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
Musicians Laurie, Bill and Tara Sky posing with instruments. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Lester and Bess Kelley with instruments. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Lester and Bess Kelley with instruments. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Lisa Wiede and Deb Mullins with dulcimers. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Lonnie Avey and Book Miller Shannon. Black and white
Musicians Lonnie Avey and Book Miller Shannon. Black and white
Musicians Louis "Grandpa" Jones and Ramona Jones performing. Black and white
Musicians Louis "Grandpa" Jones and Ramona Jones performing. Black and white
Musicians Louis "Grandpa" Jones and Ramona Jones performing. Black and white
Musicians Louis "Grandpa" Jones and Ramona Jones performing. Black and white
Musicians Lynn and Mike McSpadden with dulcimer. Black and white, 2 copies - different sizes
Musicians Michael and Misty Neuman on banjo and dulcimer. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Mike and Pam Gavin. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Pam Morrow Sanders and Mike McGhee. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Paul and Win Grace. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Paul and Win Grace. Photo by Sam Griffin. Black and white
Musicians Percy and Ida Copeland, Golden years. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Robert and Mary Gillihan. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Robert and Mary Gillihan. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on cardstock [ph.378]
Musicians Robert and Mary Gillihan. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Robin, Nellie, and Glen Branscum. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Ron and Peggy Taylor, Harmony Yodels. Green-tinted, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Ruby Stewart and George Bryant. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Ruby Stewart and Glen Branscum. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Simeon Magby, Kyle Glendy, and John Taylor. Black and white
Musicians Sue Lukens and Dave McKellep. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musicians Suzanne and Jim - no last name given. Sepia-toned
Musician Steve Franks. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musician Steve Smith with hammered and fretted dulcimers. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Musicians, the Copeland Kids. Unidentified. Black and white
Musicians, the Copeland Kids. Unidentified. Black and white
Musicians, the Copeland Kids. Unidentified. Black and white
Musicians Tilman and Molly Pyeatt on fiddle and guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Sue Lukens. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Musician Sydney Martin. Black and white
Musician Tom Cleveland with fiddle. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Musician Tom Cleveland with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Musician Van Williams playing guitar. Back labeled: "Peter Lee Univ. MS." Black and white, 2 copies
Naturalist Billy Joe Tatum with visitors at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Naturalist Billy Joe Tatum with visitors at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white, 2 copies
Nellie Yandell. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Old record of song "Throw Out the Lifeline" by The Patterson Singers
Olen and Aretha Lendley dancing the jig at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Olen and Aretha Lendley dancing the jig at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Olen and Aretha Lendley dancing the jig at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white, 2 copies
Olen and Aretha Lendley dancing the jig at the Ozark Folk Center. Black and white, 3 copies
Orville and Hazel Thompson with guitar. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Overgrown wall of log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white, 2 copies
Overgrown walls and collapsed roof on log schoolhouse cabin. Black and white, 2 copies
Ozark musician J.C. Bonds. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Pam Kirby and Jean Simmons Jennings of The Leatherwoods. Black and white
Pam Morrow playing the picking bow. Black and white, 2 copies
Pam Morrow Sanders playing the picking bow, Ozark Folk Center. Black and white
Performers Raymond Creasy and Sue Lukens. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Photograph of typed article about Mike Foley's pottery. Page 1. Black and white
Photograph of typed article about Mike Foley's pottery. Page 2. Black and white
Photo of guitarist Roger Burch. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Poet Dennis Flynn. 2 copies - one color, the second enlarge and printed in a purple hue
Portrait. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Portrait of autoharp player Fredona Currie. Black and white portrait mounted on foamcore
Portrait of banjo player Jim Connor. Black and white
Portrait of Bill Jones. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Portrait of Bill McNeil, holding his glasses. Black and white
Portrait of Billy Burnett. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted of foamcore
Portrait of Bonnie Carol with unfinished dulcimer in workshop. Black and white
Portrait of Buck Glosson. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on cardstock
Portrait of Caroline Rainbolt. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore