Glenda Hershberger is part of the spinning lineage passed along at the Ozark Folk Center.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is in celebration of Glenda's birthday! With love, Melody Miller
When the Ozark Folk Center opened in 1973 the ancient art of spinning was demonstrated by Ida Branscum and Ethel Richardson. The Committee of One Hundred funded many spinning apprenticeships over the decades. In 1982 Joan Wiede apprenticed with Ida Branscum. Joan went on to teach Glenda Hershberger in 1984 and Mona Moody Hayes in 1987. Steve Hickman and Carrie Marry apprenticed with Hazel Lee in both spinning and dyeing in 2001. Included in the history of spinning is Lisa Wiede.
Spinning and weaving are sister arts and the long legacy of Committee of One Hundred weaving apprenticeships at the Folk Center includes Tricia Hearn as one of the original apprentices in 1978, studying under Clarice Chitwood. Charlaine Davis apprenticed with Clarice Chitwood and Dorothy Ford in 1982. Vickie Sloan apprenticed with Clarice Chitwood in 1988. In 1989, Karen Budrunas and Trisha Hearn apprenticed with Gloria Chitwood. Terri Van Orman's apprentices include Carrie Marry in 1999 and Devona Mount in 2001.
Terri Van Orman was commissioned by the Committee of One Hundred to weave this overshot baby blanket as a gift to Win and Lisenne Rockefeller, presented in 1992 at the Committee of One Hundred fundraising event at Winrock. (Photo courtesy, Collection of the Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas, PH.OCRC.3179)
During Terri Van Orman's tenure as the weaving artisan she began offering weeklong weaving classes for approximately five students. This could be considered the origin of Folk School. A donation of looms from Gordon and Wenonah Fay Holl made it possible to have the necessary equipment. Gordon and Wenonah had woven in college in the 1930's and were early artisans and supporters of the Arts in Arkansas. Terri remembers going to Conway with Kay Thomas, Crafts Director at the time, to pick up the looms in 1991 or 1992. They had borrowed the Ozark Folk Center pickup truck and carried the looms out of the Holl's attic and drove them back to the weaving shop. Weaving classes started the next year!
Wenonah Fay Holl, pictured at left, and husband, Gordon, collected art and craft including the works of their dear friends, Elsie and Louis Freund. The background of this photo includes Louis' painting, The Square Dancers that is now in the Historic Arkansas Museum collection. The necklace is a piece by Elsie, who, in addition to being a painter, was famous for her jewelry. Photo, courtesy Terri Van Orman.
Fiber dyeing, usually plant-based, is another skill passed along at the Ozark Folk Center and Tina Marie Wilcox mentions learning how to dye wool during her apprenticeship with Foster, Tatum Long, and Clarice Chitwood in this note from 1986.
Clarice Chitwood dying thread or yarn. Collection of the Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas, PH.OCRC.0175
Entry by Lenore Shoults with input from Kay Thomas, Terri Van Orman, Tina Marie Wilcox, and the Arkansas State Archives.
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
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