Inventory of the Bobby McMillon Collection, 1947-1997

Collection Number 20007

unc seal
Southern Folklife Collection, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
block Related Collections
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
Creator
McMillon, Bobby.
Title
Bobby McMillon Collection, 1947-1997
Call Number
20007
Language of Materials
Materials in English
Extent
56 items
Abstract
Born in Lenoir, N.C., in 1951, Bobby McMillon has performed professionally since 1978 as a singer, musician, and storyteller in the Appalachian tradition. As a performer, he is best known for his ballad and story renditions about Frankie Silver, to whom he is distantly related. He has also collected interviews with and songs and stories from family members, neighbors, and friends since 1968.
The collection includes recordings of Bobby McMillon in performance, documentary recordings made by McMillon, and materials McMillon collected. Performance materials are from 1978 and 1997 and include the ballad and legend of Frankie Silver. Open-reel recordings made by McMillon, 1968-1995, consist of songs, stories, and talk by the family members and friends who taught him ballads and stories of his Appalachian heritage. There are also recordings of his family's 78-rpm records, which also influenced McMillon's work. Featured in the recordings are Janette Carter, Rolf Ellison, W. T. Ellison, Wade Gilbert, Isaac Hopson (Paw), Lounette Hopson (Granny), Mae Phillips (Maw Maw), Jean Schilling, and Lee Schilling. Materials collected by McMillon include acetate disc recordings of the 50th Hollow Springs annual shape note singing convention held in 1947 at the Hollow Springs Primitive Baptist Church where McMillon's grandfather McMillon served as an Elder. Also included is a song folio called Cowboy Loye Presents 20 Famous Heart Songs.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
This collection has restrictions to access. Please see details below or contact the Manuscripts Department for more information.
Usage Restrictions
Use of audio materials may require production of listening copies.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Bobby McMillon.
Processing Information
Processed by: Elizabeth Matson, June 2003.
Encoded by: Elizabeth Matson, July 2003.
Finding aid updated by Alison Waldenberg, August 2006.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Bobby McMillon Collection #20007, Southern Folklife Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Appalachian Region, Southern--Civilization.
Appalachian Region, Southern--History.
Appalachian Region, Southern--Social life and customs.
Appalachian Region, Southern--Songs and music.
Ballads, English--North Carolina.
Carter, Janette.
Country music.
Country musicians.
Ellison, Rolf.
Ellison, W. T.
Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
Folk music.
Folk songs.
Folklore.
Gilbert, Wade.
Hopson, Isaac.
Hopson, Lounette.
Lenoir (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Lenoir (N.C.)--Songs and music.
McMillon, Bobby.
Musicians--North Carolina.
Music--North Carolina.
North Carolina--Social life and customs.
North Carolina--Songs and music.
Phillips, Mae.
Schilling, Jean.
Schilling, Lee.
Shape note singing--North Carolina.
Silver, Frankie.
Storytelling--North Carolina.
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Related Collections

Kenneth Russell Kenkel Collection, 1984-1985, Southern Folklife Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (FT-1549 - FT-1551, FT-1756 - FT-1757).
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Biographical Note

Bobby McMillon was born 20 December 1951 in Lenoir, N.C. He developed an early appreciation for the traditional stories, ballads, and religious songs performed by his grandparents and other older relatives in the southern Appalachian region and started learning them as a child. He has performed professionally since 1978 as a traditional ballad singer, musician, and storyteller. As a performer, he is best known for his ballad and story renditions about Frankie Silver, to whom he is distantly related. He received a North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 2000. In addition to continuing the tradition with his own performances, McMillon has collected interviews with and songs and stories from family members, neighbors, and friends since 1968 when he earned his first RCA sound recording machine in his late teens.

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Collection Overview

The collection of traditional ballad singer, musician, and storyteller Bobby McMillon of Lenoir, N.C., includes recordings of McMillon in performance, documentary recordings made by Bobby McMillon, and materials McMillon collected. Performance materials are from 1978 and 1997 and include the ballad and legend of Frankie Silver. Open-reel recordings made by McMillon, 1968-1995, consist of songs, stories, and talk by the family members and friends who taught him ballads and stories of his Appalachian heritage. There are also recordings of his family's 78-rpm records, which also influenced his work. Featured in the recordings are Janette Carter, Rolf Ellison, W. T. Ellison, Wade Gilbert, Isaac Hopson ("Paw"), Lounette Hopson ("Granny"), Mae Phillips ("Maw Maw"), Jean Schilling, and Lee Schilling. Materials collected by McMillon include acetate disc recordings of the 50th Hollow Springs annual shape note singing convention held in 1947 at the Hollow Springs Primitive Baptist Church where McMillon's grandfather McMillon served as an Elder. Also included is a song folio called Cowboy Loye Presents 20 Famous Heart Songs.

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Arrangement of Collection

1. Bobby McMillon in Performance, 1978-1997
2. Documentary Recordings, 1968-1995 and undated
3. Acetate Discs, 1947
4. Song Folio
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Items Separated

Tape notes, contents and play lists (SFC Field Notes vertical files)
Song folio (FL-811)
Audio Recordings (FT-1239 - FT-1244, FT-11182 - FT-11215, FT-11217 - FT-11229, FS-2145 - FS-2155)
Acetate Discs (FD-606 - FD-608)
Video tape (VT-20007/1)
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Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Bobby McMillon in Performance, 1978-1997.

7 items.
Arrangement: Orginal order is preserved.
Recordings were made of Bobby McMillon performing songs, stories, and riddles on three separate occasions in 1978 and once in 1997. Several songs and stories are performed more than once, including the ballad and legend of Frankie Silver. All recordings from 1978 have play lists associated with them.
Audiotape FT-1239
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 20 May 1978 (tape 1 of 2)
Audiotape FT-1240
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 20 May 1978 (tape 2 of 2)
Audiotape FT-1241
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 4 June 1978 (tape 1 of 3)
Audiotape FT-1242
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 4 June 1978 (tape 2 of 3)
Audiotape FT-1243
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 4 June 1978 (tape 3 of 3)
Audiotape FT-1244
Bobby McMillon, Caldwell County, N.C., 4 May 1978
Videotape VT-20007/1
Southern Arts Exchange, Bobby McMillon, Nashville, Tenn., September 1997

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2. Documentary Recordings, 1968-1995 and undated.

58 items.
Arrangement: Original order is preserved.
Bobby McMillon started making documentary recordings of his relatives, neighbors, and friends in 1968 when he received his first RCA sound recording machine. This collection includes the open reel recordings of songs, stories, and talk made by McMillon 1968-1978 and undated. In addition to live recordings, McMillon recorded several of his family's 78-rpm records. Janette Carter, Rolf Ellison, W. T. Ellison, Wade Gilbert, Isaac "Paw" Hopson, Lounette "Granny" Hopson, Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips, Jean Schilling, and Lee Schilling are featured in this collection. Also included are Doc Addington, Ronnie Barlow, Doug Brookshire, Lou Brookshire, A. P. Carter, Maybelle Carter, Sara Carter, Frenis Coffey, Mae Coffey, Sylvia Carter Edwards, Woodrow Goforth, Lucy Gortney, Nathan Gortney, Karen D. Helms, Nancy Jones, Carl McConnell, Bobby McMillon, Glenn Massey, Artus Moser, Lula Moss, Dellie Norton, Bard Ray, Annie Roberts, Betty Smith, Bud Tolley, Cas Wallin, Virgie Wallin, Clyde Wilson, and a few others documented by first name only. Written documentation, primarily from the original storage boxes, is available for most of the recordings. The original numbering system is notated by (BM#).
The series also contains eleven digital audio tapes recorded in May 1995. These tapes document McMillon singing from his collected songs.
Audiotape FT-11182
Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips. "Soldier and the Lady,"   "Fond Affection," undated. (BM1)
Audiotape FT-11183
Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips, undated. (BM2)
Audiotape FT-11184
Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips. Talk, Buster, Carrie, Maw Maw, "Lonesome Valley," undated. (BM3)
Audiotape FT-11185
Wade Gilbert. "Tom Dooly." Tom Maltba. "Bachelors Hall," undated. (BM4)
Audiotape FT-11186
Wade Gilbert. "Cumberland Gap,"   "Frankie Baker,"   "Little Maggie,"   "Rocky Mountain," undated. (BM5)
Audiotape FT-11187
Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson. Side 1: Old stories, religion. Side 2: Talk, undated. (BM6)
Audiotape FT-11188
Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson. Last recording of Paw, 16 February 1974. (BM7)
Audiotape FT-11189
Last recording of W. T. Ellison, Long Hope Mountain, Meat Camp, N.C., 23 March 1974. (BM8)
Audiotape FT-11190
Nancy Jones, Laurinburg, N.C., Bobby McMillon and Karen D. Helms, Lenoir, N.C., 19 April 1975. (BM9)
Audiotape FT-11191
Frenis and Mae Coffey. "Silver Tresses" (Carter Family). "You've Been a Friend to Me" (Dave Macon), undated. (BM10)
Audiotape FT-11192
Jean and Lee Schilling at Fiddler's Grove, Union Grove, N.C. Various bluegrass performers and folk entertainers, 1973. (BM11)
Audiotape FT-11193
Side 1: Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson, Lucy Gortney, Nathan Gortney, Stonemans, Wade Gilbert. Songs and talk. Side 2: Wade Gilbert, Clyde Wilson, Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson. Songs and talk, 1968. (BM12)
Audiotape FT-11194
Sara and Maybelle Carter, Maces Spring, V.A. Also Janette, Joe, and Helen Carter, 23 August 1975. (BM13)
Audiotape FT-11195
Side 1: Smily, Trip to Long Hope Mtn., W. T. Ellison, "Little Birdie." Side 2: Smiley, Isaac "Paw" Hopson, August 1968. (BM14)
Audiotape FT-11196
A. P. Carter's last recording, undated. (BM15)
Audiotape FT-11197
Side 1: Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips. Side 2: Lula Moss, ballads, undated. (BM 16)
Audiotape FT-11198
Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips, undated. (BM17)
Audiotape FT-11199
Side 1: Tape from T.V. Union Grove Fiddler's Convention, 1972(?). Side 2: Rolf Ellison, 1975-1976. Tom Maltba, 1976. (BM18)
Audiotape FT-11200
Isaac "Paw" Hopson, undated. (BM19)
Audiotape FT-11201
Side 1: Janette Carter, Folk Festival of the Smokies. Songs. Side 2: Janette Carter's Workshop of Sara Carter's songs, 6-9 June 1973. (BM20)
Audiotape FT-11202
Side 1: Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips. "Looky Yonder," "Fair and Tender Ladies," undated. (BM21)
Audiotape FT-11203
Side 1: Janette Carter, Jean and Lee Schillings. Interview at Maces, Spring, V.A. with Janette. Side 2: Smoky Mountain Festival 1973. Lee Schillings. Betty Smith. Bard Ray. Audrey Hines. Glenn Massey, Doug Brookshire, Bobby McMillon, 27 July 1973. (BM22)
Audiotape FT-11204
Side 1: Carter Family. Side 2: Ralph Silver. Thomas Family, undated. (BM23)
Audiotape FT-11205
Side 1: Janette Carter, Maces Spring, V.A., October 1973. "Give Me Your Love,"   "Rambling Boy,"   "One Little Word,"   "Dying Mother,"   "While the Band is Playing Dixie,"   "Dark Haired True Lover,"   "The Titanic,"   "Beyond the River,"   "Aged Mother,"   "Engine 143,"   "Carters Blues" (Bobby [McMillon]). Side 2: contents not listed. (BM24)
Audiotape FT-11206
Side 1: Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips. Side 2: Carter Family. "River of Jordan,"   "Where We'll Never Grow Old,"   "The Cannonball,"   "Lay My Head Beneath the Roses,"   "When the World's on Fire,"   "I Have No One to Love Me (but the Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea),"   "Sweethearts Return,"   "East Virginia Blues,"   "The Poor Orphan Child," undated. (BM25)
Audiotape FT-11207
Side 1: Smiley. Ronnie Barlow. "Gentle on My Mind,"   "I Want to Live,"   "Love is Blue," June 1968. Side 2: Lou Brookshire. Mae Phillips. (BM26)
Audiotape FT-11208
Side 1: "Where Have All the Flowers Gone,"   "Rose Connolly," Louise A. Smoky Mountain Ballads (Misc.) RCA, Artus Moser. Side 2: Annie Roberts, Ronnie, Rickie, Me [Bobby McMillon], etc. at Clay Hedricks, 1 June 1968. (BM27)
Audiotape FT-11209
Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson, undated. (BM28)
Audiotape FT-11210
Side 1: N.C. Folklore Meeting. Nancy Jones. "Sailor and Soldier."   "Polly Sat Down." Side 2: Mae "Maw Maw" Phillips, undated. (BM29)
Audiotape FT-11211
Side 1: Lou Brookshire. Ballads. "Fatal Wedding,"   "Golden Willow Tree,"   "Girl I Left Behind,"   "House Carpenter,"   "Sailor Boy,"   "Frankie Silver,"   "Oma Wise,"   "Southern Soldiers,"  "Willie Weaver," "Boston Burglar." Side 2: Lounette "Granny" and Isaac "Paw" Hopson, undated. (BM30)
Audiotape FT-11212
Some Carter Family Songs by Bud Tolley, undated. (BM31)
Audiotape FT-11213
A. P. Carter Memorial Festival. Carters, Me [Bobby McMillon], 31 August 1976. (BM32)
Audiotape FT-11214
Bobby McMillon, Doug Brookshire, Cas Wallin, Virgie Wallin, Dellie Norton. Songs and memories, undated. (BM33)
Audiotape FT-11215
Me [Bobby McMillon] (BM34)
Audiotape FT-11217
Cas and Virgie Wallin, 7 July 1978. (BM35)
Audiotape FT-11218
Mae Phillips, "Cody Lowe,"   "Willie of Winsbury." (BM36)
Audiotape FT-11219
Rolf Ellison, Side 1: May 1978, Side 2: 1976. (BM37)
Audiotape FT-11220
Sylvia Carter Edwards, Bobby McMillon, Janette Carter, Doc Addington, Carl McConnell, July 1974. (BM38)
Audiotape FT-11221
Unidentified, undated. (BM39)
Audiotape FT-11222
Isaac "Paw" Hopson. (BM40)
Audiotape FT-11223
Side 1: Janette Carter. Side 2: Janette Carter and Bobby McMillon. (BM41)
Audiotape FT-11224
Side 1: Bobby McMillon, Woodrow Goforth, February 1975. Side 2: David Hopson's Wedding. (BM42)
Audiotape FT-11225
Unidentified, undated. (BM43)
Audiotape FT-11226
Side 1: Mae Phillips, 1st Recordings, songs, stories. Side 2: Bobby McMillon: songs of Mae Phillips. Mae Phillips: songs, old happenings. Lower Creek, Lenoir, N.C., 6-7 March 1974. (BM44)
Audiotape FT-11227
Mae Phillips, Rolf Ellison, Bobby McMillon, August 1973. (BM45)
Audiotape FT-11228
Bobby McMillon (BM46)
Audiotape FT-11229
Glenn Massey, "John Henry,"   "Nine Pound Hammer,"   "Take This Hammer,"   "Swannanoa Tunnel,"  "Yellow Rose of Texas,"   "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down,"   "Maple on the Hill." Recorded at my [Bobby McMillon's] house, Lower Creek, Lenoir, N.C., 27 July 1973. (BM47)
Audiocassette FS-2145
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 16 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2146
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 16 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2147
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 16-17 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2148
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 17 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2149
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 17-18 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2150
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 18 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2151
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 18-19 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2152
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 24 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2153
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 24 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2154
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 24-25 May 1995 (DAT)
Audiocassette FS-2155
Bobby McMillon singing from his collected songs, 25 May 1995 (DAT)

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3. Acetate Discs, 1947.

3 items.
Three acetate discs were given to Bobby McMillon by the widow of Sam Hartley of Caldwell County, N.C. The discs are recordings from the 50th annual shape note singing convention in Hollow Springs, N.C. This convention was held 17 August 1947 at the Hollow Springs Primitive Baptist Church where Bobby McMillon's grandfather served as an Elder. The non-denominational singing began in 1897 and continued to be held every third Sunday in August. On the recordings, an announcer gives context to the songs and singers.
Because the acetate had deteriorated considerably by the time preservation masters were made in 1999, only fair sound quality and completeness were obtained.
Audiodisc FD-606
50th annual Hollow Springs Shape Note Singing Convention, 17 August 1947, parts 1 and 2
Audiodisc FD-607
50th annual Hollow Springs Shape Note Singing Convention, 17 August 1947, parts 3 and 4
Audiodisc FD-608
50th annual Hollow Springs Shape Note Singing Convention, 17 August 1947, parts 5 and 6

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4. Song Folio.

1 item.
Song Folio FL-811
Cowboy Loye Presents 20 Famous Heart Songs

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