Finding Aids to Collections in the Archive of Folk Culture

LAOS COLLECTIONS
IN THE ARCHIVE OF FOLK CULTURE

Compiled by: Theresa Anne J. Sotto
Series Editor: Ann Hoog

AFS 10,200-10,203: Musee de l'Homme Collection of Laotian Music
Four 10-inch discs of ceremonial and courtship music from Laos, featuring Ranahd-Ek (xylophone), Khong-Vong (gong chimes), flute, cymbals, Khene (reed mouth organ), and So-U (bass folk fiddle). Acquired in an exchange from the Musee de l'Homme in Paris, France, ca. 1950. The collection includes a log.

AFS 13,733-13,734: Laotian Mouth Organ (Khen) music
Two 12-inch discs of four pieces played on the Laotian mouth organ (khen). Recorded on commerical discs bearing "Radiodiffusion National Lao" on the the labels. Recorded place and date unknown. (6 minutes; tape copy of AFS 13,733 only on LWO 5111 reel 431B)

AFC 1958/020: Voice of America Collection of Music of Laos
Three 7-inch tapes of the music of Laos played by a 9-piece orchestra. Includes Imperial music, military music, dance music, parade music, march music, a Laotian love song, a funeral song, sacred music, "cheerful or happy music" typical of what is played at sports events. The collections includes a log. Recorded in Vientiane, Laos, December 3, 1955. (1 hour, 5 minutes; LWO 4031) (includes AFS 11,407-11,409)

AFC 1980/012: 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series Collection
Eleven 10-inch tapes; 118 color negatives, polaroids, prints, and slides; 236 black-and-white contact sheets, negatives, and prints; and two videocassettes containing documentation of the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center and featuring the presentation of Armenian, country music, Cuban, Ghanian, Laotian, Vietnamese, and zydeco folk traditions. Recorded at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., by the American Folklife Center, April-October 1988. The collection includes 4 1/2 linear inches of background material, correspondence, logs, newspaper clippings, and press releases. [view catalog record] [view finding aid]

The following lists materials from the October 9th concert of music from Southeast Asia.

AFS 20,170-20,171: Two 10-inch tapes of Southeast Asian music performed during the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series, including Hmong music performed on flute, geng, and Jew’s harp, accompanied by balancing steps, somersaults, and storytelling; Laotian mohlam singing accompanied by kaen and musical saw; and Vietnamese music and popular songs performed on dan bao, dan co, dan tranh, and dan tyba. (4 hours; LWO 16,844; RWA 15-16)

AFC 1980/012:Envelope 12: Thirty-six black-and-white negatives photographed by John T. Gibbs documenting the Music of Southeast Asia concert during the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series.

AFC 1980/012:Envelope 13: Nineteen color slides photographed by John T. Gibbs documenting the Music of Southeast Asia concert during the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series.

AFC 1980/012:Folder 14: Fifteen pages of a newsletter, photograph logs, and program notes documenting the Music of Southeast Asia concert during the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series.

AFC 1980/012:Folders 15-16: One black-and-white contact sheet (thirty-six images) and one black-and-white print photographed by John T. Gibbs, and six color polaroids photographed by an unknown photographer (possibly Carl Fleischhauer) documenting the Music of Southeast Asia concert during the 1980 Neptune Plaza Concert Series.

AFC 1981/003: Karl Signell "Asian Music in the New World" Collection
Two 10-inch tapes of "Asian Music in the New World," a radio program containing interviews of first generation Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodian), Laotian, and Vietnamese immigrants in the United States, including music and stories about the meaning of music and how it has been "americanized." Recorded in various locations in the United States by Mary Cliff and Karl Signell at an unknown date. Broadcast on National Public Radio, October 1980; and directed, narrated, and produced by Mary Cliff and Karl Signell. This is part of National Public Radio's "Folk Festival USA" series, produced by Deborah Lamberton; and part 2 of the Karl Signell / "Music in the New World" collection. (1 hour and 28 minutes)

AFC 1987/042: Lowell Folklife Project Collection
Ninety audiocassettes and 247 reels of sound recordings, including musical events, neighborhood tours, oral history interviews, parades and processions, and religious services documenting a field project in Lowell, Massachusetts, that examines the city’s ethnic history and the history of its occupational lore. Recorded mostly in Lowell, by Michael Bell, Douglas DeNatale, Barbara Fertig, Mario Montaño, Martha Norkunas, Tom Rankin, Refugee Arts Group, David Taylor, Eleanor Wachs, 1987-1988. The project was conducted with the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission and the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities. The collection includes approximately 10,000 black- and-white negatives, 487 black-and-white contact sheets, 100 black-and-white photographs, 16 color negatives, 16 color prints, and 3,940 color slides; 15 computer disks of manuscript material; and 5 linear feet (158 folders) of audio logs, black and white photograph and color slide logs, data from the Lowell Neighborhood Map Project, ephemera, field notes, publications, reports, and transcripts of sound recordings. [view catalog record] [view finding aid]

AFC 1987/042:LFP-DD-B100:12: One black-and-white negative of a female Laotian high school student testifying on hearings before the Governor’s Advisory Board on Refugee Resettlement. Photographed at the Smith-Baker Center by Doug Denatale, June 19, 1987.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-DD-C026:1: One color slide of a table with door prizes at the Ethnic Covenant Dinner, including two Laotian quilts made in refugee camps, a bamboo basket, a knitted afghan, a book entitled The Best of Asian Cooking, and a stuffed lamb. Photographed at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church by Doug DeNatale, October 24, 1987.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-DT-A001: One audiocassette of an interview of Sherman O'Brien, in which he discusses the activities and history of Centralville Sportsmen's Club, which hosts a bow hunting range, a trout pool for fishing, and an indoor pistol range; fishing and hunting experiences in Lowell and other locations; fishing laws and practices, including the importance of conservation; and fishing towns in the area. Recorded at the Centralville Sportsmen's Club, in O'Brien's car, and by the Merrimack River by David Taylor, September 22, 1987.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-JB-B452: Thirty-seven black-and-white negatives of a Laotian New Year's celebration, including children dancers, musicians, and singers; female adult and child dancers; and members of the audience. Photographed at the Lowell Girl's Club by John Lueders-Booth, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-JB-B454: Thirty-seven black-and-white negatives of a Laotian New Year's celebration, including a Laotian rock band, Laotian children and women, and members of the audience. Photographed at the Lowell Girl's Club by John Lueders-Booth, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-JB-B457:1-33-B458:0-1: Thirty-five black-and-white negatives of Laotian dancers, musicians, singers, and spectators, including a man playing a pan pipe and a rock band at a Laotian New Year’s celebration. Photographed at the Lowell Girl's Club by John Lueders-Booth, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-JB-C073-C074: Forty color slides of a Laotian New Year’s celebration, including children dancing, selling T-shirts, and singing; Laotian dancers and musicians; members of the audience; and a rock band. Photographed at the Lowell Girl's Club by John Lueders-Booth, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-JB-C081: Five color slides of a Laotian New Year's celebration, including Laotian and American flags flying outside of City Hall and a man blowing pan pipes. Photographed at the Lowell Girl’s Club by John Lueders-Booth, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-MB-B461:8-B462:17: Twenty-four black-and-white negatives of a Laotian New Year's celebration, including celebration attendees, a rock band, a Laotian monk, and views of Lowell Girl's Club. Photographed at the Lowell Girl’s Club by Michael Bell, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFB-MB-B464: Thirty black-and-white negatives of a Laotian New Year's celebration, including a Buddhist monk, celebration attendees and members of the audience, a flag raising ceremony at City Hall, and a money tree. Photographed at City Hall and Lowell Girl’s Club by Michael Bell, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-MB-C002-C004: Twenty-seven color slides of a Laotian New Year’s celebration, including pictures of a New Year’s banner in English and Laotian, a flag raising ceremony at City Hall, the hall of the Lowell Girl’s Club, a man kneeling in front of a Buddhist monk, members of the audience, and a rock band. Photographed at City Hall and the Lowell Girl's Club by Michael Bell, April 16, 1988.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-MB-R006-R007: Two 7-inch tapes of an interview with Laotian Phomma Sayasane, in which he discusses Laotian culture, including dance groups, food, language, and medicine; and his life experiences. Recorded by Michael Bell, November 4, 1987. (45 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-MB-R010-R011: Two 7-inch tapes of an interview with American Joe Antonaccio, in which he discusses Asian communities in the United States, differences between Asians and other immigrant groups, his experiences manufacturing Asian meat products and owning an Asian retail store, his life and marriage to a Laotian refugee, racial prejudices of Americans, Southeast Asian food, and Western medicine. Recorded by Michael Bell, November 16, 1987. (1 hour and 8 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-MB-R017-R018: Two 7-inch tapes of an interview with Steve Schmidt, director of the Laotian American Organization (LAO) of Greater Lowell, a multi-service and interfacing agency, in which he discusses the differences between the U.S. medical system and Laotian medical practices; the Laotian community in Lowell; Laotian food practices and how it has changed through American influences; living conditions in the United States; modern-day weddings that fuse traditional Laotian and Western practices; problems with funding social programs, intergenerational conflicts, and language barriers; the services of the LAO; and teaching and interpreting English. Recorded by Michael Bell, December 12, 1987. (1 hour and 4 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-RA-A005: One audiocassette of an interview of Douangmany Malavong, in which she discusses dance traditions in Laos during Buddhist lent and kong buot (parties after funerals); her early life in Muang Ha Se Phong in the Vientiane province in Laos; her experiences as a dancer; her move to the United States; Laotian dancing in the United States; Kinaly, Nam Seng Duan, and Nang Sita traditional dances; Laotian dance costumes, practices, and movements; and musical instruments used to accompany Laotian dances. Recorded by Sarah Magruder of the Refugee Arts Group, May 10, 1987. (1 hour)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-RA-A006: One audiocassette of an interview of wedding guests before the wedding of Ly Khoxayo’s daughter, Phonh Khoxayo, including discussions of Laotian wedding customs, including consulting a maw pawn, customs during the wedding procession, and making a phakhouane. Recorded at Uncle’s in Bedford, Massachusetts, by Sarah Magruder, June 13, 1987. (28 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-RA-A007: One audiocassette of an interview of Phosy Sengsiri, in which she discusses differences between single and group dancing; her dancing experiences in the Lao Refugee Camp, a Laotian dance school, and Lowell; her family; and Lao-phan, her favorite type of dance. Recorded by Sarah Magruder and Douangmany Malavong of the Refugee Arts Group, July 7, 1987. (53 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-RA-A008: One audiocassette of an interview of Bouapha Bouala, in which he discusses Laotian arts and crafts; differences between men and women studying in the temple; entering the temple to become a Chua; his early life in Hathsy City, Vientiane Province in Laos; particular ceremonies, including Boun Khao Phansa, Boun Oak Phansa, Boun Phavet, and Boun Phadapdinh; the seven buildings that make up the temple; stage-plays at Bo Oh village; temples and monks in the United States; and the use of Khong Phenh. Recorded by Sarah Magruder and Choy Chandaoleuang of the Refugee Arts Group, July 15, 1987. (1 hour and 35 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-RA-A015: One audiocassette of an interview of Khamsone Silavong, which he discusses his early life and education; his exposure to music; the importance of music to older generations; Laotian instruments including a khene, ma kachak pee, and saw; playing music in Khong Sedone; music competitions and performances; popular music in the 1970s and how it has changed; and songwriter Sanong Oun Vong. Recorded by Sarah Magruder and Choy Chandaoleuang of the Refugee Arts Group, July 23, 1987.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-TR-A004: One audiocassette of an English as a Second Language class conducted by Rita Pitta for the Laotian American Organization. Recorded at the International Institute by Tom Rankin, September 9, 1987. (41 minutes)

AFC 1987/042:LFP-TR-B356:0-18: Nineteen black-and-white negatives of an English as a Second Language class conducted by Rita Pitta for the Laotian American Organization. Photographed at the International Institute by Tom Rankin, September 10, 1987.

AFC 1987/042:LFP-TR-R038-R039: Two 7-inch tapes of an interview with Steve Schmidt, director of the Laotian American Organization (LAO) of Greater Lowell, in which he discusses the difference between "Lao" and "Laotian"; difficulties contracting with the city; his life and work experiences, including his work with refugees; the history and services of LAO; how Laotians are helped by various organizations to understand American systems; immigration narratives; job placement in the United States; Laotian temple and Laotian Buddhism; the Laotian work ethic; and problems that Laotians have faced as consumers in the United States. Recorded in Schmidt's office by Tom Rankin, September 9, 1987. (1 hour and 4 minutes)

AFC 1998/001: Joel Martin Halpern Collection
Five audiocassettes, 144 commercial discs, 126 black-and-white photographs, 7 videocassettes, and 3 7-inch tapes documenting fieldwork among Bulgarians, Inuits, Laotians, Russians, and Serbo-Croatians in Eastern Europe and Canada. The collection includes books, abstracts, articles, brochures, coding instructions, curricula vitae, exhibit catalogs, logs, manuscript material, and periodicals. [view catalog record] [view finding aid]

AFC 1998/001:VT001-VT002: Two videocassettes of mixed material from Alaska, Laos, and Orasac, Yugoslavia, including Inuit dance and a lecture by Joel Halpern entitled "Being an Anthropologist." Recorded in an unknown location by Joel Halpern and Barbara Kerewsky-Halpern, 1950-1957.

AFC 1998/001:VT003: One videocassette of Lao subjects, including Mekong River life and royal processions. Recorded in Luang Prabang by Joel Halpern and Barbara Kerewsky-Halpern, 1957.