Tom Wisner papers, 1968-2008
date: label: Date
content: 1968
label: Date
content: 1968-2008
name: label: Creator
content: Wisner, Tom 1930-2010
label: Subject
content: Wisner, Tom 1930-2010
notes: label: Notes
content: Tom Wisner (1930-2010) was an environmentalist, folk singer and educator popularly known as the "Bard of the Chesapeake" from his life-long work in documenting and preserving the culture and botanical life of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. An Air Force veteran, Wisner earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Hartwick College in New York with the help of the G.I. Bill. After working as a naturalist in Sequoia National Park in California, Wisner taught high school science in southern Maryland during the mid-1960s before taking a job as an educator at the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons. It was here that Wisner began to integrate art and music into his educational programs. He would go on to record several albums, all of which focused on his love for and knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay. Wisner also recorded the oral history of southern Maryland, including interviews with fishermen and traditional music of the region. In 2000, he helped found the Center for the Chesapeake Story, or Chestory, in Solomons, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the region and the bay through the arts. Wisner was recognized with numerous awards for his work on behalf of the Chesapeake region, including the World Folk Music Association's John Denver Award in 2002, the Outstanding Marine Educator of the Year Award in 1989, and the Parent's Choice Award in 1984 for his album We've Got to Come Full Circle. In 1986, National Geographic aired a television special entitled Chesapeake Born, which featured Wisner's music. Tom Wisner died of cancer on April 2, 2010.
label: Notes
content: Preliminary finding aid is available.
label: Notes
content: Gift from the Estate of Tom Wisner, 2010.
label: Organization
content: Organized in six series: (1) Documents; (2) Cassette tape recordings; (3) Visual recordings; (4) Audio recordings on compact disc; (5) Radio broadcasts on compact disc; (6) Audio recordings on reels
label: Summary
content: This collection, which dates from 1968-2008, documents the professional activities of environmental activist and folk singer Tom Wisner. The collection includes original writings, correspondence, audio recordings, video recordings, interviews, and material relating to the production of Wisner's music and his musical performances.
label: Cite as
content: Tom Wisner collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklikfe Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
label: Repository Loc.
content: Smithsonian Institution, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, 600 Maryland Ave. SW, Suite 2001, Washington, DC 20010. Call (202) 633-7322 to arrange an appointment
place: label: Place
content: United States
label: Place
content: Chesapeake Bay Region (Md. and Va.)
topic: label: Topic
content: Environmentalists
label: Topic
content: Folk music
label: Topic
content: Folk musicians
label: Topic
content: Environmental education
label: Topic
content: Environmental conditions
label: Topic
content: History
label: Topic
content: Social life and customs
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: Compact discs
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Notes
label: Type
content: Personal papers
label: Type
content: Videotapes
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: Paper records
label: Physical description
content: 624 audiocassettes
label: Physical description
content: 114 videotapes : VHS
label: Physical description
content: 67 compact discs
label: Physical description
content: 51 audio reels ; 5 inch
label: Physical description
content: 2 audio reels ; 7 inch
label: Physical description
content: 887 mini DVCs