Skip to main content

OFN Columbia River Gorge Folklife and Traditional Arts Survey records

 Collection
Identifier: OFN 008

Scope and Contents note

This collection comprises folklore fieldwork documentation created by the Oregon Folklife Network in a survey of folk and traditional arts in seven Oregon counties along the Columbia River Gorge in 2014 and 2015. The Columbia River Gorge Folklife and Traditional Arts Survey is one of the several surveys the organization has completed since 2012. Fieldwork documentation includes color photographs and interview sound recordings, as well as media logs and artist data sheets, documenting 76 traditional artists, organizations, and events.

Folklorist Nancy Nusz worked in Hood River County, Wasco County, Jefferson County, Sherman County, and Morrow County in March and April 2015. Folklorist Debbie Fant worked in Morrow County and Umatilla County in September 2014 and May 2015. Oregon Folklife Network Director Riki Saltzman and folklore students Jules Helweg-Larson, Nikki Silvestrini, and Josh Ehlers participated in selected interviews and also contributed fieldwork documentation.

The survey documented the following traditional arts (and artists) associated with regional occupations and avocations: wheat farming and ranching (Sam Seale, Donna and Paul Bates, Jamie Wilson and Cathy Brown, Jeanne Carver, William Ketchum, Nancy Gibson), saddle making and leatherworking (Ron Wilson, John Reser, Justin Thorson, Joe Meling, Tod Frusetta), fly tying and fly fishing (Travis Duddles, John Garrett), boot and hat making (Richard Stapleman, Laura Wortman, George Ziermann), farrier work (Chris Rosenberg), and sheep shearing (Greg Cortaberria).

The survey also documented Mexican foodways (Maria Diaz) and Mexican mariachi, banda, and norteno musics (Mario Luchino, Javier Reynoso, Juan Antonio Martinez and Mariachi Los Temerosos).

In Jefferson County Nusz documented traditional arts at the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indian Reservation, including beadwork (Marjorie Kalama, Rosie Tom), basketry (Bernyce Courtney, Natalie Kirk, Brigette McConville), foodways (Grace Ann Kalama, Sara Scott).

In Umatilla County Fant documented traditions and tradition bearers at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, including weaving and beading (Thomas Morning Owl), first foods and foodways (Wenix Red Elk), and dance and jingle dresses (Acosia Red Elk).

Photographs include portraits of artists, as well as images of arts and crafts, tools and supplies, process and techniques, and workshops and workrooms. Artist data sheets completed by fieldworkers include biographical data and descriptions of the tradition and how it was learned.

Dates

  • 2014-2015

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open to the public.

Collection may be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.

Conditions Governing Use note

Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

The Oregon Folklife Network is Oregon’s statewide folklife program and includes partners at state and local levels that document, support, and celebrate traditions arts and tradition bearers in Oregon. The Oregon Folklife Network is based at the University of Oregon and produces publications, museum exhibits, public events, folklife fieldwork, and documentary collections. Since 2012, it has been engaged in a survey of folk and traditional arts and artists in Oregon. Survey documentation is held at the University of Oregon’s Libraries and Special Collections and University Archives.

Statewide supporters are the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon State Library, and Oregon Heritage Commission. Community partners include Oregon Tribes, community-based cultural organizations, museums, regional cultural alliances, local arts agencies, K12 schools, universities and colleges, and public libraries. The Oregon Folklife Network succeeds the Oregon Folklife Program, which provided statewide services supporting folklife and traditional arts in Oregon from 1977 to 2009 at the Oregon Arts Commission, next at Lewis and Clark College, and then at the Oregon Historical Society.

Extent

2225 digital file(s)

Abstract

The Oregon Folklife Network is Oregon's folklife and traditional arts program and includes culture and heritage partners that operate on state and local levels to document, support, and celebrate Oregon's cultural traditions. This collection comprises folklore fieldwork documentation, newsletter articles, and public presentations created by the Oregon Folklife Network and professional folklorists Nancy Nusz, Debbie Fant, and Riki Saltzman in a survey of folk and traditional arts in six Oregon counties along the Columbia River Gorge in 2014 and 2015. Fieldwork documentation is in digital file formats and includes 1,885 color photographs and six interview sound recordings, as well as media logs and artist data sheets, documenting 76 traditional artists, organizations, and events in Hood River County, Wasco County, Jefferson County, Sherman County, Morrow County, and Umatilla County.

Arrangement note

Collection is organized into series by fieldworker and arranged chronologically by interview date.

Materials for each fieldworker are organized by county and artist. Documentation for each artist is arranged by format: texts, photographs, and sound recordings. Texts include media logs for photographs and sound recordings, release forms signed by the artist, final reports, and artist data sheets.

Interview List

  1. Joe Meling interview - Leather Worker, September 9, 2014
  2. Richard Stapleman interview – Bootmaker, September 9, 2014
  3. Laura Wortman interview - Custom Hat Maker, September 9, 2014
  4. George Ziermann interview – Bootmaker, September 10, 2014
  5. Colleen Blackwood interview – Quilting, May 14, 2015
  6. Chad Courtney interview - Water Witching/Dowsing, May 15, 2015
  7. James Dean Kindle interview – Musician, May 15, 2015
  8. Barbara Nelson interview - Western Singer/Guitar Player, May 15, 2015
  9. Chris Rosenberg interview – Farrier, May 15, 2015
  10. Justin Thorson interview - Saddle Maker, May 15, 2015
  11. Clinton and Karen Reeder interview - Barn Tours, May 16, 2015
  12. Sandra Van Liew interview - Weaving, Sheep Ranching, May 16, 2015
  13. John Bevis and Katie BlackWolf Bevis interview - Beadwork, Horse Regalia, August 9, 2015
  14. Joey Lavadour interview - Basket Weaver, August 9, 2015
  15. Fred Hill interview - Drummer, Drum Maker, August 10, 2015
  16. Thomas Morning Owl interview - Traditional Dance, Basket Weaving, Hide Tanning, Healing Arts, August 10, 2015
  17. Jenny Morgan interview - Paper Cutter, August 12, 2015
  18. Linda Bisnett interview - Wheat Designs, August 13, 2015
  19. Margaret L. Johnson interview – Beadworking, August 14, 2015
  20. Wenix Red Elk interview - First Foods, Weaving, Beading, August 14, 2015
  21. Greg Cortaberria interview - Sheep Shearing , August 15, 2015
  22. Tod Frusetta interview - Saddle Maker, September 3, 2015
  23. Eric Jepsen interview – Fiddler, September 3, 2015
  24. Bob Stevens interview - Old Time Fiddler, September 3, 2015
  25. Mildred Baker interview – Quilting, September 5, 2015
  26. Cheryl Hobbs intervew – Quilting, September 5, 2015
  27. Acosia Red Elk interview - Jingle Dancer, August 12, 2016
  28. Larry Dick (Taaw-lee-winch) interview - Tule Mats, Deer Hoof Items, April 1, 2015
  29. Brigette McConville interview - Fishing, Basketry, Moccasins, Rodeo Skills, April 1, 2015
  30. Sara Scott interview - Root Digging, Leatherwork, Beadwork, April 1, 2015
  31. Maria Diaz interview - Mexican Foodways, April 17, 2015
  32. Damon R. Hulit interview - Fort Dalles Rodeo, April 17, 2015
  33. Phyllis and Bud Jones interview - Country Western Music, April 18, 2015
  34. Los Amigos de la Sierre interview - Mexican Norteño Music, April 18, 2015
  35. Jefferson Greene interview - Hand Drums, Canoe Traditions, Beadwork, Basketry, Language, April 2, 2015
  36. Jesus Vazquez interview - Mexican Foodways, April 2, 2015
  37. Grace Ann Kalama and Kalaman's Fry Bread interview - Native American Foodways, April 2, 2015
  38. Rosie Tom interview - Beadwork, Basketry, April 24, 2015
  39. Natalie Kirk interview – Basketry, April 3, 2015
  40. Merle Kirk interview - Language, Storytelling, Basketry, Beadwork, Dressmaking, Dentalia Work, April 3, 2015
  41. Yolanda Perez interview - Piñata Making, April 4, 2015
  42. Jeanne Carver/Empire Stock Ranch interview – Ranching, April 4, 2015
  43. Emma Jean Smith interview - Knitting, Sewing, Quilting, Storytelling, Gardening, Canning, April 4, 2015
  44. William Ketchum interview – Ranching, April 7, 2015
  45. Javier Reynoso interview - Norteño Music, April 7, 2015
  46. Nancy Gibson interview - Ranching, Dufur Threshing Bee, April 8, 2015
  47. Callista Howell interview - Rodeo Skills, Rodeo Queen, April 8, 2015
  48. Jamie Wilson and Cathy Brown interview - Ranching and Leatherwork, March 10, 2015
  49. Sidney "Sam" Seale interview - Ranching and Family Storytelling, March 11, 2015
  50. Frank Bettencourt interview - Woodworking , March 12, 2015
  51. Jonna Rattray interview - Western Artwork, March 12, 2015
  52. John Reser interview – Leatherworking, March 13, 2015
  53. Jane Galvin interview - Rug Braiding, March 14, 2015
  54. Donna and Paul Bates - Ranching and Wheat Farming, March 15, 2015
  55. Alene Rucker interview - Wheat Weaving and Quilting, March 15, 2015
  56. Opal Schmidt, Francie Morris, Kay West interview – Quilting, March 15, 2015
  57. Penny Eakin interview, March 16, 2015
  58. Ron Wilson interview – Leatherworking, March 16, 2015
  59. Joe Dabulskis interview – Taxidermy, March 17, 2015
  60. Austin Darbey interview – Kiteboarding, March 24, 2015
  61. Mario Luchino interview - Mexican Banda music, March 24, 2015
  62. Lisa Rodriguez interview - Horseback Riding, March 24, 2015
  63. Matthews Family interview - African American Gospel Singing, March 26, 2015
  64. Ben Bohnam interview – Music, March 26, 2015
  65. Travis Duddles interview - Fly Tying and Fly Fishing, March 27, 2015
  66. John Garrett interview - Fly Tying and Fly Fishing, March 27, 2015
  67. Tom Herrera interview – Metalworking, March 27, 2015
  68. Mariachi Los Temerosos and Juan Antonio Martinez interview - Mariachi Music, March 29, 2015
  69. Bernyce Courtney interview - Wasco Sally Bags, March 31, 2015
  70. Marjorie Kalama interview – Beadwork, March 31, 2015
Title
Guide to the Oregon Follklife Network Columbia River Gorge Folklife and Traditional Arts Survey Records
Author
Nathan Georgitis; Eleanore Kohorn
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299 USA