Ralph Rinzler papers and audiorecordings, 1950-1994
date: label: Date
content: 1950
label: Date
content: 1950-1994
name: label: Creator
content: Rinzler, Ralph
label: Subject
content: Monroe, Bill 1911-1996
label: Subject
content: Watson, Doc
label: Subject
content: Greenbriar Boys
label: Subject
content: Festival of American Folklife
label: Subject
content: Newport Folk Festival
label: Subject
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival
notes: label: Notes
content: Ralph Rinzler (1934-1994) was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and was interested in music at an early age. He was given a collection of ethnographic recordings from the Archive of Folk Song of the Library of Congress by his uncle, Harvard University ballad scholar George Lyman Kittredge, and they soon became his favorites. He became actively involved in folk music while attending Swarthmore College, organizing an annual folk festival on campus. He received his B.A. in 1956, and did graduate work at Middlebury College and the Sorbonne in French literature and language. Upon his return to the United States, he played mandolin for four years with the Greenbriar Boys, at times touring with singer Joan Baez. During the 1960s, he also studied, recorded, and worked with performers of traditional music, such as Doc Watson and Bill Monroe, both of whom gained international recognition in part through his efforts. In 1964, Rinzler accepted the position of Director of Field Programs at the Newport Folk Foundation, which involved the planning and programming of the Newport Folk Festival.
label: Notes
content: Rinzler came to the Smithsonian in 1967 as the founding Director of what is now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, then in the Division of Performing Arts, to establish a center for research, publication, and presentation of programs in American subcultures. As Director, he also developed the annual Festival of American Folklife. After the summer-long festival of 1976, he initiated Smithsonian Folklife Studies, a publication series, and did research for the Celebration exhibit, which opened at the Renwick Gallery in 1982. Rinzler was appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Service in 1983 and Assistant Secretary Emeritus in 1990. Ralph Rinzler died on July 2, 1994.
label: Notes
content: An inventory is available.
label: Organization
content: At this time, the collection is partially processed. Please contact the archivist for further information
label: Summary
content: This collection, which dates from 1950-1994, documents the life of Ralph Rinzler and his professional activities as Director of Field Programs for the Newport Folk Festival, Director of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Office of Folklife Programs, and the Smithsonian Institution's Assistant Secretary for Public Service. Includes personal papers, business records, correspondence, notes, photographs, audiotapes and field recordings.
label: Repository Loc.
content: Smithsonian Institution, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, 600 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite 2001, Washington, D.C. 20024. Call 202-633-7322 for appointment. Fax: 202-633-7019. Email: rinzlerarchives@si.edu
place: label: Place
content: Southern states
label: Place
content: United States
topic: label: Topic
content: Folk festivals
label: Topic
content: Folk music
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
objectType: label: Type
content: Audio cassettes
label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Audiotapes
label: Type
content: Black-and-white negatives
label: Type
content: Business records
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Field recordings
label: Type
content: Notes
label: Type
content: Phonograph records
label: Type
content: Photographic prints
label: Type
content: Photographs
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Access by appointment only. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at (202) 633-7322 for additional information
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information
physicalDescription: label: Physical description
content: 90 cubic feet