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 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 holding fiddle. Black and white, 5 copies - each has slightly different cropping or exposure

Ken Sloan playing fiddle. Black and white

Kermit Taylor (upper right) with group of dancers, only three of the women identified: (front, from right) Maria Taylor, Caroline Rainbolt, Lucky Grissette. Black and white

Large group of unidentified musicians. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos (A). 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

Leon Jennings. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore. One image is zoomed in more than other.

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

Lois Dodson quilting. Color

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

Mare and foal drinking water from a pond in a pasture, large trees in background. Location unknown. 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

Mark Jones with banjo. Sepia-toned, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore. One image was cropped smaller than the other

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

Mountain dulcimer player Jeff Jenkins. 2 copies - one Black and white and mounted on foamcore, one color

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 family the Hodgsons, L-R: Sara, Zachery, Melody, and Ezra Hodgson. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore

Musical family the Hodgsons: Sara, Zachery, Melody, and Ezra Hodgson with two smaller, unidentified children. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical family, The Williams, some members identified on back. Black and white, 2 copies - one mounted on foamcore, one mounted on a plastic backing

Musical group Bittersweet: Jim Crowell, Pam Sanders, and Mike McGee. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Bottom of the Barrel: John and Barbara Taylor (front) with two unidentified musicians. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Brush Arbor: Gretchen and Robert Hancock with Sylvia - no last name given. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Bugshuffle: Dave McKellep, Sue Lukens, Dave Smith, and Joe Jewel. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Bugshuffle: Dave Smith with two unidentified musicians. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

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 Dumplin's, L-R: Moon, John Taylor, and Jerry (no last names for two). Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Country Reflections, members unidentified. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Featherstone, members partially identified: Zack, Joe Jewell, Robin Branscum, Kevin. Sepia-toned, printed on photo paper, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Golden Years, L-R: David (no last name given), Percy Copeland, Robert Hancock. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Gospel City, clockwise from upper left: Jerry Byler, Taffy Smithson, Lena Byler, Katherine Smithson. Black and white, 3 copies

Musical group Gospel Grass, L-R: Guymon Gammill, Jerry Hale, Jim Bullard, Walter Gosser. Black and white

Musical group Hartman's Tennessee Ramblers, members unidentified. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white

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 Ozark Express: Fredona and Britt Currie with Merton Keith. Black and white, 2 copies - one glued to a sheet of paper

Musical group Ozark Express: Fredona and Britt Currie with Merton Keith. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Ozark Mountaineers, L-R: Simeon Magby, Merton Keith, Betty Goss, Sandy (no last name given). Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Ozark Mountaineers - Simeon Magby (left) with three unidentified musicians. Color, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Right Combination: Bob Massago and Audrey Gilliam. Autographed with gold pen. Black and white

Musical group Right Combination: Bob Massago and Audrey Gilliam. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Skinny & Friends, members unidentified. Sepia-toned, printed on photo paper, mounted on foamcore

Musical group Slim Bryant's Wildcats, members unidentified. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white

Musical group Sweet Water, members unidentified. Black and white, mounted on foamcore

Musical group The Conchords, L-R: Jim Beal, Fred Arnold, Frank Warden, Dick Haltom, Dan Mooney. Color

Musical group the Coon Creek Girls posing with instruments, members unidentified. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white

Musical group the River Rats, L-R: Comer Mullins, Don Mellon, Don Jones. Sepia-toned, printed on photo paper, mounted on foamcore

Musical group The Skirtlifters, members unidentified. Black and white, 3 copies - one mounted on cardstock

Musical group Toadsuck Symphony, L-R: (back) Les Haynie, Fletcher Smith III, Jan Bishop, (front) Jim Builleman, Bill Ferguson. Black and white

Musical group Village Singers, members unidentified. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore

Musician Arkie the Arkansas Woodchopper playing guitar. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white