Sidney Robertson Cowell Recordings UC-1: George Vinton Graham

FW-ASCH-7RR-0938

CDR copy Tape Info: These tapes feature the singing of George Vinton Graham, of San Jose, CA -0938 was recorded in Oct. 12 1938, and -0939 was recorded on Dec. 3, 1938, both by Sydney Robertson Cowell. Mr. Graham sings traditional ballads, e.g., Barbara Allen, and other traditional songs, plus a few old popular songs. He accompanies himself on guitar. FW-ASCH-7RR-0938 through FW-ASCH-7RR-0941 all feature Mr. Graham. Tape Box of -0938 says "UC-1," tape box for -0939 says "UC-2," and tape box for -0940 says UC-3. These three tapes, and the other related tapes, consist of dubs of 78's, many or all of which are in the possession of the CFCH Archives in the form of aluminum discs. In addition, the same recordings are at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress, where they've been incorporated into the Library's American Memory Project, available to the public on their website. There, a lot of additional information is available concerning these recordings and the performers, including transcriptions of many of the songs. From 1938 - 1940, Sydney Robertson Cowell, under the auspices of both the WPA (of President Roosevelt's New Deal) and the University of California - Berkeley, headed a project called the WPA Northern California Folk Music Project of which these recordings are a part. Thirty-five hours of music, in twelve languages, were recorded. For additional information about the Project as a whole and the songs on this and the related tapes (FW-ASCH-7RR-0938 through -0947, among others, go to the Library of Congress website: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afccchtml/cowhome.html.