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
Jim and Melva Adcox. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Jim and Wanda Sanders giving a musical performance. Black and white, mounted on cardboard
Jim and Wanda Sanders with guitar and autoharp. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
J. L. Woodruff. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
J. L. Woodruff. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Joanne Webb making doll in Ozark Folk Center dress shop. Color
Joe Jewell with hammered dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore [old # mislabeled as PHC467]
Johanna Taylor playing the hammered dulcimer. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Johanna Taylor with fretted dulcimer. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Johanna Taylor Woods playing hammered dulcimer. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on cardstock
Johnny Tuttle splitting shingles in a demonstration. Black and white, attached to a sheet of paper
Judy Engle. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore [Judy Engle Logan]
Judy Engles Logan. Black and white, 2 copies
Julie Stowe demonstrating basket making, Ozark Folk Center. Color
Karen Sims. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Kathy Abbott, Dancer. Sepia-toned; mounted on foamcore
Kenneth Gentry. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Ken Sloan holding fiddle. Black and white
Ken Sloan playing fiddle. Black and white
Leather-worker Bob Crider in Ozark Folk Center leather shop. Black and white
Lee Hutchins. Black and white, mounted on foamcore.
Leela and Eleanor Grace clog dancing. Photo by Craig Milburn. Black and white
Leela and Eleanor Grace clog dancing. Photo by Sam Griffin. Black and white
Leela and Eleanor Grace clog dancing. Photo by Sam Griffin. Black and white
Leela and Eleanor Grace clog dancing. Photo by Sam Griffin. Black and white
Leroy Troy with banjo. Black and white, 2 copies
Lisa Wiede playing a lap harp. Black and white
Log structure with chicken yards in Ozark Folk Center craft area. Black and white
Lois Dodson quilting. Black and white, 2 copies - different sizes
Lois Dodson quilting. Black and white, 6 copies
Louis "Grandpa" Jones on stage presenting a plaque to David Bryant. Black and white, 3 copies
Lou Stebner posing with guitar. Black and white
Lou Stebner posing with guitar. Black and white
Lou Stebner posing with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Lucky Grissette. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Lucky Grissette. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Man carving wood at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Man carving wood at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Marge and Chapman [surnames unknown] posed with autoharp and guitar. Black and white
Margie Earles standing outside, wearing traditional dress. Black and white
Margie Hall with unidentified girl and holding a basket. Color
Mark and Sue Jones posing with banjo. Sepia-toned
Mary Arter, Dancer. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Mary Gillihan demonstrating use of the dancing doll toy. Black and white, 2 copies
Melissa Brock. Black and white
Melissa Brock in period dress. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore [ph.153]
Mike Casey of the Kiltartan Cross, holding dulcimer. Black and white
Mike McGhee. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Missouri musician Cathy Barton at the hammered dulcimer. Black and white
Muscal group Herbin' League: Tina Wilcox and Marion Spears. Black and white
Muscal group Herbin' League: Tina Wilcox and Marion Spears. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Muscal group Herbin' League: Tina Wilcox and Marion Spears. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musical duo The Allen Brothers. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musical group Calico, members unidentified. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musical group Coffey Brothers Band, members unidentified. Black and white
Musical group cornerstone, members unidentified. Black and white
Musical group Country Reflections, members unidentified. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musical group New Blue Train, members unidentified. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musical group Olde Tyes playing. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musical group Olde Tyes playing. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musical group Ozark Express: Fredona and Britt Currie. Black and white
Musical group Ozark Express: Fredona and Britt Currie with Merton Keith. Black and white
Musical group Sweet Water, members unidentified. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musical group Village Singers, members unidentified. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore