Many of us have seen this wonderful photograph before and we posted it in this blog last month. We have since learned more about the people in the photograph. Robbie Purdom sent this information:
"My friend Kenneth Rorie posts many photos from this area, and he knows the identity of most of the older performers. He said "From the 1941 Stone County Folkways Festival, at Blanchard Springs. The fella' jig-dancin' is John Williams, who was in his 70s. Jimmy Driftwood on the arch-top guitar. Notice the position of his right hand." Mr. Williams lived in the Herpel Community. Born 1879 died 1967. "
Welcome input (and photographs!) and you can contact us at ofccommitteeof100@gmail.com. Here is the post from last month:
As we head into the 50th Anniversary of the Ozark Folk Center in 2023 and the Committee of One Hundred's 50th Anniversary in 2024, it is a great time to look back to how we got here and thank all of the people who made it all possible!
In 1941, the first folk festival in the Mountain View area was held at Blanchard Springs. This photo is from that event and a young Jimmy Driftwood plays the guitar.
WWII interrupted what would have been an ongoing tradition and the next festival was held in 1963 when the Arkansas Folk Festival brought thousands to the tiny Ozark town. Dr. Brooks Blevins and Lyon College students gathered histories, interviews, and photographs of this history.
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