Seeger, Pete, 1919-2014

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Pete Seeger (1919-2014) was an American folk singer and social activist.

As a member of the Weavers, Seeger was often heard on the radio in the early 1950s, most notably on their recording of Lead Belly's "Goodnight, Irene". In the 1960s, Seeger re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture, workers' rights, and environmental causes.

A prolific songwriter, his best-known songs include "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" (with additional lyrics by Joe Hickerson), "If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" (with Lee Hays of the Weavers), "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (also with Hays), and "Turn! Turn! Turn!".

Seeger was one of the folk singers responsible for popularizing the spiritual "We Shall Overcome" (also recorded by Joan Baez and many other singer-activists), which became the acknowledged anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, soon after folk singer and activist Guy Carawan introduced it at the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Neat Stuff Collectables. Jazz Playbill Collection, 1923-1952. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Labor Research Association Records, 1914-2009 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Horton, Myles, 1905-1990,. Myles Horton oral history interview, 1989 Dec. 15. Georgia State University
referencedIn Papers of George Wald, 1927-1996 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Sidney Robertson Cowell Collection, 1901-1992, (bulk 1936-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Miscellaneous speeches, lectures and labor music. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Ola Belle Reed Collection, 1969-1979 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Folkstreams.net. Folkstreams.net collection, 1963-2010. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Kramer, Aaron, 1921-. Aaron Kramer papers, ca. 1940-1986. Houghton Library
referencedIn Marion Walton papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Steiner, Stan. Papers, ca. 1961-1987. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn United Farm Workers of America. Administration Dept. United Farm Workers Administration Department records, 1960-1975, (bulk 1968-1973). Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Camp Kinderland Records, 1923-2012 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Ronald D. Cohen Collection, 1914-2005, (bulk 1940-2005) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
creatorOf Rockwell Kent papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995. Sidney Robertson Cowell collection, 1901-1992 (bulk 1936-1990). Library of Congress
referencedIn Ferris, William R. William R. Ferris collection, 1919s-2003 (names H-W). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. Local 610 (Wilmerding, Pa.). Records of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 610 (Wilmerding, Pa.), 1937-1990. University of Pittsburgh
referencedIn Mackay, Kathleen, 1948-. Kathleen Mackay Research Papers 1967-2007. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives
referencedIn Faier, Billy. Billy Faier collection, 1955-2003 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Thompson, Harold William, 1891-1964. Harold William Thompson papers, 1942-1955. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Gary Kenton Collection (#20321), 1971-1989 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Williams, Claude Clossey, 1895-1979. Claude C. Williams papers, 1929-1979. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Kenton, Gary, 1950-. Gary Kenton collection, 1971-1989 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Bluestein, Gene, 1928-. Gene Bluestein collection, 1955-2002. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn New Yorker records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Belfrage, Cedric, 1904-. Papers, 1922-1990 (bulk 1945-1985). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Ben Shahn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Broadside Collection, 1962-1991 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Albert Prago Audio Collection, 1981-1982 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Lumsden family. Papers [manuscript]. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Guide to the Labor Research Association Records, 1914-2009 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Kennedy, Stetson,. Stetson Kennedy oral history interview, 1988 Oct. 7. Georgia State University
creatorOf Seeger, Pete, 1919-. Spring Hill School collection, 1926-1939. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf MARGARET GARDINER PAPERS. Vol. III (ff. 129). 'Vietnam: an American View'; 1967.includes:ff. 2, 34 Harrison Evans Salisbury, Associate Editor, 'The New York Times': Letters to Margaret Gardiner of Harrison Evans Salisbury: 1967: Signed.ff. 3, 40 ..., 1967 British Library
referencedIn Sullivan, Patricia, 1950-. Progressive Party oral history interviews, 1975-1982. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Horton, Zilphia, 1910-1956. Zilphia Horton folk music collection, 1935-1956. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn George Washington University Lisner Auditorium. Lisner Auditorium records 1946-2005 George Washington University
referencedIn Darling, Erik. Erik Darling papers, 1950s-2008. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Seeger, Pete, 1919-. Letter, 1953, Beacon, N.Y., to Art Schrader. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Papers of George Wald, 1927-1996 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Charles Kuralt Collection, 1935-1997 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn IU Folklore Institute, 1987 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell. Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell records, 1946-1969. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn American Vaudeville Museum collection, 1845-2007, (bulk 1910-1940) University of Arizona Libraries, Library Special Collections
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Sound Recordings Relating to "Studio One" Broadcasts. 1955 - 2003. Let My Songs Speak for Me National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Guide to the Charles Rivers Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1921-1989 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Jascha Heifetz Collection, 1911-1972 Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries
referencedIn Bobbye S. Ortiz Papers, (bulk, 1919-1993 and undated, 1950-1990) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Guide to the Sol Stetin Papers, 1935-1992, bulk 1972-1989 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Guide to the James E. Jackson and Esther Cooper Jackson Papers, 1917-2018 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995. Sidney Robertson Cowell correspondence, 1936-1973. Library of Congress
referencedIn O'Connor, Jessie Lloyd, 1904-. Papers, 1850-1988. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Guide to Sam Reiss 1975 Retrospective Exhibit, 1948-1975 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Arnold, Rus, 1909-1973. Rus Arnold papers, 1920, 1938-1987. Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Harburg, E. Y. (Edgar Yipsel), 1896-1981. E.Y. Harburg papers, 1913-1985. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Harold Newman papers, 1921-1993, 1941-1988 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Annette T. Rubinstein Papers, Bulk, 1946-1975, 1937-2007 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Seeger, Pete, 1919-. Letter, 1972 April 18, Beacon, N.Y. [to] Martha M. Earl, West Point, N.Y. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn John T. Huddle Collection, 1936-1993 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Johnson, Becky. Becky Johnson collection, 1970-2003. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Kennedy, Stetson,. Stetson Kennedy oral history interview, 1988 Nov. 26. Georgia State University
creatorOf Breathe Again. Breathe Again records, 1971-1974. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Seeger, Pete, 1919-. 1 TLS (xerox), 1976 May 14, Beacon, N.Y. to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Guide to the Labor Research Association Records, 1914-2009 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Bobbye S. Ortiz Papers, (bulk, 1919-1993 and undated, 1950-1990) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Tom Raymond collection, 1984-2003 Archive of Folk Culture (U.S.)
referencedIn Kingston Trio. Kingston Trio records, 1956-1986. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries
referencedIn Folsom-Elting Collection (MS 246), 1862-2005, 1930-1995 University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.
referencedIn People's Song Library. People's Song Library records, 1940-1970. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Beckhorn, Susan. Susan Beckhorn collection, 1989-1991. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Aaron Kramer papers, ca. 1940 -1986. Houghton Library
referencedIn Rubinstein, Annette T. (Annette Teta), 1910-2007. Papers, 1937-1994 (bulk 1946-1975). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Rockwell Kent papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Guide to the James E. Jackson and Esther Cooper Jackson Papers, 1917-2018 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Moving Images Collection, 1920-1969 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Kennedy, Stetson,. Stetson Kennedy oral history interview, 1988 Nov. 11. Georgia State University
referencedIn Woody Guthrie Foundation. Woody Guthrie Archives, ca. 1925-present, (bulk 1942-1956). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Jerome, V. J. (Victor Jeremy), 1896-1965. Victor Jeremy Jerome papers, 1923-1967 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Kennedy, Stetson,. Stetson Kennedy oral history interview, 1988 Dec. 31. Georgia State University
creatorOf Marion Walton papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Seeger, Pete, 1919-. Autograph card signed : [Beacon, N.Y.], [1965]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn E. Y. (Yip) Harburg papers, 1913-1985 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Billy Faier Collection, 1955-2003 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection Artist Name File, 1940-2005 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn The E.Y. Harburg Collection, 1929-1968 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Durr, Virginia Foster. Papers, 1904-1991. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn David Gahr Collection of Photographs, c.1960s-1970s V & A Department of Theatre and Performance
referencedIn Papers of Holly Near, 1967-1994 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ashford, Paul. Paul Ashford papers, 1890-1958 (bulk 1920-1946) University of Washington. Libraries
referencedIn Guide to the Barbara Kopple Collection on the Peekskill Riots, 1925-1999 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Guide to the James E. Jackson and Esther Cooper Jackson Photographs Collection, 1910-1995 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Dear, John, 1959-. Papers, 1979- Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
referencedIn Guide to the Oral History of the American Left Collection, 1940-2011 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Papers of Holly Near, 1967-1994 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Sound Recordings Relating to quot;Studio Onequot; Broadcasts National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Highlander Folk School (Monteagle, Tenn.). Highlander Folk School Audio Collection. Auburn University.
referencedIn Lampell, Millard, 1919-1997. Papers, 1936-1997. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Seaman, Barbara. Papers, 1920-1983 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Breathe Again records, 1971-1974 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Willard, Nancy. Nancy Willard papers, 1941- . University of Michigan
referencedIn Papers, 1920(?), 1935-1983 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Kuralt, Charles, 1934-1997. Charles Kuralt collection, 1935-1997. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gene Bluestein Collection, 1955-2002 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Jessie Lloyd O'Connor Papers MS 254., 1850 - 1988 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Papers, 1832-1973. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Broadside Collection, 1962-1991 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Civil Rights History Project collection Archive of Folk Culture (U.S.)
referencedIn Cedric Belfrage Papers, Bulk, 1945-1985, 1922-1990, (Bulk 1945-1985) Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Newman, Harold, 1903-. Harold Newman papers, 1921-1993 (bulk 1941-1988) New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Camp Kinderland Records, 1923-2011 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Southern Folklife Collection artist name files, 1940-2005 (artists R-Z). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Guide to the Charles Rivers Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1921-1989 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Ola Belle Reed Collection, 1969-1979 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn A Celebration of the Life of Studs Terkel Media Burn Independent Video Archive
Relation Name
associatedWith American Folklife Center corporateBody
associatedWith American Museum of Vaudeville corporateBody
associatedWith Arnold, Rus, 1909-1973. person
correspondedWith Ashford, Paul. person
associatedWith Barbara (Rosner) Seaman, 1935- person
associatedWith Beckhorn, Susan. person
associatedWith Belfrage, Cedric, 1904- person
associatedWith Bluestein, Gene, 1928- person
associatedWith Breathe Again corporateBody
associatedWith Breathe Again. corporateBody
correspondedWith Broadside. corporateBody
associatedWith Camp Kinderland (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.). corporateBody
associatedWith Carawan, Guy, 1927-2015 person
associatedWith Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Cohen, Ronald D., 1940- person
associatedWith Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell. corporateBody
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
correspondedWith Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995. person
associatedWith Cullen, Frank, 1936- person
associatedWith Darling, Erik. person
associatedWith Dear, John, 1959- person
associatedWith Durr, Virginia Foster. person
associatedWith Earl, Martha M., 1914- person
associatedWith E. Y. Harburg person
associatedWith Faier, Billy. person
associatedWith Ferris, William R. person
associatedWith Folkstreams.net. corporateBody
associatedWith Fuld, James J., 1916- person
associatedWith Gahr, David., 1922-2008 person
associatedWith George Washington University Lisner Auditorium corporateBody
associatedWith Harburg, E. Y. (Edgar Yipsel), 1896-1981. person
associatedWith Highlander Folk School (Monteagle, Tenn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Holly Near, 1949- person
associatedWith Horton, Myles, 1905-1990, person
associatedWith Horton, Zilphia, 1910-1956. person
associatedWith Huddle, John T. person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Jackson, Esther Cooper person
associatedWith Jackson, James E., 1914-2007. person
associatedWith Jerome, V. J. (Victor Jeremy), 1896-1965. person
associatedWith Johnson, Becky. person
associatedWith Kennedy, Stetson, person
associatedWith Kenton, Gary, 1950- person
associatedWith Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Kingston Trio. corporateBody
associatedWith Kopple, Barbara. person
correspondedWith Kramer, Aaron, 1921- person
associatedWith Kramer, Aaron, 1921- person
associatedWith Kuralt, Charles, 1934-1997 person
associatedWith Labor Research Association (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lampell, Millard, 1919-1997. person
associatedWith Lumsden family. family
associatedWith Mackay, Kathleen, 1948- person
correspondedWith Mary Elting, Franklin Folsom, and Michael Folsom person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McNeilly, Donald, 1945- person
associatedWith National Museum of African American History and Culture (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith Newman, Harold, 1903- person
correspondedWith New Yorker Magazine, Inc corporateBody
correspondedWith O'Connor, Jessie Lloyd, 1904- person
associatedWith Ortiz, Bobbye S. person
associatedWith People's Song Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Pfeiffer, John, 1920- person
associatedWith Porter, Marjorie Lansing. person
associatedWith Prago, Albert person
associatedWith Raymond, Tom, 1947- corporateBody
associatedWith Reed, Ola Belle. person
associatedWith Reiss, Sam. person
correspondedWith Rivers, Charles, 1904-1993 person
associatedWith Rivers, Charles, ca. 1905-1993. person
associatedWith Rubinstein, Annette T. (Annette Teta), 1910-2007. person
associatedWith Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980, person
associatedWith Schrader, Art, person
associatedWith Seaman, Barbara. person
associatedWith Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969. person
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Steiner, Stan. person
associatedWith Stetin, Sol person
associatedWith Sullivan, Patricia, 1950- person
associatedWith Tamiment Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Thompson, Harold William, 1891-1964. person
associatedWith United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. Local 610 (Wilmerding, Pa.) corporateBody
correspondedWith United Farm Workers of America. Administration Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Wald, George. person
associatedWith Walton, Marion person
associatedWith Walton, Marion, b. 1899. person
memberOf Weavers (Musical group) corporateBody
associatedWith Willard, Nancy. person
correspondedWith Williams, Claude Clossey, 1895-1979. person
associatedWith Woody Guthrie Foundation. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Manhattan NY US
Manhattan NY US
Subject
Activism and social reform
Folk music
Occupation
Singers
Folk singers
Social Activist
Songwriters
Activity

Person

Birth 1919-05-03

Death 2014-01-27

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 85604639