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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)Lora Settle, Graduate Student, and Kira Dietz, Archivist
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives ( specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
The collection is open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Carter/Cash Family Collection, Ms2009-090, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The initial materials for the Carter/Cash Family Collection were purchased by Special Collections in June 2009. Additional materials were purchased by Special Collections in two further accruals during July and August 2009.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the initial Carter/Cash Family Collection materials commenced and was completed in June 2009. The processing, arrangement, and description of accruals was completed in August 2009.
In the early 1900s, "hillbilly" music was being recorded in studios in northern states. The distance from the mountains of Tennessee and Virginia made it difficult for musicians to record their music. Ralph Peer–a producer for Victor Talking Machine Company in Bristol, Tennessee–decided to take advantage of this booming genre of music by establishing a recording studio on the second floor of the Taylor-Christian Hat Company on State Street in Bristol. In 1927, Peer recorded several songs with musicians that, to this day, are still regarded as the mothers and fathers of country music. Ralph Peer is also credited with discovering Jimmie Rodgers–one of country music's legends–at the Bristol Sessions.
In response to Peer's call for musicians, Alvin Pleasant "A.P." Delaney Carter, his wife, Sara Doughtery Carter, and his sister-in-law, Maybelle Kilgore Addington Carter traveled to Bristol to record their music. The Carter Family recorded six songs and soon became known as the "first family" of country music. The Carter Family continued to grow in size and musical talent. Maybelle Carter and her husband Ezra (A.P's brother) were the parents of June (1929-2003), Helen (1927-1998), and Anita (1933-1999), who later performed as the Carter Sisters. Although Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was, arguably, one of the most influential country music artists of all time, his music broke the boundaries of traditional country music, spilling over into other genres including blues, gospel, and rock and roll. Since his marriage to June Carter in 1968, he has been considered a member of the Carter family musicians.
For additional information on the Carter and Cash families, see the following:
Birthplace of Country Music website
Streissguth, Micheal . Johnny Cash: The Biography . Cambridge, MA: Da Cape Press, 2006. Newman Library 3
Zwonitzer, Mark . Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music. New York: Simon & Schuster, c2002. Newman Library 3
The Carter/Cash Family Collection contains memoirs written by Janette Carter and Gladys Millard (daughters of A.P. and Sara), biographies, discographies, sheet music, and a compact disc recording titled The Original Carter Family in Texas (1999). In addition to this material, the collection includes programs from the Carter Family Memorial Festival and Craft Show (2000, 2002-2004, and 2008), funeral services for second generation Carter musicians and Johnny Cash, and special events at the Carter Family Fold. The Carter/Cash Family Collection also contains photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, and memorabilia, such as Maybelle's hunting and fishing license (1975) and a Carter Fold volunteer badge.
The collection is arranged in three series: Series I: Memoirs and Biographies, Series II: Memorabilia, and Series III: Newspaper and Magazine Articles.
Series I: Memoirs and Biographies, 1980-2005, n.d. This series includes two memoirs written by Janette Carter (1983, 2005). The earliest of these two memoirs is autographed by Janette and Joe Carter, and the more recent memoir is autographed by Janette Carter, Flo (A.P. and Sara's first grandchild, the daughter of Gladys) and Johnny Wolfe (Flo's husband), and Dale (Janette's son) and Teresa Jett (Dale's wife). This series also contains a memoir written about A.P. Carter by Gladys Millard (n.d.), as well as a collection of Carter Family sheet music with a biography written by Johnny Cash (1980). This series is arranged chronologically.
Series II: Memorabilia, 1941-2008, n.d. This series is comprised primarily of items relating to the Carter family's music, programs of events involving the family, and photographs. The series has been divided into the following five subseries:
Subseries A: Discographies, n.d. This subseries includes two discographies of the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle, one of which includes performances with Chet Atkins. It is likely that these discographies were meant to accompany audio recordings of the listed songs. This subseries is arranged by material type.
Subseries B: Music, 1944-1999, n.d. This subseries includes two books of sheet music (1944, n.d.) and a compact disc recording titled The Original Carter Family in Texas (1999). This subseries is arranged by material type.
Subseries C: Programs, 2000-2008, n.d. This subseries includes programs from the 26
Subseries D: Photographs, 2002, n.d. This subseries contains an undated photograph of the original Carter Family, a small portrait of Maybelle (n.d.), and two photographs taken at the Carter Fold, including one of Johnny Cash and one of June Carter Cash (2002). This subseries is arranged chronologically, with the undated material first.
Subseries E: Miscellaneous, c.1940-2004, n.d. This subseries includes Sara Carter's Musicians' Protective Association Card (c.1940), Maybelle Carter's hunting and fishing license (1975), and a scrapbook page dated May 29, 2004, that features a magazine clipping of the original Carter Family that is signed by Carlene Carter (June's daughter), Connie Smith, and John Carter Cash (Johnny and June's son). In addition, this sub-series also includes A.P.'s "Bible Questions and Answers" booklet (n.d.), Maybelle's Holiday Inn "Inner Circle" card (n.d.), a Carter Fold volunteer badge (n.d.), and a collectible seat cushion from the Carter Fold (n.d.). This subseries is arranged by material type.
Series III. Newspaper and Magazine Articles, 1991-2009. This series includes eight newspaper articles from the Kingsport, Tennessee, Times News , as well as three GoTricities special publications from the Times News . The series also includes two newspaper articles from the Bristol Herald Courier and one special supplemental publication from the Scott County, Virginia, Star . Although most of these articles discuss the public response to the death of Joe D. Carter, Janette Carter, June Carter Cash, and Johnny Cash, some discuss the impact of the Carter Family in their respective communities, as well as the country music genre. This series also contains an issue of Life that celebrates the life of A.P. Carter and an issue of People that pays tribute to Johnny Cash. This series is arranged chronologically.
The following books have been separated to the Rare Book Collection:
Cash, June Carter . Among My Klediments . Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979. Spec Large ML420.C2653 A3 c.2
Wolfe, Charles K. , June Carter Cash , Johnny Cash , A. P. Carter , Sara Carter , Maybelle Carter , and Jimmie Rodgers . The Carter Family: In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain . [Hambergen, Germany]: Bear Family Records, 2000. Spec Large ML394.C3 W65 2000
Zwonitzer, Mark and Charles Hirshberg . Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music. New York: Simon & Schuster, c2002. Spec Large ML421.C33 Z86 2002 c.2
The guide to the Carter/Cash Family Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).