earliest Guthrie collections were acquired, from 1940 to 1950, the Archive was directed by: John A. Lomax (1932-1942), Alan Lomax (assistant in charge, 1937-1942), Benjamin Botkin (1942-1945), and Duncan Emrich (1946-1954). It was through Alan Lomax's recording projects and his personal friendship with Woody Guthrie that these early materials were added to the Archive. When Alan Lomax's entire collection of papers and recordings was acquired by the American Folklife Center in 2004, additional Woody Guthrie manuscripts were included, which add to the Archive's Guthrie holdings. To reflect its broader mission and collections the Archive was re-named the Archive of Folk Culture in 1981 and is now a part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NoteWoody Guthrie was a prolific artist known for his achievements as a singer-songwriter and as an author. Guthrie toured and performed for a period of approximately twenty-five years, exhibiting a life-long dedication to social activism by playing his politically charged music for audiences around the nation. His output included nearly three thousand songs, several novels, and other writings in the form of articles, essays, poems, and letters. In addition, Guthrie also painted, drew cartoons, and often illustrated his writings. From 1940 to 1950, Guthrie corresponded with staff at the Library of Congress. The most significant and frequent correspondence occurred between 1940 and 1942, when Guthrie wrote regularly to the Assistant in Charge of the Archive of American Folk Song, Alan Lomax. Their correspondence explores political issues, current events, career and recording issues, and includes personal exchanges. In addition, Guthrie sent Lomax prose pieces and other creative writings, some of which are reminiscent of journal or diary entries in their stream-of-consciousness nature. Some pieces are written on paper bags and tissue paper, some include doodles or sketches. In addition, Guthrie sent lyrics of his songs in several formats, including one large hand-bound set, smaller unbound sets, and single pages enclosed in letters. Most of these songs are ballads that used familiar melodies but addressed contemporary situations. Some of the manuscripts were written prior to 1940 and were subsequently sent to Lomax during their correspondence. In some cases Guthrie reworked or annotated old manuscripts before sending them. Return to the Table of Contents Selected Search TermsPeople
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Return to the Table of Contents Collection InventoryCorrespondence, essays, prose, doodles, and song lyrics written by Woody Guthrie between 1935 and 1950.Collection Finding AidInventories and Case FileCorrespondence: Letters (mostly to Alan Lomax, Duncan Emrich), 1940-50 and undatedCorrespondence: Letters of Permission, 1942-48Correspondence: Post Cards, 1941Correspondence: Letters to Record Companies, 1940, and circa June 1942Correspondence: Library of Congress to Guthrie, 1940-50 and undatedCorrespondence: Library of Congress concerning Guthrie, 1940-42 and undatedLyrics: "Alonzo M. Zilch's Own Collection of Original Songs and Ballads," 1935Lyrics: "Farther Along," March 1941Lyrics: "The Final Call," April 1941Lyrics: Old Time Hill Country Songs, undatedLyrics: Songs of Woody Guthrie, songbook, undatedCarbon copy. For original, see Box 2 of 3. Lyrics: "Ten of Woody Guthrie's Songs: Book One," April 1945Lyrics: Wartime Songs, 1940-42 and undatedWritings: "No Title," undatedWritings: "The Railroad Cricket," 1941Writings: Undated essay on 8" x 12" envelope, circa Fall 1940Writings: Three essays written between September and November 1940Reference photocopy of oversize materials. For originals, see Box 3 of 3. Lyrics: Songs of Woody Guthrie, original songbook, undatedWritings: Three essays written between September and November 1940Original Collection Concordance by FormatReturn to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents |
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