Woody Guthrie Archives: Scrapbook 5 Clippings

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Woody Guthrie Archives: Scrapbook 5 Clippings

Below is the finding aid that contextualizes and inventories this special collection at the Woody Guthrie Center Archives. Interested researchers must fill out an application prior to scheduling an appointment with the archivist.

 

Collection Processed by: Jorge Arévalo Mateus, PhD

Collection Guide Prepared by: Original finding aid was prepared by Jorge’ Arevalo Mateus, PhD; updated by Lisa Iannucci, Intern & Tiffany Colannino, Archivist – Woody Guthrie Archives. August, 2012; updated by Melissa Kunz, June 2014

Date range:

1929-1990 (1967, bulk)

Extent:

0.33 linear feet (1 box)

Provenance:

Marjorie Guthrie & offices of Harold Leventhal

Scope and Content:

Scrapbook 5 (five) was assembled in the offices of Woody Guthrie’s manager, Harold Leventhal, during the 1970s or 1980s, and includes original and photocopied correspondence, flyers, periodical articles, newspaper clippings, photographs, programs, artwork, and other miscellaneous papers related to Woody Guthrie’s life and musical legacy.

This scrapbook was assembled for the purpose of documenting the life and artistic legacy of Woody Guthrie, as reflected in his own activities and as documented by the media. Due to acid-migration from original backing papers, the original contents of scrapbook are in fragile condition.

Of note, this scrapbook contains original correspondence written or received by Harold Leventhal and Marjorie Mazia [Guthrie]; articles written by Guthrie; original flyers and programs for theatrical, folk music, and dance performances; magazine and newspaper clippings relating to many aspects of Woody Guthrie’s life, including efforts to preserve his childhood home, and obituaries from a variety of sources. Other materials include items related to Woody Guthrie media projects, proclamations, and yearbook excerpts.

Language:

Material entirely in English.

Access Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions for this collection.

Use Restrictions:

All materials is copyrighted to Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.

Arrangement:

The original contents of Scrapbook 5 are in fragile condition. To promote access to the collection, and ensure preservation of original fragile materials, all contents have been removed, photocopied, interfiled in acid free paper, and replaced in their original order in the scrapbook. Interfiled leaves have been assigned page numbers, ranging from 1 – 46, and original page and placement location has been noted on photocopied material. The original order of the scrapbook does not follow any particular theme or chronology.

Photocopied documents have been arranged chronologically by theme and re-housed in file folders alongside the original scrapbook. All photocopied material contains notation of original location, such that original context is not lost.

Related Materials:

The Harold Leventhal Collection of Business Papers contains duplicates of some of the material in Scrapbook 5, as well as additional related secondary materials documenting Guthrie’s life and legacy.

CONTAINER LIST:

All series are arranged chronologically. Undated items are placed at the end of the series and arranged alphabetically.

Scrapbook 5 (access copies) Box 1

 

SERIES 1: ARTWORK, UNDATED

 Folder 1 Consists of undated photocopies of original Woody Guthrie artwork generated for various projects.

 

SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE 1964-1988; UNDATED

Folder 2 Primarily letters to Marjorie Mazia in the early 1970s. Of note are two letters to Harold Leventhal: one from White House Chief Usher Rex Scouten regarding the Woody Guthrie Foundation’s donation of several Guthrie record albums to the White House Record Library, and a 1988 letter from Seema Weatherwax discussing her photographs of Guthrie taken in the 1940s.

 

SERIES 3: FLYERS, 1940 – 1979

 Folder 3  Consists primarily of flyers advertising Woody Guthrie appearances from 1940 – 1979. Of note is flyer promoting the 1940 “Grapes of Wrath” evening at which Guthrie first met Pete Seeger.

 

SERIES 4: MAGAZINE ARTICLES, 1944 – 1972

 Folder 4  Articles range from news tidbits to performance and book reviews and Guthrie profiles. Of note is Guthrie’s article about Cathy Ann Guthrie titled “Miss Stackabones” which appeared in Two to Six magazine, January 1947.

 

SERIES 5: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, CA.1942 – 1980

Articles range from coverage of 1940s Woody Guthrie concert appearances and profile pieces to discussions of his failing health, remembrances and obituaries, and coverage of efforts to establish and maintain his artistic legacy. Of note is coverage of the Guthrie family’s 1971 visit to Woody Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma for its first Guthrie birthday commemoration and of efforts to establish a national “Woody Guthrie Day.”
Folder 5  ca. 1942 – 1947
Folder 6  1960 – 1965
Folder 7  1966
Folder 8  May—August 1967
Folder 9  October – November 1967
Folder 10  1968 – 1970
Folder 11  March 19, 1971 – June 8, 1971
Folder 12  July 7, 1971 – July 11, 1971
Folder 13  July 12, 1971 – ca. July 14, 1971
Folder 14  July 15, 1971 – August 8, 1971
Folder 15  1972 – 1980; undated

 

SERIES 6: PHOTOGRAPHS, CA.1943 – 1966, UNDATED

 Folder 16 Primarily document the 1966 Washington DC ceremony at which Marjorie Guthrie accepted the U.S. Department of the Interior Conservation Service Award bestowed to Woody Guthrie by Interior Secretary Stewart L. Udall. Most are uncredited.

 

SERIES 7: PROGRAMS, 1940 – 1977

 Folder 17 Bulk are programs from the 1940s that document some of Woody Guthrie’s appearances in dance concerts. Of note are programs from the 1940 “Grapes of Wrath” evening and the 1968 Carnegie Hall “Musical Tribute to Woody Guthrie” that featured an appearance by Bob Dylan.

 

SERIES 8: OTHER (INCLUDES MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS), 1929 – CA.1990

 Folder 18 Items include 1929 Okemah High School yearbook excerpts, several proclamations regarding Woody Guthrie, and Guthrie-related Congressional Record excerpts. Of note are original liner notes booklet written by Guthrie that was included with his 1940 Dust Bowl Ballads record, a 1966 newsletter published by the Guthrie Children’s Trust Fund that documents the bestowal of the Department. of Interior Conservation Service Award upon Guthrie, and the script of a 1971 Walter Cronkite broadcast for the CBS Radio Network in which he supports efforts to establish a national “Woody Guthrie Day.”