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
Edith Johnson. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Ed Sutterfield. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Ed Sutterfield standing in front of a house. Black and white
Elaine Bradshaw, Mountain View. Black and white, mounted on cardboard
Face of old reed organ and stool. Black and white
Faye McClure with ukelele. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Fiddler DeeAnn Gillispie, "Irish Blend." Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Fiddler James Gambino of The Rackensack Review. Black and white
Fiddler James Gambino of The Rackensack Review. Black and white
Fiddler James Gambino of The Rackensack Review. Black and white
Fiddler James Gambino of The Rackensack Review. Black and white
Fiddler Jim Crowell. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Fiddler Lenny Wallace. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Fiddler Randy Howard. Black and white, 5 copies
Fiddler Stony Cooper. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Flectcher Bryant. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Floyd Holland playing banjo. Black and white
Freeman Thomas group, members unidentified. Black and white
Freeman Thomas group, with Bookmiller Shannon (left). Members unidentified. Black and white
Freeman Thomas group, with Bookmiller Shannon (left). Members unidentified. Black and white
Freeman Thomas group, with Bookmiller Shannon (left). Members unidentified. Black and white
Freeman Thomas group, with Bookmiller Shannon (left). Members unidentified. Black and white
Garden on Ozark Folk Center craft area grounds. Black and white
Georgia and Sheryl Irvine on autoharp and dulcimer. Black and white
Georgia Irvine with autoharp. Black and white, 2 copies
Georgia Irvine with autoharp. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Georgia Irvine with autoharp. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Art Flatt. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Bill Daum, Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Guitarist Bill Daum, Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Guitarist Bill Poole. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Bob Everhart with unidentified female bass player. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Carroll Linn. Black and white
Guitarist Carroll Linn. Black and white, 2 copies
Guitarist Carroll Linn. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Carroll Linn. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore [ph.592]
Guitarist Claudies (Cloud) Gardner. Black and white
Guitarist Comer Mullins. Black and white
Guitarist Comer Mullins in front of microphone. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Comer Mullins, National Thumbpicking Champion. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist David Cerjan. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist David Cerjan. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Dean Hinesley. Black and white
Guitarist Dee Godfrey. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Denny Goodnow. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Glen Ohrlin. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Glen Ohrlin. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Janis Duley. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist J. D. Fleming. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Jeff Hammonds. Black and white
Guitarist Keith Merton with unidentified woman playing autoharp. Black and white
Guitarist Kenny Sims. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Mark Hanson. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Guitarist Pat Kirtley. Black and white
Guitarist Pat Kirtley. Black and white
Guitarist Stewart Mossman. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Guitarist Tommy Flint. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on cardstock [ph.336]
Hand-crafted brooms and dust pans in gift shop. Color
Harley Damphf with another unidentified banjo player. Black and white
Harmonica player Percy Copeland with two unidentified musicians. Black and white
Horrance Smith playing guitar. Black and white, 2 copies
Horrance Smith playing harmonica. Black and white
Horses Angel and Dushy drinking from a pond. Black and white negative
Horses Angel and Dushy grazing near a group of trees. Black and white negative
Horses Angel and Dushy under a tree. The foal is lying down. Black and white negative
Hubert Engle. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on cardstock
Hubert Engle. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Iowa guitarist Bob Everhart. Black and white
Jack Evins. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore
Jackie Stewart playing banjo. Black and white
James Grissette. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Jay Round performing on a hammered dulcimer. Black and white
J.B. Sommers with autoharp. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore
Jean and Tommy Simmons with one of their daughters (possibly Pam). Black and white
Jean and Tommy Simmons with one of their daughters (possibly Pam). Black and white
Jean Simmons dancing with unidentified man. Black and white, 2 copies, different sizes
Jennifer Byrd singing on stage. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Jerry and Jo Greer on guitar and Bass. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Jesse Finch. Black and white, mounted on unknown backing