Menu Expand Menu Close
Back to Top
Filter Search Expand Close Filter
Search Expand Search Close
["John D. Morris of Ivydale led an apprenticeship in old-time fiddle and stories of Clay County with Jen Iskow of Thomas as part of the 2018 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. John D. MorrisBorn in Ivydale, Clay County, into a family steeped in traditional music, David and John Morris learned from family and neighbors, including banjo player Jenes Cottrell and fiddler French Carpenter. After David returned from Vietnam in 1968, the brothers began organizing musical get-togethers and, in 1969, held the first Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival that same year. The festival became a major traditional music event in Clay County and filmmaker Bob Gates documented the 1972 festival in his film The Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival.Members of The Morris Brothers band included Pocahontas County old-time banjo player Dwight Diller and the late North Carolina harmonica player John Martin. Playing a mix of old-time, bluegrass, and country styles, including some of Davids original music, the group played together through the mid-70s, releasing an LP in the late 60s, Music As We Learned It, and two live shows on eight-track tapes. John, a traditional fiddler, and David, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, were involved in union and environmental activities from the late 1960s through the 1970s. They were also instrumental in establishing the first Vandalia Gathering at the Cultural Center in 1977.The Morris Brothers music was featured in Barbara Kopples 1976 film Harlan County, USA. David, who passed away in 2016, contributed music to Kopples 2015 film about Vietnam vets, Shelter.John lives in Ivydale and plays fiddle at music events across West Virginia. He is a rich source of information about the history of old-time music in central West Virginia, and one of the few native fiddlers of his generation to continue the older style of playing.Morris was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the nations highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, in 2020.Jen IskowJen Iskow is an artist, designer, musician, and community organizer based in Thomas, West Virginia. Born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, Jen grew up learning to play blues and punk music. It wasnt until she moved to Morgantown in 2009 for college that she was introduced to old-time music at the weekly Brew Pub jam hosted by Stewed Mulligan. After graduating from West Virginia University, she finally settled in Elkins, West Virginia and accepted a position as the Marketing Coordinator for the Augusta Heritage Center. Suddenly being surrounded by so many talented traditional artists, Jen was immersed into the music and inspired to learn to play fiddle. After studying under talented fiddlers such as Scott Prouty, Erynn Marshall, Jesse Wells, Ben Townsend, John Harrod, and more, Jen met John Morris at his house in Ivydale, and the rest is historySee our feature on Morris apprenticeship with Iskow here: https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

109. Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJenn.ArtistProfile.6.16.18
Title:
Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow
Date:
2018-06-16
Creator:
Iskow, Jen, Morris, John D.
Subject:
Clay County (W. Va.), Fiddle tunes, Apprenticeship programs, Old-time music, Fiddling, Banjo, Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Tucker County (W. Va.), Clay County (W. Va.)
["Angelita Nixon of Scott Depot in Putnam County is leading a 2020-2021 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship in home birth midwifery with Christine Weirick of Fayetteville. Nixon has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife since 2003 and has been a part of over 400 deliveries and taught multiple students the trade.Learn more about Nixon and Weiricks apprenticeship here: https://wvfolklife.org/2021/07/20/2021-folklife-apprenticeship-feature-angy-nixon-and-christine-weirick-home-birth-midwifery/The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers up to a $3,000 stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions.The apprenticeship program grants are administered by the West Virginia Folklife Program at the West Virginia Humanities Council in Charleston and are supported in part by an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. West Virginia Folklife is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, presentation, and support of West Virginias vibrant cultural heritage and living traditions."]%

110. Artist profile of Angelita "Angy" Nixon

Identifier:
4224.NixonAngy.ArtistProfile.7.15.21
Title:
Artist profile of Angelita "Angy" Nixon
Date:
2021-07-15
Creator:
Nixon, Angelita
Subject:
Midwives, Prenatal care, Childbirth at home, Midwives--Legal status, laws, etc., Midwifery, Apprenticeship programs, Women midwives
Location:
Putnam County (W. Va.), Scott Depot (W. Va.)
["Jay ONeal (b. Amarillo, TX) is a Charleston resident, history teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School, and one of the central organizers of the West Virginia Teacher Strike. He speaks about his role in the strike and the context of it within a broader labor movement."]%

111. Transcript of oral history of Jay O'Neal

Identifier:
4224.ONealJay.IntTranscript.3.20.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Jay O'Neal
Date:
2019-03-20
Creator:
O'Neal, Jay
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Labor union members, Charleston (W. Va.), Strikes and lockouts--Teachers
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["Doris Fields aka Lady D of Beckley led an apprenticeship in blues and Black gospel with Xavier Oglesby of Beckley as part of the 2018 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Xavier OglesbyBeckley, WVXavier Oglesby, a Beckley native, was raised in the black Pentecostal church, learning gospel music from his family. From 1997 to 2003, he hosted 545 Live, a gospel music radio show on Beckleys WJLS in Beckley. From 1997 to 2002 he was an actor and singer at Theatre West Virginia. He recently narrated voice-overs for the National Park Service New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. He currently works as a corrections officer.See our feature on Fields apprenticeship with Oglesby here: https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/"]%

112. Artist profile of Xavier Oglesby

Identifier:
4224.OglesbyXavier.ArtistProfile.6.19.18
Title:
Artist profile of Xavier Oglesby
Date:
2018-06-19
Creator:
Oglesby, Xavier
Subject:
Gospel music, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Rhythm and blues music, Apprenticeship programs, Soul music
Location:
Beckley (W. Va.), Raleigh County (W. Va.)
["Aaron Parsons, 20 years old at the time of this interview, is a native of Jackson County, WV. He makes turkey calls with materials (slate, native woods, bone, etc.) found on his familys land in Jackson County. He is also a hunter, trapper, fisher, and hide tanner. I met Aaron Parsons at the Community Interest Fair at Gilmore Elementary School in Sandyville, WV, back in the spring of 2016."]%

113. Transcript of oral history of Aaron Parsons

Identifier:
4224.ParsonsAaron.IntTranscript.11.9.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Aaron Parsons
Date:
2016-11-09
Creator:
Parsons, Aaron
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Hides and skins, Turning (Lathe work), Turkey hunting--Equipment and supplies, Turkey calls, Turkey hunting
Location:
Jackson County (W. Va.), Ravenswood (W. Va.)
["Levi Phillips, 68 at the time of the interview, is a former basketball player from Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in public housing in the Triangle District neighborhood and currently lives on Charlestons West Side. Levi was on the first all-Black integrated basketball team at West Virginia University, and played professional basketball with the Baltimore Bullets and the Philadelphia 76ers (his teammates were Wes Unseld and Julius Erving).Justin Phillips, 39, is Levis son, who was also a high school basketball player in West Virginia. He owns Fun Fitness and lives in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston, WV. Justins son was a high school state champion West Virginia basketball player like his grandfather.Levi and Justin Phillips were interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/Learn more about Levi Phillips career at WVU:https://wvusports.com/news/2020/12/1/mens-basketball-phillips-basket-a-part-of-wvu-coliseums-golden-history.aspxhttps://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/levi-phillips/12290"]%

114. Transcript of oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips

Identifier:
4224.PhillipsJustinPhillipsLevi.IntTranscript.11.22.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips
Date:
2019-11-22
Creator:
Phillips, Justin, Phillips, Levi
Contributor:
Henkin, Aaron, Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African American basketball players, Charleston (W. Va.), African Americans--Appalachian Region, Basketball, School integration, Urban renewal, Interracial friendship
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["Elaine (Moore) Purkey is an activist songwriter and musician from Harts Creek, West Virginia in Lincoln County. She was born on May 29, 1949, on the same piece of property where she still lives. She was raised in a family of musicians and flatfoot dancers and attributes her powerful voice to the acapella singing she learned as a member of the Church of Christ. As a teenager she played in bands with her brother, and in early adulthood she was the lead singer of a local country band. In the 1980s, she began performing regularly on the Wallace Horn Friendly Neighbors Show, a live radio program out of Logan County that has been on the air since 1967. She now hosts the show. Purkey wrote songs for the Pittston Coal Strike and Ravenswood Lockout and has performed at concerts and festivals across the continent. Her song \"One Day More\" written for the Ravenswood Lockout, is featured on the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings compilation Classic Labor Songs. Purkey is portrayed in the 2014 film Moving Mountains, based on a book by Penny Loeb. A proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Purkey teaches singing classes to children at the Big Ugly Community Center."]%

115. Oral history of transcript of Elaine Purkey

Identifier:
4224.PurkeyElaine.IntTranscript.10.27.16
Title:
Oral history of transcript of Elaine Purkey
Date:
2016-10-27
Creator:
Purkey, Elaine
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Folk music--West Virginia, Working class--Songs and music, Country music, Purkey, Elaine, Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--West Virginia, Coal mines and mining
Location:
Harts (W. Va.), Lincoln County (W. Va.)
["Henry Rice was born in Helvetia, West Virginia in 1978. He is the daughter of Catherine Irene Mailloux and grand-daughter of Eleanor Mailloux, the co-founder of the Hutte. His daughter, Morgan Rice, was also interviewed for this project. Henry Rice cooks for the Hutte Sunday buffet, and works in construction. He is also an avid hunter, trapper, ginseng and ramp digger, morel mushroom hunter, and a collector of old bottles and other artifacts.This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted with foodways practitioners in Helvetia, West Virginia, as part of the Helvetia Foodways Oral History Project in partnership with the Southern Foodways Alliance. Learn more: https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/helvetia-west-virginia/"]%

116. Transcript of oral history of Henry Rice

Identifier:
4224.RiceHenry.IntTranscript.4.30.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Henry Rice
Date:
2016-04-30
Creator:
Rice, Henry
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Canning and preserving, American ginseng, Cooking, Swiss, Wine and wine making--United States, Wild leek, Pickling, Deer hunting, Morels, Cheesemaking, foodways, Food habits, Restaurateurs, Turkey hunting, Tanning, Trapping, Hides and skins, Helvetia (W. Va.)
Location:
Helvetia (W. Va.)
["Morgan Rice was born in Helvetia, West Virginia in 1999. She is the daughter of Hutte cook Henry Rice, and great-granddaughter of town matriarch and co-founder of the Hutte restaurant, Eleanor Mailloux. Ms. Rice is a member of the Helvetia Farm Womens Club and works part-time as a waitress at the Hutte restaurant. In 2015 she created a petition to save Helvetias Ramp Supper.This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted with foodways practitioners in Helvetia, West Virginia, as part of the Helvetia Foodways Oral History Project in partnership with the Southern Foodways Alliance. Learn more: https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/helvetia-west-virginia/"]%

117. Transcript of oral history of Morgan Rice

Identifier:
4224.RiceMorgan.IntTranscript.4.30.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Morgan Rice
Date:
2016-04-30
Creator:
Rice, Morgan
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Swiss American women, Food habits, Wild leek, Bread, foodways, Helvetia (W. Va.), Cooking, Swiss, Restaurateurs
Location:
Helvetia (W. Va.)
["Sam Rizzetta is a dulcimer designer, builder, and musician who moved to West Virginia in the early 1970s. He was a member of the string band Trapezoid and founded the hammer dulcimer playing classes at the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College. He has built dulcimers for musicians including John McCutcheon, Guy Carawan, and Sam Herrmann. Rizzetta now collaborates with the Dusty Strings Company who build hammer dulcimers based on his designs. He lives with his wife Carrie Rizzetta in Berkeley County, WV."]%

118. Transcript of oral history of Sam Rizzetta

Identifier:
4224.RizettaSam.IntTranscript.7.19.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Sam Rizzetta
Date:
2016-07-19
Creator:
Rizzetta, Sam
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Rizzetta, Sam, Musical instruments, Dulcimer, Stringed instruments
Location:
Inwood (W. Va.), Berkeley County (W. Va.)
["Sharon Rollins grew up in Charleston, West Virginia and moved to Dallas, TX when she was thirty years old. Upon retirement in 2010, she moved to Helvetia, West Virginia and has since become involved in a number of community projects. She manages the Ramp Supper, serves as treasurer for the Helvetia Community Fair, and volunteers at the Hutte Restaurant.This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted with foodways practitioners in Helvetia, West Virginia, as part of the Helvetia Foodways Oral History Project in partnership with the Southern Foodways Alliance. Learn more: https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/helvetia-west-virginia/"]%

119. Transcript of oral history of Sharon Rollins

Identifier:
4224.RollinsSharon.IntTranscript.4.30.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Sharon Rollins
Date:
2016-04-30
Creator:
Rollins, Sharon
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Helvetia (W. Va.), Wild leek, Cooking, Swiss, Food habits, foodways, Canning and preserving
Location:
Helvetia (W. Va.)
["George Rutherford (b. October 1935) is a native and resident of Charles Town, West Virginia. He has been the president of the Jefferson County NAACP since 1972 and is involved in the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society as well as the restoration of the Web Blessing House [John Blessing was a friend of John Browns and recipient of his Bible] in Charles Town. He spoke about his work preserving local Black history, and the events and projects of the local NAACP including a Juneteenth Celebration, Black Heritage Festival, soul food tasting, and marches.Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society: https://www.jcblackhistory.org/"]%

120. Transcript of oral history of George Rutherford

Identifier:
4224.RutherfordGeorge.IntTranscript.11.7.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of George Rutherford
Date:
2017-11-07
Creator:
Rutherford, George
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Charles Town (W. Va.), African Americans--Appalachian Region, African American cooking, African Americans--History, Festivals, Civil rights movements, Jefferson County (W. Va.), Gospel music, Harpers Ferry (W. Va.)--History--John Brown's Raid, 1859, Juneteenth
Location:
Charles Town (W. Va.)