Woody Guthrie’s Personal Record Collection

Collection Processed by: Jorge Arévalo Mateus, PhD

Collection Guide Prepared by: Original finding aid was prepared by Jorge’ Arevalo Mateus, PhD; updated by Hillel Arnold, December 2008; updated by Kate L. Blalack, July 2014.

Date Range:

1943-1949

Extent:

3.5 linear feet ( 6 boxes)

Provenance:

Marjorie Guthrie & offices of Harold Leventhal

Scope and Content:

Woody Guthrie’s Personal Record Collection consists of 30 albums (50 disks) personally owned by Guthrie, as well as Albums released by Guthrie, and represents an important component to the Archives. Guthrie himself annotated many of the record jackets, noting how he acquired the record, the date he received the album, and his thoughts on either the artist or the lyrics. In addition, many of Guthrie’s albums are adorned with his original artwork – doodles and drawings covering the liner notes of some of the record jackets.

Of particular note in this Collection is Guthrie’s copy of Lead Belly’s Musiccraft Corporation undated album entitled “Negro Sinful Songs sung by Lead Belly” (acc. #2008-110). This 4-disc album contains a love letter which Guthrie wrote to ‘Mama and Cathy’ on November 18 th, 1943. In this letter he discusses the different houses he has lived in with Marjorie (‘Mama’) and the way in which the music they played in each house changed the way it felt; proclaiming his love for ‘3520’, the home they shared on Mermaid Avenue. Guthrie ends his letter with the comments “gosh! What are folks gonna think when they look here and see such a long inscription? Well, we don’t care. At least I don’t. In a very few days I guess I’ll be shipping out again for my second time. I just want you to know that I love you – tonight. Woody.”

In addition, Guthrie’s copy of Asch Records’ “American Folksay Ballads and Dances” (acc. #2008-100), dates January 16 th , 1945, is noteworthy in that it contains extensive notes by Guthrie describing the evolution of his thoughts on the album, gained through listening to the record several times. At one point, Guthrie notes “I felt ashamed because I helped to make it. I wanted to melt the wax up and pour it back to the factory and my hands ached to grab all of the records off the market and toss them back to their moulds. It sounded so bad I wanted to just get up and run away somewhere and never come back.” However, Guthrie has a change of heart, likening the album to a “wild and fiery and rough and tumble” kid, which he appreciates more than the smooth and quiet kids. Following his introduction is a detailed description of the songs that he considers to be his favorites.

Language:

Materials Entirely in English

Access restrictions:

Many of the disks are extremely fragile and/or broken; these disks may not be played.

Access note:

The research value of these disks is in the personal art and annotations that Guthrie wrote on jackets and covers of the albums.

Use restrictions:

All materials are subject to copyright.

Arrangement:

Materials arranged numerically by accession number.

Related Materials:

Woody Guthrie Center’s Collection Guides

The Woody Guthrie Papers – Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Woody Guthrie Manuscript Collection, 1935-1950

Container Lists: