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This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This collection has use restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the FAQ section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 0.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 175 items) |
| Abstract | Kevin Delaney was born in 1946 in Washington, D.C. Between 1970 and 1974 he traveled through Ireland, Scotland, and the American Midwest and Southeast, recording country, blues, gospel, bluegrass, and old-time musicians and performers who otherwise might not have been heard. The collection documents the culture and history of Irish and American music. It consists primarily of field recordings made by Kevin Delaney in various regions of Ireland and the American Southeast. There are also many dubbed recordings of both Irish and American folk music. The Irish field recordings are primarily individual performances, while the dubbed recordings are groups of musicians playing different instruments, including fiddle, uillean pipes, spoons, flute, and pennywhistle. There are also some examples of Gaelic and shape-note singing. Songs include jigs, airs, reels, strathspeys, and others. The American recordings are composed primarily of fiddle and banjo music, along with some spoken word material. Some recordings are of Tommy Jarrell. There is also a practice tape of Delaney on fiddle and guitar. Several commercial audiocassettes are included, as well as dubbed recordings of jazz, blues, and pop music. Also included are Delaney's personal notebooks documenting the musicians he recorded while in the field, along with several posters, fliers, a collection of musicians' autographs, and a photograph. |
| Creator | Delaney, Kevin. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical Information
Kevin (Chris) Delaney was born in 1946 in Washington, D.C. He was first exposed to folk music while studying at Duke University, where he earned his B.A. in 1968. Between 1970 and 1974, he traveled across Ireland, Scotland, and the midwestern and southeastern regions of the United States, recording country, blues, gospel, bluegrass, and old-time musicians and performers who might otherwise never have been heard. Delaney earned his Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976 and continued recording musicians and visiting community groups, colleges, and schools to educate people about the rich history and importance of folk music and its traditions in Ireland and the United States, hoping to carry on older traditions of music to a new generation. These efforts culminated in the recording of a commercial album, American Son, in 1982, but he continued recording and teaching well into the 1990s.
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Scope and Content
The collection documents the culture and history of Irish music and American music. It consists primarily of field recordings made by Kevin Delaney in various regions of Ireland and the American Southeast, and also contains many dubbed recordings of both Irish and American folk music. The Irish field recordings are primarily individual performances, while the dubbed recordings are groups of musicians playing different instruments, including fiddle, uillean pipes, spoons, flute, and pennywhistle. There are also some examples of Gaelic singing and shape-note singing. Songs include jigs, airs, reels, strathspeys, and others. The American recordings are composed primarily of fiddle and banjo music, along with some spoken word material. Some recordings are of Tommy Jarrell. There is also a practice tape of Delaney on fiddle and guitar. Several commercial audiocassettes are included, as well as dubbed recordings of jazz, blues, and pop music. Also included are Delaney's personal notebooks documenting the musicians he recorded while in the field, along with several posters, fliers, a collection of musicians' autographs, and a photograph.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Music Materials, 1970-1994.
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Subseries 1.1. Irish Recordings, 1971-1974.
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Subseries 1.1.1. Field Recordings, 1971-1972, 1974.
Arrangement: chronological.
Fiddle recordings of local artists from the counties of Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Meath, Sligo, and Tipperary. There is also some Irish material that was recorded in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Subseries 1.1.2. Dubbed Recordings.
Arrangement: alphabetical from 78 rpm recordings owned by Frank George, then alphabetical by first artist listed.
Most of these dubbed recordings were originally owned by Frank George. Paddy Cronin, Packie Dolan and his Melody Boys, and Tommy Peoples are some of the musicians included in this section. Publication information for many of these recordings is available in the additional documentation for this collection.
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Subseries 1.2. American Recordings, 1970-1994.
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Subseries 1.2.1. Field Recordings.
Arrangement: chronological.
Fiddle recordings of local artists from Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. There is also some Cajun fiddling from Louisiana.
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Subseries 1.2.2. Dubbed Recordings.
Arrangement: 78 rpm recordings owned by Joe Bussard appear first. Subsequent tapes are arranged alphabetically by first artist listed.
Most of these dubbed recordings were originally owned by Joe Bussard. Fiddlin' Bill Henley, Lee Triplett, and Tommy Jarrell are some of the musicians included in this section. Publication information for many of these recordings is available in the additional documentation for this collection.
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Subseries 1.3. Notebooks.
Arrangement: chronological.
Notebooks used by Delaney to document the recording of the artists in this collection. They contain track listings for various recordings, and personal information about some of the artists. Also included are some stories and anecdotes about fiddlers and fiddling competitions. In some cases, Delaney included personal reactions to the interviews he conducted with some of the musicians. Materials in this series are photocopies of original notebooks retained by Kevin Delaney.
| Folder 1 |
Notebook, August 1971-8 September 1973. #20035, Subseries: "1.3. Notebooks." Folder 1Notes and track listings for various Irish musicians and dubs of Irish material. |
| Folder 2 |
Notebook, 31 July 1972-13 December 1972. #20035, Subseries: "1.3. Notebooks." Folder 2Notes and track listings for several Irish artists. Also a separate section at the end with chord structures, musical notations, and notes/track listings for several musicians from North Carolina and Washington, D.C. |
| Folder 3 |
Notebook, 13 September 1973-20 October 1973. #20035, Subseries: "1.3. Notebooks." Folder 3Notes, stories, track listings, and chord progressions used for several musicians from West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Also track listings from various dubs of previously recorded material. Includes a section on Irish musicians towards the end, along with track listings for dubs of Irish material. |
| Folder 4 |
Notebook, 13 September 1973-20 October 1973. #20035, Subseries: "1.3. Notebooks." Folder 4Track listings and extensive biographical notes for midwest and southeast musicians. Also some track listings and notes towards the end on Irish musicians. Resembles Notebook 3, but has slightly different information. |
| Folder 5 |
Notebook, February 1977-July 1987. #20035, Subseries: "1.3. Notebooks." Folder 5Notes and track listings about various live performances and festivals in the southeast. Also various track listings towards the end for pop, jazz, blues, gospel, and children's music. |
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Subseries 1.4. Photograph.
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Subseries 1.5. Unidentified Recording.
| Audiotape FT-12814 |
Unidentified recording #20035, Subseries: "1.5. Unidentified Recording." FT-12814 |
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Series 2. Collected Materials.
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Subseries 2.1. Posters
Posters collected by Delaney. Included is a one that was probably torn from a musical score and an advertisement for a performance.
| Oversize Paper OP-20035/1 |
"Old Black Joe" arranged by J. W. Turner #20035, Subseries: "2.1. Posters" OP-20035/1 |
| Oversize Paper OP-20035/2 |
Bob Nichols' Disco Stereo #20035, Subseries: "2.1. Posters" OP-20035/2 |
| Extra Oversize Paper XOP-20035/1 |
Roberts Brothers Circus #20035, Subseries: "2.1. Posters" XOP-20035/1 |
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Subseries 2.2. Autograph Collection.
Autographs collected by Delaney.
| Folder 8 |
Autographs of B. B. King, Lightning Hopkins, Kenny Baker, Ma Rainey, Bill Monroe, Junior Wells, Bryan Bowers. #20035, Subseries: "2.2. Autograph Collection." Folder 8 |
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Items Separated
Processed by: Benn Joseph, February 2005
Encoded by: Benn Joseph, March 2005, and Emily Jack, March 2006
Revised by: James McGlothlin 2008
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