Looking for Treasures in the Archives, by John P. Williams

Welcome back to Stories from the Field and a new post in our Show Me Folk blog. The blog is dedicated space for staff, student workers, traditional artists, cultural experts, consultants, and community scholars to share photo essays on an array of topics in Missouri’s traditional arts and folklife.

Guest blogger John P. Williams is an old-time fiddler from Madison, Mo. He grew up in a rural home of creatives and community builders, stewards of the family farm. John remembers a house filled with visitors from the time he was a child. The rich community ties instilled by his parents and grandparents encouraged John to learn, share, and connect with others through shared interests and hobbies. Most of us know John as a fiddler–an apprentice to Pete McMahan, a camper then teacher at Bethel Fiddle Camp, and, since 2014, a mentoring master fiddler who has taught five apprenticeships. 

John loves looking for and rescuing treasures. Check out his post below to learn more. 

Looking for Treasures in the Archives, by John P. Williams

For two Saturdays this spring, I was able to go on a fascinating journey through a small part of Missouri’s rich cultural heritage. The destination? The Missouri Folk Arts Program archives, housed at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia. [University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri Folk Arts Program Records, 1982-2012 (C40353)]

To those that know me, it’s not surprising that I’d choose to spend my weekend digging through boxes looking for treasures. Especially this collection where everything is a treasure! My family has been involved with the Missouri Folk Arts Program (MFAP) and the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP) in some capacity for 30 some years.  My mother was an apprentice in the program in the 1980’s learning white oak basket making. I apprenticed under the late, Pete McMahan in the late 1990’s. My father was a Master Blacksmith in the program in the early 2010’s. And I’ve served as a Master Fiddler in the program five times in the last decade. The Missouri Folk Arts Program has played a huge role in my life and Missouri’s traditional arts scene.

The first Saturday of my treasure hunt, I met up with Lisa Higgins, the director of the Missouri Folk Arts Program. As this was my first time doing research in an actual research facility, Lisa made sure to show me the ropes and I was off to the races. I had requested just a handful of boxes from the “Miscellaneous Projects” series that hasn’t been completely catalogued yet. My main interest was looking through the folders with familiar names, events, and my favorite old-time musicians.

I found a lot of correspondence, pictures, and programs from the early years of the Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp (funded in part by the Missouri Folk Arts Program and Missouri Arts Council). Founded by the Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers Association in the mid-1980’s and held in the historical Bethel German Colony in Shelby County, this camp has been a huge part of my life for over three decades.

I found pictures and notes from the Cope Ashlock Invitational Fiddling Championship, which was held April 9^th, 1989, and broadcast live from KOPN radio studios in downtown Columbia. The late fiddler and good friend, Bud Wyatt, from Centralia, Missouri recorded this from the radio and passed on a copy to me when I was a teenager. I can’t tell you how many times I listened to that recording over the years and how many tunes I learned from it as a kid. All of my old-time heroes in one recording!  Pete McMahan, Kenny Applebee, Jimmy Gilmore, Travis Inman, Junior Marriott, Nile Wilson, Kelly Jones, Jack Deck, Wes Brown, and Forrest Rose. What a lineup!

 

The Hannibal Bluegrass Festival during the 1980’s was an event I’d always heard about and how old-time and bluegrass players came together for a weekend festival. Almost unheard of nowadays!  Fiddle contest photos and photos from the famous recording session of Gene Goforth done by Dr. Howard W. Marshall that was part of the “Now That’s a Good Tune” double LP.  Not to mention a wonderful picture of Jim and Edna Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey was a true friend of the music and one of the most generous folks you could ever meet.

 

I could go on for days about all of the great stuff I found, the correspondence and articles I read, photos I saw. Overwhelming for a Missouri music history nerd like me! I’ll leave you with a few more pictures that I was able to take pictures of that I think my fellow Missouri music folks will appreciate! Thanks to the State Historical Society of Missouri for making sure this wonderful collection is open to the public and a huge thank you to the Missouri Folk Arts Program who’s been instrumental in keeping the arts thriving in Missouri. They have played a huge role in my life since I was a kid and still do to this day. Here’s to the upcoming 40^th Anniversary of this great program!

John P. Williams
Master Fiddler and President of the Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers Association