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
Publicity photo of Les Gilliam, "Oklahoma Balladeer." Black and white
Publicity photo of Les Gilliam, "Oklahoma Balladeer." Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity photo of Les Gilliam, "Oklahoma Balladeer." Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Publicity photo of Margie Lane and Sundown Pete. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Publicity photo of Missouri musicians Dave Para and Cathy Barton. Black and white
Publicity photo of Missouri musicians Dave Para and Cathy Barton on a boat. Color
Publicity photo of musical duo The Coleman Brothers. Black and white
Publicity photo of musical group Prickly Pair, Les and Locke Hamilton. Black and white
Publicity photo of musical group The Chapman Family Band, members unidentified. Black and white
Publicity photo of musical group The Cox Family. Black and white
Publicity photo of musical group The Happytimes Jazzband. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Publicity photo of musical group The Johnson Mountain Boys, members unidentified. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Holly Tannen. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Holly Tannen. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Howard Vokes. Autographed. Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity photo of musician James Keelaghan. Photo by Denise Grant. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician James Keelaghan. Photo by Denise Grant. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Janet McBride. Black and white, 4 copies
Publicity photo of musician Joni Bishop. Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity photo of musician Lindsay Haisley, playing the autoharp. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Lindsay Haisley, posed with autoharp. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Otis Taylor. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Patsy Montana. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Patsy Montana. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Patsy Montana. Black and white, 2 copies - different sizes
Publicity photo of musician Santiago Jiminez, Jr. with accordion. Black and white
Publicity photo of musicians Comer and Deborraha Mullins. Black and white
Publicity photo of musicians Hank and Eulaine Blumenthal. Black and white, 3 copies
Publicity photo of musicians Hank and Eulaine Blumenthal. Black and white, 5 copies
Publicity photo of musicians Hank and Eulaine Blumenthal. Black and white, mounted on cardstock
Publicity photo of musicians Joe Maphis and Rose Lee. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Skip Gorman, taken by Cornelia M. Rahmelow. Black and white
Publicity photo of musician Skip Gorman, taken by Cornelia M. Rahmelow. Black and white
Publicity photo of musicians Lou and Peter Berryman. Black and white
Publicity photo of Randall Hylton with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Publicity photo of Rick Thum with hammered dulcimer. Black and white
Publicity photo of Robin and Linda Williams. Photo by Irene Young. Black and white
Publicity photo of Ruck Thum. Black and white
Publicity photo of The Chappell Family, members unidentified. Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity photo of The Chuck Wagon Gang, members unidentified. Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity photo of the Singing Cowboys, members unidentified. Black and white
Publicity photo of Troy McCourt with guitar. Black and white
Publicity photo of Western musician and yodeler David Bradley. Color, 5 copies
Publicity photo of yodeler Malliga Collins with Claudie Gardner. Black and white
Publicity photo taken by Hank Widick. Black and white, 5 copies
Publicity portrait of cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell. Black and white
Publicity portrait of musical group Prickly Pair, Les and Locke Hamilton. Black and white, 2 copies
Publicity portrait of musician and poet Ken Overcast. Black and white
Publicity portrait of musician Janet McBride. Black and white, 3 copies, one mounted on foamcore
Publicity portrait of musician Janet McBride with guitar. Black and white
Publicity portrait of singer Dean Mitchell. Black and white, 4 copies
Publicity portrait of singer Vicki Young. Black and white
Publicity-style photo of Pamela K. Ward. Purple-tinted, printed on photo paper
Quilter Blanche Richardson sitting in a living room. Color
Rabbits in triangular hutch at the Ozark Folk Center craft area. Black and white, 2 copies
Ralph and Julia Hunter with the Wilsons, individuals unidentified. Sepia-toned, mounted on foamcore
Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Black and white
Randy Wiede. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Rex Allen with horse. Ozark Cultural Resource Center country music photos. Black and white
Richard Morrison working in print shop. Black and white
Robbie Purdom. Black and white, 2 copies, mounted on foamcore
Robert Redwood Olivera with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Robert Spicer dancing on stage. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Roy Harper holding guitar case painted with railroad scene. Color, photo laminated
Roy Harper with guitar. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Sam Younger and group, members unidentified. Black and white
Sam Younger and group, members unidentified. Black and white
Sam Younger and group, members unidentified. Black and white
Sarah Gray with banjo. Black and white, 2 copies, one mounted on foamcore [ph.410]
Sara Purdom. Black and white, mounted on foamcore
Sculpture by Peter Engler of Mountain Woodcarvers, Branson, Missouri. Color