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.
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Submissions from 1989
Two unidentified men at a reception, possibly located in the Ozark Folk Center restaurant. One is wearing a suit and tie and is looking at the camera, the other man is in profile. Black and white
Unidentified group of women singing on stage. The group consists of ten women in traditional costumes and includes one guitar player and three autoharpists. Black and white, 2 copies
Unidentified musical group. There are six members, two men in the back, and four women in the front. The men are wearing suits and the women are wearing dresses. Black and white
Upstream view of a canoe with two people on the Buffalo National River. Black and white
View from above of a fairly small wooden dance stage. In the center are several young children dancing. Toward the bottom of the picture are several musicians. The rest of the image is filled with audience members, and some are sitting on the edge of the stage. Black and white, 2 copies
View of two houses - one serving as an antique shop - along a street in Eureka Springs. Black and white, 8 copies
Submissions from 1988
Guitarist Al Ferguson. Sepia-toned
Publicity photo of the cast of TV show Hee Haw. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Roy Harper with guitar. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
The School House in Ozark Folk Center craft area. Color
Submissions from 1987
Georgia Irvine performing on autoharp at the Ozark Folk Center. Color
Musician Lonnie Glosson on stage in Hugo, Oklahoma. Black and white
Submissions from 1986
A parade truck in the foreground, with a large audience, town street, and several vehicles in the background. On the back of the truck are several men working on a small log cabin. The signs on the truck read "1836-1986" and "The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same." Town unidentified. Black and white, 2 copies
Fiddler Alathea Daniels. Black and white, 2 copies
Portrait of Randy Wilkinson. Black and white
Submissions from 1984
Monty Avery working in the Musical Intrument Shop at the Ozark Folk Center. Color
Musicians Ezra, Zack, and Sara Hodgson at Mountain Folks Music Festival in Silver Dollar City. Color
Musicians Ezra, Zack, and Sara Hodgson at Mountain Folks Music Festival in Silver Dollar City. Color
Submissions from 1983
Almeda Riddle performing (storytelling) at Ozark Folk Center folk festival. Photo by Betty Schenck. Color
Submissions from 1981
Nellie Yandell standing with guitar. Color
Portrait of Mack Linn playing harmonica. Color
Submissions from 1980
J. O. Looney in the basket shop at the Ozark Folk Center Harvest Festival. Black and white
Letha Finley demonstrating candle making, Ozark Folk Center. Color
Musician Bonnie MoDena Dodd standing in front of her house. Lengthy description on back. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. 2 copies - one Black and white, one color - different sizes
Submissions from 1979
A deciduous tree with leaves turned yellow. Color
Adrian Parks and Lonnie Avery, musicians, performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Individuals (L-R): Parks seated with mandolin and Avery with guitar. Color
Adrian Parks, fiddle maker, playing fiddle. Photographed on the Ozark Folk Center grounds. Black and white
Adrian Parks performing with flat iron mandolin on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Adrian Parks posing with mandolin standing in front of stone wall. Possibly photographed on outdoor stage of the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium. Color
Adrian Parks posing with mandolin standing in front of stone wall. Possibly photographed on outdoor stage of the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium. Color
Adrian Parks seated performing with mandolin on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Partial view of Lonnie Avery with guitar. Color
Aerial view of the Ozark Folk Center grounds. Black and white
Aerial view of the Ozark Folk Center, main grounds. Black and white, 3 copies
Aerial view of the Ozark Folk Center under construction, main grounds. Black and white
A group of unidentified people dancing in a circle in a log and stone cabin, with musicians playing in the background. Black and white
A horse standing in a large field full of yellow wildflowers, tree-covered hill rising in background. Color
A line of bare trees in the foreground, a fence a structure behind them, and a hill rising in the background. Color
A man standing next to the plans for the Ozark Folk Center on an easel. Black and white
Angular rear side view of shack. Location unknown. Color
Applehead dolls on display on quilt with iron in front of window on the Ozark Folk Center grounds. Black and white
Betty Bumpers, wife of former Governor Dale Bumpers, and daughter Brooke seated in the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium. Color
Betty Copeland performing with autoharp on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Partial view of Wilma Copeland Golden on left. Color
Betty Copeland performing with autoharp on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Partial view of Wilma Copeland Golden on left. Color
Betty Copeland performing with autoharp on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Partial view of Wilma Copeland Golden on left. Color
Betty Copeland performing with autoharp on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Stage props visible in background. Color
Bob Blair demonstrating cutting wood strips for basket making. Black and white
Bob Blair on guitar and Kay Ohrlin Blair on fiddle, other musician unidentified. Black and white
Bob Holtby, woodcarver, demonstrating woodcarving in wood shop before an audience on the Ozark Folk Center grounds. Black and white
Bob Holtry, woodcarver, seated at booth with wares spread out before him on table. Quilt hanging in background. Color
Bookmiller Shannon, Adrian Parks, and Lonnie Avery, musicians, performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Individuals (L-R): Shannon with banjo, Parks with fiddle, and Avery with guitar. Color
Bookmiller Shannon and Seth Mize, musicians, seated outdoors playing instruments. Individuals (L-R): Shannon with banjo and Mize with fiddle. Color
Bookmiller Shannon, Lonnie Avery, and Adrian Parks playing instruments. Musicians (L-R): Shannon with banjo, Avery with guitar, and Parks with fiddle. Black and white
Bookmiller Shannon playing banjo. Black and white
Bookmiller Shannon playing banjo. Black and white
Bookmiller Shannon playing banjo in living room of his home near Timbo, Arkansas. Photographed by Bates Littlehales for the National Geographic Society's "Music of the Ozarks" album, released in 1972. Black and white
Bookmiller Shannon seated outdoors playing banjo. Color
Bookmiller Shannon seated outdoors playing banjo. Color
Buddy Lancaster playing fiddle on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Chalres Sandage, Judy Klemmedson, Lynn Young, and Tom Simmons, musicians, seated playing instruments in what appears to be recreational area. Individuals (L-R): Sandage with guitar, Klemmedson singing, Young with autoharp, and Simmons with guitar. Color
Charles Sandage, Lynn Young, and Buddy Lancaster, musicians, playing instruments. Individuals (L-R): Sandage with guitar, Young with banjo, and Lancaster with fiddle. Color
Charles Sandage on performing with guitar on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Charles Sandage performing with guitar and singing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Charles Sandage performing with guitar on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Charles Sandage playing guitar in what appears to be recretional area. Partial view of Lynn Young with autoharp. Color
Charles Sandage with guitar and Dave Newbern with banjo performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Both musicians singing. Color
Charles Sandage with guitar and Dave Newbern with banjo performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Both musicians singing. Color
Charles Sandage with guitar and Dave Newbern with banjo performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Both musicians singing. Color
Close-up image of a cluster of wild poinsettias. Color
Close-up of Adrian Parks posing with mandolin standing in front of stone wall. Possibly photographed on outdoor stage of the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium. Color
Close-up of Adrian Parks posing with mandolin standing in front of stone wall. Possibly photographed on outdoor stage of the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium. Color
Close-up of banjo being played by unidentified man. Color
Close-up of banjo played by Bookmiller Shannon. Nature scene painted on banjo's face. Color
Close-up of Bill Ford's hands binding the knuckle of a broom. Color
Close-up of Bill Ford's hands threading broom bristles. Color
Close-up of Doug Ward performing with guitar and singing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of dulcimer being played. Partial view of unidentified individual demonstrating dulcimer. Color
Close-up of Elliott Hancock on stage performing. Color
Close-up of Elliott Hancock performing with dulcimer on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of finished basket. Janet Williams in traditional dress making finishing touches to basket out of focus in background. Color
Close-up of finished doll heads for applehead dolls. Color
Close-up of forge in blacksmtih shop of the Ozark Folk Center. Various irons and wood visible near coals. Color
Close-up of Greg Moody performing with mandolin and singing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of guitar being played by unidentified man. Color
Close-up of Guy Gamill and Walter Gosser performing with guitars on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Faces obstructed by guitars and microphone. Color
Close-up of Jeanne Whitfield performing with autoharp on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of Jean Pierce against painted cinder block wall. Color
Close-up of Jesse D. Wright performing with guitar on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of Jimmy Driftwood performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of Jimmy Driftwood singing. Color
Close-up of Joanne Webb's hands crafting applehead doll with wire for doll body. Color
Close-up of Kathy Morrison performing on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Partial view of Milford Morrison with guitar. Color
Close-up of Lois Dodson in traditional dress quilting on the Ozark Folk Center grounds. Finished quilt hanging behind Dodson. Color
Close-up of Lonnie Avery performing with guitar on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of mostly finished applehead dolls clothed and posed. Color
Close-up of Richard Morrison performing with fiddle on the Ozark Folk Center Main Auditorium stage. Color
Close-up of Ross Roper, blacksmith, at work in front of forge with irons in flame. Photographed in the blacksmith shop of the Ozark Folk Center. Color
Close-up of Roy Huneycutt working on primative wooden furiture in shop. Color
Close-up of two corn shuck dolls made by Ruth Burghardt. Color
Close-up of unidentified woman against painted cinder block wall. Color
Close-up of wooden dancing doll. Partial view of unidentified individual demonstrating doll. Color