Guides to the Collections in the Archive of Folk Culture THE CHICAGO ETHNIC ARTS PROJECT COLLECTION AFC 1981/004 Library of Congress American Folklife Center January 1995 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Library of Congress American Folklife Center THE CHICAGO ETHNIC ARTS PROJECT COLLECTION AFC 1981/004 SUMMARY The Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection consists of audio recordings, photographs, manuscript materials, publications, ephemera, and accompanying documentation related to the 1977 Chicago Ethnic Arts Project field survey. At the request of the Illinois Arts Council, the American Folklife Center assessed and documented the status of ethnic art traditions in more than twenty ethnic communities in Chicago. Fourteen professional folklorists conducted the fieldwork, interviewing artists, talking with community leaders, and documenting the arts through still photographs and audiotape recordings. The final project report presented to the Illinois Arts Council summarized the current conditions and folk arts needs in these communities. Materials from post-project activities such as workshops in the ethnic communities and a traveling photographic exhibit are included in the collection. ACCESS AND REPRODUCTION: Listening and viewing access to the collection is unrestricted. Duplication of the recorded materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions. KEY SUBJECTS: Communities activities; dance--performance, social, and folk; foodways; music--instrumental and vocal; religious celebrations; textile arts; and wood carving. Ethnic groups: African-American, Austrian, Chinese, Croatian, Cuban, Czech, Danish, Finnish, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Jewish, Korean, Latino, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Native American, Norwegian, Polish, Puerto Rican, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish, and Ukranian. LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS: Calabrese, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Neopolitan, Polish, Slovenian, Spanish, Ukranian Physical Description: Location Numbers: ---------------------------------------------------------------- Manuscripts 226 folders AUDIO RECORDINGS 99 reeks 7" at 7.5 ips, AFS 20,524-20,867 mono, DT stereo (reels and cassettes); RYA 0601-0845 (cassettes); 245 audiocassettes, RXA 1004-1098, mono and stereo 1353-1356 (reels) 344 audiocassettes AFS 20,524-20,867 (Listening copies) GRAPHIC MATERIALS 275 b&w negative rolls (9,900 images) 275 b&w contact sheets 187 b&w photoprints 118 matted b&w photoprints 118 reference slides of photoprints (2 sets) 251 holders, color transparencies (approx. 3,800 images) 13 holders, reference fiches MOVING IMAGES 2 videocassettes 3/4" sound, color AFC1981/004:V1-V2 (Original copies) _________________________________________________________________ SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection contains the audiorecordings, photographs, publications, ephemera, and accompanying manuscript materials associated with the 1977 survey of ethnic artistic expression in Chicago conducted by the American Folklife Center. The Center undertook the project on behalf of the Illinois Arts Council, following a directive from the Illinois legislature to increase programming for ethnic arts. The purpose of the survey was to assess living ethnic art traditions in a contemporary urban American setting. This was accomplished by examining factors such as history, transmission, social structures, and individual artists' lives. The final project report, which summarized the status of existing ethnic arts and provided recommendations for future support, was submitted to the Illinois Arts Council for use in program planning. The project occurred between February and November 1977 and involved three phases: initial planning and background research, fieldwork in Chicago, and analysis and preparation of the final report. It was organized by Center director Alan Jabbour and staff members Elena Bradunas and Carl Fleischhauer. Research assistants Carol Armbruster and Peter Bartis prepared background material. Greta Swenson coordinated the fieldwork in Chicago; Jonas Dovydenas served as photographer and media specialist. Fieldworkers included fourteen professional folklorists and cultural specialists. After the collection was arranged and housed, Lucy Long prepared a detailed inventory. The ethnic groups studied during the project were chosen according to two criteria: representation in the 1970 census and the availability of a professional cultural expert for that group. Fieldworkers spent one to three weeks interviewing community leaders and artists and documenting various arts and activities. The fieldworkers compiled information on the following ethnic groups: African-American, Austrian, Chinese, Croatian, Cuban, Czech, Danish, Finnish, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Jewish, Korean, Latino, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Native American, Norwegian, Polish, Puerto Rican, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish, and Ukranian. Subjects best represented in the collection include instrumental and vocal music, performance, social and folk dance, textile arts, foodways, religious celebrations, wood carving, and community activities such as social club meetings and neighborhood gatherings. Two smaller projects resulted from the survey; materials from both are included in the collection. The first project was a series of concurrent weekend workshops held in November 1977 in seven Chicago ethnic communities: Greek, Irish, Italian, Latino, Lithuanian, South Slavic, and Ukrainian. Conducted by project fieldworkers who surveyed those groups, the workshops focused on community cultural preservation. The second project was an exhibit of photographs taken by Jonas Dovydenas during the fieldwork. "Inside Our Homes, Outside Our Windows" was mounted at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art in 1979 and at several other venues in 1980. The collection not only documents the lifespan of the project and recommendations presented to the Illinois Arts Council, but also records and preserves the life histories and folk arts of specific urban ethnic communities in Chicago. The materials span the years 1976 to 1981, with the largest portion concerning the project in 1977. The collection is divided into four series by format: manuscripts, sound recordings, graphic material, and moving images. The inventory to the collection, photographic logs, and sound recordings concordance (materials not included in this register) provide detailed descriptions of the contents. SERIES I: MANUSCRIPTS The manuscript materials provide supporting documentation for the entire project, including the follow-up workshops and the photographic exhibit. Documents pertaining to the planning and administration of these activities are found here. Publications such as books, brochures, articles, maps, and so forth provide background on Chicago and specific ethnic groups. Documentation includes fieldnotes, daily journals, logs describing the content of the photographs and sound recordings made during the fieldwork, and related ephemera. This series also contains summaries and reports on the project, including a final copy of _A Report on the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project_. SERIES II: SOUND RECORDINGS This series includes the 344 audiocassettes and reel-to-reel tapes used to document the fieldwork undertaken. They provide a record of interviews, music, and social events. The series also includes selected recordings from the entire set. Logs that identify the content of the recordings are found in Series I. SERIES III: GRAPHIC IMAGES More than 13,000 images document the fieldwork performed in Chicago. They include black and white negative rolls, contact sheets, and miscellaneous photoprints. Color transparencies and reference fiches are also included. The series also contains photographs taken during the workshops, as well as slides documenting the installation of the photographic exhibit, the matted photoprints themselves, and reference slides of the photoprints. Logs describing the content of the field photographs are found in Series I. SERIES VI: MOVING IMAGES This series contains two videocassettes related to the photographic exhibit, "Inside Our Houses, Outside Our Windows." One describes the exhibit and the other contains remarks by the photographer, Jonas Dovydenas. Logs of these videotapes can be found in Series I. ----------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SERIES (1) SERIES I: MANUSCRIPTS Location Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------- Folders A-C Archive of Folk Culture administrative materials. The collection register [this document], accession log, original and copy of the collection inventory. ADMINISTRATION Folders 1-9 Planning: Pre-project background materials; project proposal; travel/media budgets; grant agreement; planning correspondence; research schedule; coordinator's appointment book; miscellaneous. Folders 10-29 Fieldworkers: Blank contracts; addresses and schedules; contracts and resumes (arranged alphabetically by fieldworker). Folders 30-41 Actual project expenses: Ledger; bank statements; expenditures; bills; honorariums; coordinator's weekly reports and analyses. Folders 42-46 Publicity and press releases: Press contacts; correspondence; media coverage. Folders 47-51 Correspondence: Coordinator's administrative correspondence; between Center and fieldworkers; between fieldworkers and contacts; general/miscellaneous. Folders 52-57 Project contacts: Lists of possible contacts; address labels; certificate recipients; blank certificates; Consulates in Chicago; Chicago congressmen. Folder 58 Post-project materials: Notes and documents from the presentation by Alan Jabbour to the Illinois Arts Council. COLLECTED PUBLICATIONS AND EPHEMERA Folders 59-67 General information about Chicago--resource individuals and institutions. Loose publications General information about Chicago. Folders 68-72 General information about Chicago--ephemera. Folders 73-108 Information on specific ethnic groups: Materials arranged alphabetically by ethnic group. DOCUMENTATION Folders 109-25 Fieldnotes: Original fieldnotes arranged alphabetically by fieldworker. Folders 169-71 Black and white logs: Logs describing black and white images, arranged numerically by roll number and alphabetically by ethnic group; fieldworkers' notes for photo identification. Folder 172 Color logs: Logs describing color images arranged numerically by holder and alphabetically by ethnic group. Folders 173-92 Sound recordings--logs: Fieldworkers' sound recording logs (arranged alphabetically); reference and evaluative logs; selected transcribed quotes; annotations for selected sound recordings. Folders 193-95 Sound recordings--other: Copy of concordance; tape catalog; miscellaneous. REPORTS AND PRODUCTS Folders 196-210 Fieldworkers' reports: Reports submitted by fieldworkers (arranged alphabetically). Folders 211-28 Edited manuscripts: Sections of edited report manuscript arranged in final report order. Folder 229 Final report: _A Report on the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project_. Complete, bound report prepared by the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, January 1978. Folders 230-34 Other: Project progress report; assessment of sound recordings; artists suitable for festival appearances; report requests; photographic presentation sets. WORKSHOPS Folders 235-46 Administrative materials: Proposals; grant agreement; planning; publicity; invitations; mailing lists; correspondence; schedule; handouts; instructors' reports. Folders 247-54 Participants, miscellaneous notes: Workshop materials (arranged alphabetically by ethnic group). PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT Folders 255-69 Photographic exhibit: Proposals; budgets; arrangement; exhibit design; catalog; publicity; reception; travel; correspondence; videocasette logs. SERIES II: SOUND RECORDINGS Location Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------- AFS 20,524- 99 7" reels and 245 audiocassettes of original AFS 20,867 field recordings. Arranged by ethnic group /fieldworker. AFS 20,524-20,867; RYA 0601-0845; RXA 1004-1098, 1353-1356. Listening copies are available in the Folklife Reading Room. SERIES III: GRAPHIC IMAGES Location Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------- Albums 1-3 275 rolls of black and white negatives arranged numerically by roll number. Folders 126-45 275 black and white contact sheets arranged alphabetically by ethnic group. Folders 146-68 275 black and white contact sheets (identical to those in folders 126-145) arranged numerically by roll number. Boxes 15-17 187 miscellaneous 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 black and white photoprints. Map drawers 118 matted photoprints used in the exhibit. Trays 1-248G Color transparencies (approximately 3,800 images) (holders)arranged alphabetically by ethnic group. Also includes workshops, exhibit installation, and exhibit reference transparencies. Trays 249-61 Reference copies of color transparencies. SERIES IV: MOVING IMAGES Location Contents --------------------------------------------------------------- Box 18 One 3/4" sound, color unedited videotape of remarks by Jonas Dovydenas on the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project. December 1980. AFC 1981/004:V1. Box 18 One 3/4" sound, color videotape program used at the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs installation of the photo exhibit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 1981. AFC 1981/004:V2. (1) See collection inventory (Folder B) for complete descriptions and concordances. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ARTICLES ABOUT THE COLLECTION American Folklife Center, "Chicago Project Highlights." _Folklife Center News_ I, no. 2 (April 1978): 3, 8. ______________, "Chicago's Ethnic Communities and Their Artistic Expression." _Folklife Center News_ I, no. 1 (January 1978): 6-7. Boyer, Bruce Hatton. "Ethnic Folk Arts in Contemporary Chicago." _Chicago History: The Magazine of the Chicago Historical Society_ X, no. 4 (Winter 1981-1982): 248-255. "Chicago Ethnic Project to Study Traditions." _Library of Congress Information Bulletin_, 36 no. 6. April 22, 1977: 1-2. Melville, Annette, "Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection." In _Special Collections in the Library of Congress_, 61. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1980. ---------------------------------------------------------------- APPENDIX A DANCE-RELATED CONTENT BY ETHNIC GROUP from _A Report on the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project_ January, 1978 Page numbers refer to _A Report on the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project_. Additional information may be found in the unedited fieldworkers' reports, folders 196 to 210 (arranged alphabetically by fieldworker). AFRICAN-AMERICAN ("AFRO-AMERICAN") -- Ralph Metcalfe p. 27 Darlene Blackburn -- traditional African dance ASIAN -- Chungmoo Choi Korean: p. 70 YMCA folk dance group pp. 74-75 Mrs. SooHyang Hong (Lee) -- dancer p. 75 Mrs. BongHee Stephens (Ma) -- dancer Japanese: pp. 81-82 Mrs. Hideyumi Fujino -- classic and folk dance Philippino: pp. 84-85 Philippine Week -- music and dance programs; children's talent show Indian: p. 86 Mrs. R. Nanjappa -- teaches Indian folk dance IRISH -- Mick Moloney pp. 162-165 Step dancing: "high art tradition;" social dancing; St. Patrick's Day pp. 181-182 Denis & Margie Dennehy pp. 182-184 Pat Roche pp. 184-185 Peggy Roche Boyle ITALIAN -- Elizabeth Mathias p. 204 folk dancing p. 208-209 Pompeo Stillo -- folk dance LATINO -- Philip Brandt George Philippino: pp. 286-287 Philippine Dance Arts Group directed by Julie Borromeo Guatemala: p. 294 Mrs. Catalina Garcia -- Ballet Monja Blanca Panama: p. 295-297 Victor Magallon -- folk dancer LITHUANIAN -- Elena Bradunas p. 307 Saturday Schools -- folk dance ensembles for children 10 folk dance groups, H.S. and college pp. 308-309 Youth Center -- folk dances, dance groups pp. 312-313 Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival NATIVE AMERICAN -- Roberta Fiske p. 341-342 Pow wow, November 1976 -- fancy dress dance contest POLISH -- Susan Kalcik p. 355 Polish Women's Alliance of America -- dance classes p. 356 Polish Highlanders -- perform dance music p. 360 Konstanti Siemaczko -- teaches dancing SCANDINAVIAN -- Jens Lund Danish: p. 385 Danish American Athletic Club -- folk dancing SOUTH SLAVIC -- Richard March p. 438 Tamburitza music and dance groups pp. 445-446 Gordana Trbuhovic-Grasa -- Yugoslav music and dance ----------------------------------------------------------------- APPENDIX B DANCE-RELATED PHOTOGRAPHS BY ETHNIC GROUP Researcher/ Photographer Description ----------------------------------------------------------------- AFRICAN-AMERICAN ("AFRO-AMERICAN") Ralph Metcalfe/ Darlene Blackburn Dance Troupe Jonas Dovydenas performing at the Museum of Science and Industry " Theresa's Lounge; social dancing ASIAN Chungmoo Choi/ Japanese folk dance instruction, Jonas Dovydenas Chicago Buddhist Temple; rehearsal for performance " Mrs. BongHee (Ma) Stephens in Korean dance costume with instruments " Korean and Phillipino dancers performing at Civic Center Plaza Ethnic Dance Festival " Indian Temple dance at Ethnic Dance Festival; Korean dancers preparing, on stage Jonas Dovydenas Polynesian (Hawaiian?) dancers at Buddhist Temple street fair GERMAN Anthony Hellenberg/ Chicago Zither Club Concert dinner- Jonas Dovydenas dance, Golden Tiara Hall: folk dance by the Donauschwaben Club " German event at the D.A.N.K. Haus: Transylvanian and German dance groups IRISH Mick Moloney/ Denis & Margie Dennehy with their dance Jonas Dovydenas trophies " Pre-Fleadh Ceili at the Garden of Eden: audience, musicians, dancers JEWISH Jonas Dovydenas Wedding reception of Gail and Warren Kasztel; social dancing; "making the bride and groom happy" by dancing with them LATINO Jonas Dovydenas "Sweet Sixteen" party for Puerto Rican girl; social dancing Philip George/ Jonas Dovydenas Dancers at El Romance Club LITHUANIAN Elena Bradunas/ Dancing at wedding reception of Emilija Jonas Dovydenas Pakstas and Romas Sakadolskis at Pakstas Hall " Knights of Columbus picnic; social dancing POLISH Susan Kalcik/ Picnic at Polonia Grove and Ballroom; Carl Fleischhauer polka dancing " _Dances of Poland_ by Stefan Zielinski; cover of album "Dances of Poland," Polish All Stars Susan Kalcik/ Children performing in costume on Jonas Dovydenas graduation day, St. Vladislav's School SOUTH SLAVIC Richard March/ Dancing at (Serbian) wedding reception Jonas Dovydenas of Tom and Joyce Todorovic at the Holiday Inn, Elk Grove " Dancing at picnic, Yugoslav Benevolent and Pleasure Club, to "The Continentals" Richard March/ Openac Yugoslav Folklore Group at dinner Carl Fleischhauer celebration, Ferrara Manor banquet hall, Continental Night Club (Croatian) Jonas Dovydenas Dancing at Europe at Night (nightclub for displaced Yugoslavians) " Dancing during St. Jerome's Annual Parish Festival (Croatian) ----------------------------------------------------------------- APPENDIX C DANCE-RELATED SOUND RECORDINGS BY ETHNIC GROUP For more information, see the recordings concordance in the inventory, pp. 49-77. An asterisk (*) indicates that parts of the interview are transcribed and found in folder 191, "George's Transcribed Quotes." Logs of recordings are found in folders 173 to 192 (arranged alphabetically by fieldworker). AFS number Subject(s) or event Topics covered ----------------------------------------------------------------- AFRICAN AMERICAN ("AFRO-AMERICAN") -- Ralph Metcalfe AFS 20,644 Darlene Blackburn, Asar Ha-pi Dance troupe, African dance in Chicago ASIAN -- Chungmoo Choi AFS 20,735 AFS 20,739 AFS 20,740 Mrs. SooHyang Hong Korean dance AFS 20,745 Mrs. Bong Hee Stephens Korean dance AFS 20,746 AFS 20,747 Tom & Hideyumi Fujino Japanese folk dance IRISH -- Mick Moloney AFS 20,578 AFS 20,579 Noel Rice Competitions, teaching, Chicago dance scene AFS 20,580* Denis & Margie Dennehy Bios, schools, competitions, the dance AFS 20,582* AFS 20,583 Mary McDonagh &Terry Teahan Dancing, competitions, schools AFS 20,585* Peggy Roche Boyle Bio, father, competitions, teaching, the dance AFS 20,593* Pat Roche Bio, dance history, Chicago dance scene ITALIAN -- Elizabeth Mathias AFS 20,725 AFS 20,726 Pompeo Stillo Italian folk dance and music AFS 20,728 Pasquale Sottile Italian music and dance POLISH -- Susan Kalcik AFS 20,788 Jeanette & Alvin Sajewski Polka and other dance music and books AFS 20,792 Collete & Kanstanti Siemaczko Teaching dance as part of the Saturday School AFS 20,794 AFS 20,795 St. Vladislav's Hall Saturday School Graduation (see "photographs" table) AFS 20,800 Polonia Grove & Ballroom Polka music (see "photographs"table) SCANDINAVIAN -- Jens Lund AFS 20,597 Ray Nilsen Norwegian folk dancing SOUTH SLAVIC -- Richard March AFS 20,699* AFS 20,670* AFS 20,701 Gordana Trbuhovich-Grasa Bio, dancing group history, dancing groups in Chicago (see "photographs" table)