Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN FOLKLIFE COLLECTION
#20001
JOHN EDWARDS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION RECORDS
Inventory
Abstract: Correspondence files; files relating to the reprinting
of articles, reissuing of records, and administration of grants;
and miscellaneous material, all from the John Edwards Memorial
Foundation (Forum), 1962-1982, located at the University of
California at Los Angeles. The foundation's goal was to promote
the study of twentieth-century American folk music.
Size: About 2900 items (5.00 linear feet)
Provenance: Purchased from the John Edwards Memorial Foundation,
along with the John Edwards Memorial Collection, in March 1978.
Letter from Irene Edwards received from Daniel Patterson in May
1989.
Access: No restrictions.
Related Collections: JOHN EDWARDS PAPERS (#20000)
Added Entries: 1. COUNTRY MUSIC
2. Edwards, John, 1932-1960
3. FOLK MUSIC
4. FOLK-SONGS
5. John Edwards Memorial Foundation
6. SOUND RECORDINGS
INTRODUCTION
Historical Note
The John Edwards Memorial Foundation was
incorporated in 1962 as a non-profit organization to promote the
study and dissemination of knowledge about American folk music of
the 1920s-1940s. John Edwards provided for the Foundation in his
1958 will; it was established at the University of California at
Los Angeles.
In its first ten years, the Foundation embarked on
serveral kinds of projects. It began acquiring record
collections in 1964, one of the first being Peter Tamony's
collection of early blues or "race music" recordings. In 1965,
the Foundation began publishing the John Edwards Memorial
Foundation Quarterly. The JEMF Quarterly contains biographical
articles and discographies of early country and western music
performers. Another publishing venture, begun in the mid-1960s,
was the reprinting of pertinent articles from journals and
magazines. With the aid of federal grant money, the Foundation
administered biographical, cultural, and discographical research.
In 1972-1973, the Foundation started two series of
educational materials, publishing a run of special discographical
pamphlets and reissuing rare and old records. These two projects
included both early musicians (such as the Carter Family, Uncle
Dave Macon, Ernest Stoneman) and contemporary performers (like
Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash).
For the twenty-one years the foundation was based at
UCLA, it retained essentially the same directors. The board,
elected in 1964, included Eugene Earle, Archie Green, D. K.
Wilgus, Fred Hoeptner, and Ed Kahn. All except Ed Kahn were on
the board in 1983. Eugene Earle, the executor of John Edwards's
estate, was chiefly responsible for bringing the John Edwards's
record collection to UCLA.
The board agreed to sell the the materials at UCLA
to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983. The
directors indicated that they believed the materials would have
more use there and be more effective if housed in the region
where the music was born. These materials have now been
integrated into the Southern Folklife Collection.
Collection Overview
These papers consist chiefly of correspondence and
other material about reissuing records, reprinting articles, and
administering grants. This collection not only gives researchers
information about the work of the Foundation, but also provides
biographical and discographical information about early folk
musicians.
The correspondence, which runs chiefly from 1964 to
1982 (with some later additions), deals with the everyday
business of the Foundation. The letters include subscription,
record, reprint, and pamphlet purchase requests. The Foundation
also handled requests for biographical, historical, and
discographical information. The series of files relating to
record reissues, reprints, and pamphlets contains written
descriptions of much of the material involved. Records of
various federal grants are fairly comprehensive, containing
proposal drafts, correspondence, and financial figures.
Unfortunately, there is little material about the JEMF Quarterly
or the JEMF Newsletter.
Miscellaneous items cover a wide range of subjects,
from testimonials praising the Foundation to checkbook
registries, 1963-1979.
These files, except for the miscellaneous material,
were retained essentially as they were received at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These papers are arranged in
the series and subseries listed below.
Series 1. Correspondence
Subseries 1.1. 1963-1980
Subseries 1.2. 1981-1988
Series 2. Other Papers
Subseries 2.1. Federal Grants
Subseries 2.2. Publications
Subseries 2.3. Record Reissues
Subseries 2.4. Private Record Collections
Series 3. Miscellaneous
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence
General correspondence of the Foundation, including
letters of subscribers and collectors, plus correspondence of the
directors. The correspondence relates to the daily business of
the organization. Most of the material, however, is subscription
and order forms. The correspondence of the last two years, 1981-
1982, is more expansive and detailed than the earlier years.
Other correspondence may be found in Series 2.
Subseries 1.1. 1963-1980
About 870 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by
correspondent.
General correspondence of the Foundation, mostly
dealing with subscriptions, orders, record copyrights, and
inquiries about country music.
Folder 1-4. A
5-8. B
9-15. C
16-19. D
20-21. E
22-24. F
25-31. G
32-37. H
38. I
39. J
40-42. K
43-46. L
47-52. M
53-54. Mc
55-56. N
57. O
58-61. P
62. Q
63-66. R
67-73. S
74-76. T
77. U
78. V
79-83. W
84. X, Y, Z
84a. Legal correspondence, 1965-1972
Subseries 1.2. 1981-1988
About 250 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by
correspondent.
A second correspondence file of the Foundation,
dealing with topics similar to those in the earlier set. Files
G-Z apparently were never received at UNC-CH, and their
whereabouts is unknown.
Folder 84b. A
85-87. B
88-90. C
91-92. D
93. E
94-95. F
Series 2. Other Papers
Four sets of files, pertaining to federal grants,
publications of the Foundation, Foundaton record reissues, and
private record collection listings. These files chiefly contain
correspondence, orders, lists, and financial material. The four
subseries represent the Foundation's major projects.
Subseries 2.1. Federal Grants
1964-1981. About 350 items.
Chiefly correspondence, financial materials,
proposals, and federal grant guidelines, relating to the National
Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the
Arts. Grant proposals originated both from the Foundation and
from individuals outside the organization who wanted to work with
the Foundation's resources.
Folder 96-104. NEA Grants
105-109. NEH Grants
Subseries 2.2. Publications
1964-1980. About 275 items.
Files relate to the Foundation's reprint series and a
series of discographical and biographical pamphlets. For the
reprint series, 1964-1967, the directors and staff culled
articles about folk music from journals. The thirteen pamphlets,
called "Special Series," issued 1968-1980, contain important
information about musicians' lives and recordings. These files
include correspondence, orders, and a small amount of
discographical and biographical material.
Folder 110-113. Reprint Series
114-127. Special Series Reprints
Subseries 2.3. Record Reissues
1973-1982. About 630 items.
Correspondence, order forms, contracts with
performers, and Foundation memoranda concerning the reissued
records. It appears that at least nine albums were issued, and
several more were planned. At least thirty singles were
rereleased.
Folder 128-143. JEMPLP101-JEMFLP109
144-152. Miscellaneous Record Reissues
152a-152ff. Various Single Releases
Subseries 2.4. Private Record Collections
1963-1967. About 250 items.
From its inception, the JEMF collected rare
recordings. Many of these were donated by private collectors.
These files chiefly contain discographical listings of the
various private collections as well as correspondence and other
papers relating to the accessioning and storing of records.
Folder 153-154. Private Collection of Eugene Earle
155a. KFI Collection
155b. KSRO Collection
156a. Kirkpatrick Collection
156b. E. D. Menkes Collection with
Correspondence
157. Adeline P. Ray Collection
158-160. Peter Tamony Collection
161. William Valentine Collection
162a. Kitty Wells Collection
162b. Journal of Discographical Entries,
Author Unknown
Series 3. Miscellaneous Files
1960-1982. About 350 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by title.
A varied series of material ranging from checkbook
registers to items concerning the 1980 Grammy Awards. The most
significant items are the financial records. Original folder
titles have been placed in quotation marks.
Folder 163. Agreement of JEMF and UCLA
164-166. Checkbook Registers, 1963-1979
167a. Copyright Information
167b. Early plans for the JFMF and
handling of John Edwards's recordings
168-171. Ethnic Recordings Material
172. Fiddle Archive
173. Grammy Awards
174. IBM Contract
175. Internal Agreement of JEMF and
Folklife Center
176. JEMC's Move to Chapel Hill
177. JEMF Articles of Incorporation
178. JEMF Board Meetings
179. JEMF Records: Pressing Prices
180. KLAC Radio Station Benefit
181. Kitty Wells Project
182-183. Ledger Sheets, 1975-1978
184. Legal Material
185. Lists of Duplicate Records of JEMC
186. "Miscellaneous Communications with
Advisors"
187. "Miscellaneous Dealings with UCLA"
188. Miscellaneous Material
189. Musicians' Union: Correspondence
and Agreements
190. Original Procedures Manual
191. Phonograph Trust Agreement
192. Project by James Akenson
193. Radio Station Promotions
194a. "Royal Carney" Books A and D (lists
of books and recordings)
194b. Sons of Pioneers Tribute
195. Testimonials (Correspondence)
196. Writings by William T. Tallmadge
197. Miscellaneous Blank Copyright Forms
198. Federal Copyright Laws
199. Sample Stationery from Coal Creek
Music, Inc.
SHELF LIST
Box 1 Subseries 1.1. General Correspondence, 1963-1980
Folders 1-61
Box 2 Subseries 1.1. General Correspondence, 1963-1980
Folders 62-84a
Subseries 1.2. General Correspondence, 1981-1988
Folders 84b-95
Subseries 2.1. Federal Grants
Folders 96-109
Subseries 2.2. Publications
Folders 110-115
Box 3 Subseries 2.2. Publications
Folders 116-127
Subseries 2.3. Record Reissues
Folders 128-152ff
Box 4 Subseries 2.4. Private Record Collections
Folders 153-162b
Series 3. Miscellaneous Files
Folders 163-199