The Ozark Folk Center (OFC) opened its doors on May 5, 1973 in Mountain View, Arkansas as a living history state park committed to preserving and demonstrating traditional crafts, folkways and music of the Ozarks. The center was born out of the Arkansas Folk Festival, which began in April 1963 through the efforts of the Ozark Foothills Handicraft Guild and the Rackensack Folklore Society.
Many helped in making the Ozark Folk Center project a realty, such as musician Jimmy Driftwood, who lobbied for the OFC as well as educator Dr. Bessie Moore and Arkansas official U.S. Representative Wilbur D. Mills, who both helped to secure governmental funding for the OFC. In December 1968, Representative Mills announced that through combined grant and loans the OFC had over $2.5 million for its construction.
The OFC project broke ground in September 1971, was completed by April 1973, and officially dedicated in May 1973. By the completion of its construction, the OFC was a $3.4 million dollar facility which included, but was not limited to, an over 1000 seat music auditorium, a restaurant, a lodge, a conference center, and numerous craft shops located on 80 acres of land in Stone County, Arkansas. The OFC has since grown to 640 acres, located north of Mountain View.
This collection is comprised of photographs, photographic prints, and negatives depicting various artists, crafters, Arkansas politicians, and events at the Ozark Folk Center. These images include, but are not limited to, live performances, annual festivals, musical artists’ and/or groups’ publicity photographs, folkways cultural demonstrations, and anniversary events at the Ozark Folk Center.
This collection was managed by the Ozark Cultural Resource Center (OCRC) facility, within the OFC, prior to being transferred to the Arkansas State Archives. Collection information such as the identifier, collection title, and citation still use the Ozark Cultural Resource Center (OCRC) name.
Submissions from 2020
A jar of Ozark Folk Center peach butter, next to a peach. Black and white
Alice Merryman making corn husk doll in the Shuckery Shop, Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Al Jacobs with hammered dulcimer. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Al Jacobs with hammered dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Andrew Luther "Tex" Horton with banjo. Color, mounted on foamcore
Andy Purdom. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
A photograph of a simple, hand-drawn map of the Ozark Mountains. Black and white
Arkansas musicians Don and Chris Freel with third, unidentified musician. Color
Art Flatt on banjo and Dar Stow on guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Autoharp player Brooke Breeding. Black and white
Autoharp player Brooke Breeding. Black and white, 2 copies
Autoharp player Brooke Breeding. Black and white, 2 copies [Err, 4 copies]
Autoharp player Fredona Currie. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Banjo player George Foss with his dog, Jubal. Black and white, 3 copies
Banjo player George Foss with his dog, Jubal. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Bassist Kim Lowe. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Becki Jean McCluskey dancing. Black and white
Bill Myers. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Bob Kinney in what appears to be a radio studio. Autographed. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Bruce Warren on hammered dulcimer and Liz Thomas on autoharp. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Buck Baker. Black and white, 2 copies, both mounted on foamcore
Bud Malmstrom. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Bud Malmstrom. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Carl King. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Carl King making beaded belt. Black and white
Chain carved from wood by John Arnold. Black and white
Clarice Chitwood weaving. Color
Clarice Chitwood weaving. Color, mounted on carboard
Cliff Hayes. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Close-up image of a vessel being thrown on the potter's wheel. Unidentified potter. Black and white
Close-up image of the keyboard and stops on an old reed organ. Black and white
Close-up of a pile of baskets, one has an Ozark Folk Center tag. Black and white
Collapsed roof on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white
Comer Mullins in gift shop, wearing dramatically oversized pants held by suspenders. Color
Contest winners, identified only by last name: Hale, Morgan, Peterson. Black and white
Corn husk angel dolls made by "Nan." Black and white, 2 copies
Dance group Downhome Cloggers, members unidentified. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Dancer Alva Green. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Dancer and musician Jim Sanders. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer and musician Wanda Sanders. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer and musician Zachary Earnest. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer and musician Zachary Earnest. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Anne Harris. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Anne Harris. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Barbara Schneider. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Barbara Schneider. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Bill Ford demonstrating broom making. Black and white
Dancer Bill Ford. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Bill Ford. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Bill Ford with brooms hanging on wall. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Bud Schneider. Black and white
Dancer Bud Schneider. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Bud Schneider. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Charles Drewry. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer David Blair. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer David Blair. Color, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Hazel Rand. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Jackie Ragsdale. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Dancer James Jeffries. Blue-tint photo print, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Junior Fulks. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Junior Fulks. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Katharyn Deppe. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Marie Taylor. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Marie Taylor. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancer Roger Gardner. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancers Alvin and Mary Arter. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dancers Bud and Barbara Schneider. Black and white
Dancers Dave and Opal Stewart. Black and white
Dancers Ken and Phyllis Borgenheimer. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Daniel Johnston playing the fiddle. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on a sheet of printer paper
Dar Stow performing on guitar. Sepia-toned, mounted on cardboard
David Blair dancing on stage at Ozark Folk Center. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Dovetail corner near top of log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white
Dovetail corner on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white
Dovetail corner on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white
Dovetail corner on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white, 2 copies
Dovetail corner on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white, 2 copies
Dulcimer belonging to Lynn McSpadden. Black and white
Dulcimer player Jerry Rockwell. Black and white
Dulcimer player Lisa Wiede. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Dulcimer player Lois Hornbostel. Black and white
Dulcimer player Lois Hornbostel. Black and white