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
Musician Barbara Taylor. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musician Bob Massago with harmonica. Black and white, 3 copies
Musician Bruce Harville with banjo. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Bruce Harville with banjo. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Bud Bell giving lecture. Black and white
Musician Casey Dixon performing. Ozark Cultural Resource Center gospel photos. Black and white
Musician Cliff Carlisle. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Cliff Carlisle. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Curley Bradley. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Cynthia Smith with dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Dana Hamilton posing with hammered dulcimer. Black and white [mounted on foamcore]
Musician Dave Smith performing on accordion. Color, 2 copies
Musician Dave Smith posing with instruments. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore.
Musician Dave Smith with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Dave Smith with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician David Moran posing with hammered dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Deborraha Mullins sitting on porch of cabin. Black and white
Musician Deborraha Mullins sitting on steps with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Dee Johnston singing. Black and white
Musician Gene Autry on horse. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Gene Autry. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Gene Autry with horse. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Gene Autry with horse. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musician Jerry Hale. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Jim Eudy. Black and white [mounted on foamcore] [2 copies]
Musician Jimmy Driftwood performing. Black and white
Musician Jimmy Driftwood performing in a gymnasium/auditorium. Black and white, 2 copies
Musician John Taylor with banjo. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician John Taylor with fiddle. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musician Karen Bell demonstrating weaving on a small loom. Color
Musician Lester Bennett. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Linda Moody performing on the autoharp. Black and white
Musician Lonnie Glosson (guitar and harmonica) with Wayne Raney. Black and white
Musician Louis "Grandpa" Jones performing. Black and white, 2 copies - different sizes
Musician Louis "Grandpa" Jones performing with banjo. Color
Musician Louis "Grandpa" Jones performing with guitar. Black and white
Musician Louis "Grandpa" Jones with unidentified man. Color
Musician Martin Lee, the Arkansas Troubadour. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musician Mike Gavin. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musician Nellie Branscum with banjo. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musician Nellie Branscum with banjo. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Orville Johnson with steel guitar. Color, mounted on foamcore
Musician Orville Johnson with steel guitar. Color, mounted on foamcore
Musician Pam Kirby posing with guitar. Black and white
Musician Princess Harris playing the hammered dulcimer. Black and white
Musician Ramona Jones posing with fiddle outside. Black and white
Musician Ramona Jones posing with fiddle outside. Color, mounted on blue paper
Musicians Bess Kelley, Robert and Debra Davis. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Bess Kelley, Robert and Debra Davis. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Bud and Joe Billings. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Musicians Calvin and Polly Williams with the courting dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Calvin and Polly Williams with the courting dulcimer. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Comer and Deborraha Mullins. Black and white
Musicians Connie and David Powell posing with instruments. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Musician Seth Mise (center) with Lonnie Avey and Book Miller Shannon. Black and white
Musician Seth Mise (center) with Lonnie Avey and Book Miller Shannon. Black and white
Musician Seth Mise (center) with Lonnie Avey and Book Miller Shannon. Black and white
Musicians from L-R: Kelly Werts, Princess Harris, and unidentified man. Black and white
Musicians from the Simmons family, L-R: Jean, Pam, and Tommy Simmons. Black and white, 3 copies
Musicians Gayland and Emagene Green. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Gayland and Emagene Green (fiddle and bass). Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Gene and Martha Wilson with John Taylor. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Gene Dunaway and Mary and Robert Gillihan, with instruments [mounted on foamcore]
Musicians Hank and Eulaine Blumenthal. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Hank and Eulaine Blumenthal. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Hannah, Laura, and Emily Dowden. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Simeon Magby. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore [ph.616]
Musicians Jeanne (left) and Ann (right) Whitfield playing dulcimer. Black and white
Musicians Jeanne (right) and Ann (left) Whitfield playing dulcimer. Black and white
Musicians Jim and Kathryn Brunson and Bill Brown. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Jim and Wanda Sanders with Lorraine Bradshaw. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Kendra Ward and Bob Bence posing with instruments. Black and white
Musicians Kendra Ward and Bob Bence posing with instruments. Black and white
Musicians Kenny Sims and Rodger Gardner. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Skinny Blair (center) with the Sugar Hill Band, members unidentified. Black and white