Lee Knight Collection, 1970-1980

Collection Overview

Title: Lee Knight Collection, 1970-1980

Creator: Knight, Lee.

Extent: 6.0 MS boxes

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as follows:

Open reel recordings (Boxes 1-3)

Cassette tape recordings (Box 4)

CD Listening copies of select recordings (Boxes 5-6)

Languages: English [eng]

Abstract

Lee Knight grew up in the Adirondack Mountain area of New York State. He moved to North Carolina as the result of an interest in the Anglo, European and Native American music and stories of the Southern Appalachians developed during college. In addition to the Adirondacks and Appalachians, he has collected songs and stories from other parts of the world, including England, Scotland, Central Asia, Columbia and the Amazon region of Peru.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists mainly of interviews and performances by several traditional musicians and story tellers, their associates, and scholars. The recordings were made during the 1970s by North Carolina folksinger and storyteller, Lee Knight. The geographic area represented are portions of Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

A large portion of the collection focuses on banjo players and their repertoires. Included are well known banjoists such as Frank Proffitt, Jr. and Roscoe Holcomb along with several others from North and South Carolina. Notable women performers include Malvena Reynolds, Almeda Riddle, Roberta Voyles, and Lily May Ledford.

Other performance styles and instrumentation represented include lap dulcimer, African American singing from Johns Island, South Carolina, African American children's game songs, Jack tales, and unaccompanied ballad singing.

The collection also includes interviews with folk music scholars, Anne and Frank Warner, performer/activists, Guy and Candie Carawan, and country-bluegrass musicians, Bill Monroe, Kenny Baker, Ralph Stanley, and Roy Acuff.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.

Use Restrictions: There are no restrictions on use of this material other than federal copyright regulations.

Preferred Citation: [Object identification/Item Number/Box], Lee Knight Traditional Music Collection, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Berea, KY.

Processing Information: The collection was processed by Harry Rice, Sound Archivist. The finding aid updated by Harry Rice and Lori Myers-Steele, Collections Archivist, in August 2015.

Other Note: Collection Number: BCA 0132 SAA 132

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1: Open Reel Recordings

Item 1: AC-OR-094-001

[No Listening CD - This is a copy of original tape AC-OR-094-021] Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Sugar Grove, NC 9-11-71 Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 2: AC-OR-094-002

Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Sugar Grove, NC 9-11-7. This is a copy of original tape AC-OR-094-021 Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 3: AC-OR-094-003

Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Todd, NC; 6-1-76 / 2-11-78. Sugar Grove, NC 4-17-71 This a copy of AC-OR-094-009 Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 4: AC-OR-094-004

[No Listening CD - This is a copy of AC-OR-094-029] Roscoe Holcomb: Daisy, Perry County, KY. Vocals / Banjo and Guitar Instrumentals / INTERVIEW. Recorded By Lee Knight 3-26-71. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 5: AC-OR-094-005

INTERVIEW Vocals and Banjo Instrumentals: J. Roy Stalcup, Martin's Creek, NC. Recorded By Lee Knight 2-4-79 / 3-13-79 1 of 2 Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 6: AC-OR-094-006

INTERVIEW Vocals and Banjo Instrumentals: J. Roy Stalcup, Martin's Creek, NC. Recorded By Lee Knight 2-4-79 2 of 2 Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 7: AC-OR-094-007

INTERVIEW Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker, recorded by Lee Knight, Minneapolis, MN, 4-5-75. POOR SOUND QUALITY Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 8: AC-OR-094-008

C. G. Dalton - of Salem, SC - Songs, banjo tunes, stories. Recorded at Clemson, SC May 27, 1976 by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 9: AC-OR-094-009

Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Todd, NC 6-1-76 [this is original tape, copy on AC-OR-094-003]

Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 10: AC-OR-094-010

Lily May Ledford - Recorded by Lee Knight in Columbia, SC, 3-3-75. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 11: AC-OR-094-011

INTERVIEW - Roy Acuff / Mike Seeger, Recorded by Lee Knight, Montreal, CN 8-5-71. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 12: AC-OR-094-012

Mary McConnell - songs and interview, Easley, SC 1/7/76. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 13: AC-OR-094-013

INTERVIEW - Nadine Truet re: Gid Tanner - Recorded by Lee Knight, 6-30-73. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 14: AC-OR-094-014

Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded by Lee Knight, Todd, NC 2-11-78. [this is original tape, copy on AC-OR-094-003]

Listen To Recording Read Play List

Item 15: AC-OR-094-015

INTERVIEW - Ralph Stanley, Troy, NC 5-22-71 and Myrtle Beach, SC 11-28-71. Recorded by Lee Knight

Box 2: Open Reel Recordings

Item 1: AC-OR-094-016: Frank Proffitt, Sr. and Frank Proffitt, Jr. - copy of tape made by the Proffitts and sent to Lawrence Older of Middle Grove, NY. This copy made from original by George Ward, Rexford, NY, 7-18-72. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 2: AC-OR-094-017: Frank Proffitt, Jr. - Recorded by Lee Knight. n.p., n.d. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 3: AC-OR-094-018: Will Julian - banjo tunes - [copy of most material on AC-OR-094-019] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 4: AC-OR-094-019: Will Julian, banjo tunes - [Mary McConnell, ballads and songs] - Easley, SC 5-5-76. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 5: AC-OR-094-020: Frank Proffitt, Jr. - Radio Program for WEPR and WMPR, Sumter, SC. Recorded by Lee Knight. Aug. 12, 19??. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 6: AC-OR-094-021: Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Sugar Grove, NC 9-11-71 [original tape - copy on AC-OR-094-001/002] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 7: AC-OR-094-022: Frank Proffitt, Jr. Recorded By Lee Knight, Sugar Grove, NC 9-11-71 [original tape - copy on AC-OR-094-001/002] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 8: AC-OR-094-023: Moving Star Hall Singers, [Johns Island, SC] Recorded by Lee Knight. n.d.
Item 9: AC-OR-094-024: INTERVIEWS - Colie Lynch, Columbia, SC and Essie Briggs, West Columbia, SC - Textile Industry / Brown Lung, Recorded by Lee Knight, , 2-8-78. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 10: AC-OR-094-025: Black Children Game Songs - Sumter, SC, n.d. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 11: AC-OR-094-026: [Unidentified Performers] Boone, NC, n.d. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 12: AC-OR-094-027: INTERVIEW - Almeda Riddle [ Cleburne Co., AR] Recorded by Lee Knight [via telephone] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 13: AC-OR-094-028: INTERVIEW - Barbara Norris (daughter of Lily May Ledford) interview and songs. Recorded by Lee Knight, Columbia, SC 1-24-75. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 14: AC-OR-094-029: Roscoe Holcomb - banjo music and interview at his home in Daisy, KY, 3-26-71. Recorded by Lee Knight. [original tape, copies found on AC-OR-094-004 and AC-CT-468-005] Listen To Recording Read Play List

Box 3: Open Reel Recordings

Item 1: AC-OR-094-030: Frank Proffitt, Jr. Folk songs and tunes. Accompanying himself on fretless banjo and dulcimer. Recorded at Sugar Grove, NC on 4-17-7? by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 2: AC-OR-094-031: Ray Hicks - Jack Tales and other stories - Beech Mt., NC 1977-1978. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 3: AC-OR-094-032: Ray Hicks - Jack Tales - Beech Mt., NC 2-10-78. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 4: AC-OR-094-033: Ray Hicks - Jack Tales - Beech Mt., NC 5-28-77. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 5: AC-OR-094-034: NOT DIGITIZED - Mae Scroggs - Brasstown, NC. 12-15-78
Item 6: AC-OR-094-035: NOT DIGITIZED - Stanley Hicks, Lena Hicks, Hattie Presnell - 4-73
Item 7: AC-OR-094-036: INTERVIEW - Malvina Reynolds talks about discovering folk music and her own songwriting. Charleston, SC. 5-12-197?. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 8: AC-OR-094-037: [Lee Knight - performs two original songs - n.p., n.d.] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 9: AC-OR-094-038: [Lee Knight - compilation tape for South Carolina Arts Commission - n.p., n.d.] Listen To Recording Read Play List

Box 4: Recordings in Cassette Tape Format

Item 1: AC-CT-468-001: NOT DIGITIZED - Frank Proffitt, Jr. INTERVIEW and singing recorded by Lee Knight at Vilas / Sugar Grove, NC 12-13-70 [same as AC-CT-468-007]
Item 2: AC-CT-468-002: NOT DIGITIZED - Ray Hicks tells Jack Tales: Recorded by Lee Knight at Beech Mountain, NC 2-11-78 and 6-24-78. (The 2-11-78 segment also included on AC-OR-094-003)
Item 3: AC-CT-468-003: Jean Ritchie - Interview and Songs - Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC; 9-22-78. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 4: AC-CT-468-004: Anne and Frank Warner INTERVIEW - Glen Head / Old Brooksville, NY 8-12-71. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 5: AC-CT-468-005: NOT DIGITIZED - Roscoe Holcomb - Songs and conversation. Daisy, KY 3-27-71. Recorded by Lee Knight [same as AC-OR-094-004, which is a two channel copy of AC-OR-094-029]
Item 6: AC-CT-468-006: Tennessee Field Recordings - Erma Kennedy Russell / Knox County school children. Jan-Feb 1977. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 7: AC-CT-468-007: Frank Proffitt, Jr. INTERVIEW and singing recorded by Lee Knight at Vilas / Sugar Grove, NC 12-13-70 [same as AC-CT-468-001] Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 8: AC-CT-468-008: [Banjo tunings - unidentified banjo player] / Ray Hicks - spirit tales Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 9: AC-CT-468-009: Guy and Candie Carawan - INTERVIEW, Highlander Folk School, New Market, TN, 11-12-76. Recorded by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 10: AC-CT-468-010: Joe Wheeler. INTERVIEW and stories. John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. 3-9-80. Recorded by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 11: AC-CT-468-011: Joe Wheeler. Stories. John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown, NC. 2-21-80 and 3-9-80. Recorded by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 12: AC-CT-468-012: Mrs. Clarence Tom [Hettie] Ashley and Eva Ashley Moore - INTERVIEW - Saltville, VA. 10-31-70. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 13: AC-CT-468-013: NOT DIGITIZED - COPY - Mrs. Clarence Tom Ashley and Eva Ashley Moore - INTERVIEW - Saltville, VA. 10-31-70. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 14: AC-CT-468-014: Frank Proffitt Jr. Sings and plays dulcimer and fretless banjo. Sugar Grove, NC. 1-16-71. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 15: AC-CT-468-015: Frank Proffitt Jr. INTERVIEW Sugar Grove, NC. 10-76-71. Recorded by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 16: AC-CT-468-016: Roberta Voyles. Banjo and vocals. Marble, NC. 11-21-2001. Recorded by Lee Knight Listen To Recording Read Play List
Item 17: AC-CT-468-017: Mike Seeger - INTERVIEW - Montreat, NC - 8-5-71. Recorded by Lee Knight. Listen To Recording Read Play List

Box 5: Listening copies of select recording in CD format

Box 6: Listening copies of select recording in CD format