skip navigation  The Library of Congress >> Research Centers
AFC Logo The American Folklife Center
A - Z Index
 home >> collections & research services >> finding aids

Finding Aids to Collections in the Archive of Folk Culture

BAHAMAS COLLECTIONS
IN THE ARCHIVE OF FOLK CULTURE

Compiled by: Jonathan Thomsen and Jud Wellington
Series Editor: Ann Hoog
Revised: January 2011


For additional information about Archive of Folk Culture collections, contact the Folklife Reading Room. To request copies, see our webpages regarding audio materials and photographic materials. Please refer to the AFC and/or AFS numbers when requesting information. All indications of time duration listed in this finding aid are estimates.

AFC 1935/001: Alan Lomax, Zora Neale Hurston, and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle Expedition Collection
Two hundred and twenty-seven discs of African American, Bahamian, and Haitian songs, including music, tales, and church services. Recorded in Frederica, St. Simon's Island, Georgia; Eatonville, Belle Glade, and Chosen, Florida; and at several locations in the Bahamas. [catalog record]

AFS 386-535: One hundred forty-nine discs of music recorded in various locations in the Bahamas by Alan Lomax and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle, July and August, 1935. Includes a song list with the specific area each recording took place. [note: AFS 457-467 are recordings of Haitian songs, though they were recorded in the Bahamas. (18 hours, 50 minutes; LWO 4872 reel 27B-37A)

AFC 1939/013: Stetson Kennedy and Robert Cook WPA Florida Recordings
Eighteen 12-inch discs of imitations, instrumentals, riddles, songs, and tales of African American, Bahamian, and Cuban cultures throughout Florida. Recorded in Key West, Riviera, and Ybor City, Florida, by Robert Cook and Stetson Kennedy, January 15-31, 1940, for the Florida Music and Writers Projects of the Works Projects Administration (WPA). The collection includes 1/2 linear inch of descriptions, lists, and song texts. (includes 3378-3395) [catalog record] [online presentation]

AFS 3378-3381A2: Four discs containing Conch songs and riddles performed by Wilber Roberts, Mary Jane Roberts, Naomi Nelson and Sally Nelson. Recorded in Riviera, Florida, by Robert Cook and Stetson Kennedy, January 1940.

AFS 3384-3395: Twelve discs containing fish peddler calls, songs, religious songs performed by Theodore Rolle, (Tea Roll), Robert Butler, Shorty Harris (Sweet Papa), and several unidentified performers. Recorded in Key West, Florida, by Robert Cook and Stetson Kennedy, January 1940.

AFC 1944/006: David Pryor Recordings of Bahaman Spirituals
Three 16-inch discs of Bahaman spirituals religious songs, and a few secular songs performed by David Pryor from the Cool Spring Center Labor Camp, Delaware, originally of the Bahamas. Recorded in Washington, D.C., at the Library of Congress, by Benjamin A. Botkin and Arthur Semmig, September 25, 1943. (includes AFS 7057-7059) [catalog record]

AFS 7600-7601: David Pryor Singing Bahaman Spirituals
Two discs of 20 Bahamian spirituals sung by David Pryor from the Hebron, Maryland, Labor Camp, originally of Nassau, Bahamas. Recorded at the Library of Congress by Benjamin A. Botkin and Charles Schreider, October 2, 1944.

AFS 1973/028: Laura Boulton Collection

AFS 16,278-16,335: Part 10: Music of the West Indies
Fifty-eight 10-inch discs of instrumentals, songs, and stories recorded in the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Martinique, by Laura Boulton in 1938. The collection includes three-quarters of a linear inch of correspondence, description, and lists. This is part 10 of the Laura Bolton Collection: Music of the West Indies.

AFS 16, 278-16,306: Two tapes containing recreational, ballad, sea chantey, Christmas, and play songs recorded in Nassau, Bahamas, by Laura Boulton. The collection includes song titles, descriptions, vocal make-ups, and instruments. Instruments in banjo, guitars, bass viol, ukulele, and drums. (2 hours)

AFC 1977/029: Elsie Fardig Collection of Bahamian Recordings
Two 10-inch tapes of children’s ring games and songs, a boy’s Junkanoo band (drums, whistle, cowbells), a Baptist church choir rehearsal, and an interview with musician George E. Moxley focusing on Bahamian children’s music and games, local instruments, and Junkanoo celebrations. Recorded at various locations in Nassau, Bahamas, by Elsie Fardig, her students, and Marina McDonald, November 1976. The collection includes 4 color slides taken of the children. (includes AFS 19,148-19,149) [catalog record]

AFC 2004/004: Alan Lomax Collection
Eight hundred forty-five linear feet (approx. 150 linear feet manuscripts; 10,000 sound recordings; 5,500 graphic images; 5,000 moving images) of material created and collected by Alan Lomax and others in their work documenting song, music, dance, and body movement from many cultures. Includes field recordings and photographs Lomax made in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, England, France, Georgia, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, the United States, and Wales, 1930s-2004. [catalog record]

AFC 2004/004: T9096R01-T9096R08: Eight tapes containing ballads and religious songs sung by Emperor MacKenze. Also includes and interview with MacKenze about Bahamian celebrations, drinking songs, funeral rituals, and working as a sponger and fisherman. Recorded by Alan Lomax in Long Cay (South Andros Island), Bahamas, October 30, 1979.

 

 

  Back to Top

 

 home >> collections & research services >> finding aids

A - Z Index
  The Library of Congress >> Research Centers
   June 23, 2011
Legal | External Link Disclaimer

Contact Us:
Ask a Librarian