Randolph, Vance, 1892-1980

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Author and folklorist.

From the description of Vance Randolph book typescripts, 1947-1953. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84232113

The Collector

Vance Randolph was a self-educated folklorist who made a living as a professional writer. Born in Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1892, he was educated as a scientist: as an undergraduate, he studied biology, and then in graduate school at Clark University, in psychology. As a graduate student, Randolph began to earn money by coaching students and ghostwriting. He then moved to the Ozark Mountains, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was married twice, the first marriage lasting through the 1930s. In 1962 he married Mary Celestia Parler, a professor of English at the University of Arkansas and an active member of the folklore community, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In the 1920s, Randolph began writing about the Ozark folklore he was collecting. He published several articles on dialect, folk belief, and recreation. His first books of folklore scholarship, The Ozarks and Ozark Mountain Folks, were published in the 1930s. He went on to publish Ozark Folksongs (4 vols., 1946-50) and Ozark Superstitions (1947). In the 1950s, he published four collections of folktales and a book about language in the Ozarks. His other major publications include Ozark Folklores: A Bibliography (1972), Pissing in the Snow and other Ozark Folktales (1976), and Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992). In 1978 Randolph was elected as a Fellow of the American Folklore Society, crowning a distinguished career with this formal professional honor.

From the guide to the Vance Randolph Collection, 1941-1972, (bulk 1941-1943), (Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center Library of Congress http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection artist name files, 1940-2005 (artists R-Z). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Randolph, Vance, 1892-1980. Vance Randolph book typescripts, 1947-1953. Library of Congress
referencedIn John Park Cravens papers : correspondence amd papers, 1881-1967. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
referencedIn Fletcher, John Gould, 1886-1950. John Gould Fletcher collections 1881-1960 (bulk 1911-1960). University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
referencedIn Walter John Lemke papers, 1821-1969 (bulk 1926-1969). University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
creatorOf Drury, John, 1898-. John Drury-Marion Neville papers, 1860-1970. Newberry Library
creatorOf Vance Randolph Collection, 1941-1972, (bulk 1941-1943) Archive of Folk Culture (U.S.)
creatorOf Randolph, Vance, 1892-. Ozark folksong transcripts : lyric and melodic transcriptions of Ozark folksongs, 1926-1950. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
creatorOf Annet, Peter, 1693-1769. Deistic miscellany : manuscript, [ca. 1750]. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Womer, Mary Louise. Letters, 1939-1941. Missouri State University
referencedIn Deane, Ernie. Randolph, Vance (in Fayetteville), January 6, 1962 [graphic] / Ernie Deane [photographer]. Arkansas History Commission
creatorOf McCord, May K.,. Vance Randolph collection, 1941-1943, 1972 / collected by Vance Randolph. Library of Congress
referencedIn Mottar, Robert M. Mary Celestia Parler photographs : Ozark folklore photographs, 1950s. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
referencedIn Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995. Sidney Robertson Cowell correspondence, 1936-1973. Library of Congress
creatorOf Randolph, Vance, 1892-. Vance Randolph manuscripts : manuscripts, 1951, 1954, n.d. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
creatorOf Annet, Peter, 1693-1769. Deistic miscellany : manuscript, [ca. 1750]. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Cochran, Robert, 1943-. Vance Randolph research material collection, 1865-1980. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
referencedIn Haughawout, Margaret E. [Scrapbook]. Pittsburg State University, Leonard H. Axe Library
referencedIn Dresbach, Beverley Githens. Beverley Githens Dresbach papers, 1890-1971. University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Archive of Folk Song (U.S.) collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Carlisle, Irene Jones, performer. person
correspondedWith Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995. person
associatedWith Deane, Ernie. person
correspondedWith Dresbach, Beverley Githens. person
associatedWith Drury, John, 1898- person
correspondedWith Fletcher, John Gould, 1886-1950. person
associatedWith Hammontree, Doney, performer. person
associatedWith Haughawout, Margaret E. person
associatedWith McCord, May K., performer. person
associatedWith Starr, Belle, 1848-1889 person
associatedWith Wilson, George P. (George Pickett), 1888-1972. person
associatedWith Womer, Mary Louise. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Ozark Mountains
Arkansas
Ozark Mountains
Missouri
Oklahoma
Missouri
Subject
Ballads, English
Children's songs, English
English language
Fiddle tunes
Field recordings
Folk dance music
Folk festivals
Folk literature
Folklore
Folklore
Folklorists
Folklorists
Folk music
Folk songs, English
Games
Hymns, English
Material culture
Traditional medicine
Old-time music
Rites and ceremonies
Shape note singing
Singing games
Storytelling
Superstition
Tales
Tall tales
Occupation
Authors
Collector
Folklorists
Performer
Activity

Person

Birth 1892-02-23

Death 1980-11-01

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6gh9px4

SNAC ID: 59242202