Nora Carpenter Traditional Music Collection, 1920-1960 | Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

By Harry Rice

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Collection Overview

Title: Nora Carpenter Traditional Music Collection, 1920-1960

Primary Creator: Carpenter, Nora.

Extent: 3.0 MS boxes

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Biographical Material and Photographs

Series 2: Manuscript Song and Poetry Texts

Series 3: Clippings and Other Published Material

Series 4: Home Disc and Reel-to-Reel Audio Recordings

Date Acquired: 10/01/2007

Languages: English

Abstract

Nora Owens Carpenter (1888-1975) was a formidable presence for many years in the Salyersville - Magoffin County area of eastern Kentucky. Married to Morgan Green Carpenter in 1907, she was a mother of five, businesswoman, and onetime postmaster.

However for many in her home community, she is best remembered as a talented, traditional musician (banjo and harmonica) and topical song writer. She and her string band, “Big Mamma and the Half Mountain Hotshots,” had a strong following on Paintsville radio station, WSIP during the 1940s and early 1950s. Despite this local appreciation, she seems to have been overlooked by the many folklore scholars who traveled through Kentucky at various times during the 1900s.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of song lyrics, poems, and sound recordings authored or collected by Nora E. Carpenter of Magoffin County, Kentucky, mostly during the period 1920- 1960. It also includes numerous clippings of song lyrics, poetry, and community history from a wide variety of print sources, both loose leaf and pasted in a scrap book. There are also a few song books published by regional country music radio performers during the 1940s and 1950s.

Follow Links in The Series 4 Box List To Listen to Recordings and Read Related Play Lists

Administrative Information

Repository: Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

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

Use Restrictions: Federal copyright regulations apply to all other materials.

Acquisition Source: The collection was given to Berea College in October, 2007 by Nora Carpenter’s daughters, Charlotte Thompson and Carolyn Cravens of Lexington, Kentucky.

Related Materials: Leonard Roberts Collection

Related Publications: "Written adn Composed by Nora E. Carpenter" by Emily Hilliard in Southern Cultures.

Preferred Citation: [Object identification], Nora Carpenter Traditional Music Collection, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, KY.

Processing Information: The collection was processed by Harry Rice, Sound Archivist.

Finding Aid Revision History: The finding aid was updated in August 2018.

Other Note: BCA 0108 SAA 108

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Material and Photographs],
[Series 2: Manuscript Song and Poetry Texts],
[Series 3: Clippings and Other Published Material],
[Series 4: Original Audio Recordings],
[All]

Series 1: Biographical Material and Photographs

Box 1

Folder 1: Biographical print materials and photographs

Series 2: Manuscript Song and Poetry Texts

Box 1

Folder 2: "A"

Aint Goin' Honkey-Tonken'

Adieu To My Friends

Alone and Blue

Angels Get My Mansions Ready

Answer to: Don't Forget Me Little Darling

Answer To: You Are My Sunshine

As I Walked Out on the Streets in Laredo

As You Go Though Life

Folder 3: "B"

Battle Hymn of Cross

Blue Skies in Your Eyes

Blind Child

Bonaparte's Retreat

A Broken Hearted Ralphman

Broken Hearted Wife

Brother Green

Build Me a Cabin

Bury Me Beneath the Willow

Folder 4: "C"

C and O Wreck

Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy

Chocolate Ice Cream Cone

Cleorita MY Cleorita

Cottage By the Sea

Court Ship

Courtship and Marriage of California Joe

Crying Holy Unto the Lord

Folder 5: "D"

Darling Nellie Gray

Darling You Have Broken My Heart

Dear Mother (11-24-50)

Death of Brother Owens

"Don't Cry, Little Girl, Don't Cry"

Folder 6: "E"

Ellan Smith

End of the World

Folder 7: "F"

Farewell? Mother? I am Dying

Farther Along

Father's Letters

"Floyd County School Bus, The Disastrous Wreck of"

Folder 8: "G"

"Gals Go Wild Over Me, The"

Folder 9: "H"

Hallelujah! We Shall Rise

Handsome Girl

The Harvest is Over

Have I Told You Lately

Have You Any Time for Jesus

Have You Some-one In Heaven Awaiting

Haven of Rest

Hawkin's Story

He is Coming to us Dead

Honey in the Rock

"Hospital Blues, The"

Folder 10: "I"

I Ain't Gonna' Work Tomorrow

I am a Prilgrim

I Cried Again

I Feel Like Going On

I Have but One Goal

I Have Heart Aches

I Have No Mother Now

I Just Don't Like This Kind on Livin'

I Know What it Means to be Lonely

I Love You Because

I Will Never Marry

I Remember

I Saw the Light

I Want to be Loved

I Want to be Loved But Only by You

If it Ain't One Thing it's Another

If Teardrops Were Pennies

If We Never Meet Again

I'll Be All Smiles Tonight

I'll Be Listening

I'll Be There Anyway

I'll Have a New Life

I'm Alone In This World

I'm Going to Make Heaven My Home

I'm Traveling On and On

In the Mountains

It's A Sin

It's Nevers To Late

I've Always Been A Rambler

I've Got My One Way Ticket to the Sky

I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

Folder 11: "J"

Jack And Nell

Jack O' Diamonds

Jackie Fresher

Jacobs Vison

Jesse James

John III:16

Just As The Sun Went Down

Folder 12: "L"

Lady Gay

"Last Good By, The"

Folder 13: "M"

Mansion's For Me

Mathew Twenty Four

Me Mudder

Medium-Rare

Memories Of Love

"Merchant Boy, A"

Folder 14: "N"

New Birmingham Jail, The

No Room In My Heart

Folder 15: "O"

Old Churchyard, The

"Old Country Church, The"

Folder 16: "P"

Pale Horse and His Rider

"Pearl Bryan, The Murder Of"

Folder 17: "R"

Rambling Boy

Rank Strangers

Red River Valley

Rowan County Crew

Folder 18: "S"

Salty Tears

Seven Are We

Shall We Gather At The River

She Was Reared In Old Kentucky

Sing While You Drive

Singing Waterfall

Sinner You Must Die

"Soldier's Bride, A"

Folder 19: "T"

Talking Blues

[I was Waltzin' With my Darlin']

Tennessee Waltz

This World Can't Stand Long

These Lonely Tombs

Till the End of the World

Too Little- To Late

The Joy Heart

Trouble On My Mind

Try and Make the Best of Everything

The Tumble Down Shack

Turn Your Radio On

The Gals Go Wild Over Me

Turn Your Radio On

Folder 20: "V"

"Vacancy In My Heart, A"

Folder 21: "W"

Wexford Girl

[We Shall Sleep But Not Forever]

We Two forever

Weary Weary Walking Blues

Wedding Bells

Wedding Bells #2

What Difference Does it Make

What Is Home Without Love

When He Reached Down His Hand For Me

When I Get to The End of the Way

When My Dream Boat Comes Home

When the Roses Bloom Again

When the War is Over in Korea

"When the War is Over, Over There"

Folder 22: "Y"

You Are My Sunshine

You Going Change or I'm Going Leave

Folder 23: Manuscript Fragments

Series 3: Clippings and Other Published Material

Box 2

Folder 1: Clippings from print sources
Folder 2: Clippings from print sources
Folder 3: Song books and sheet music
Folder 4: Half Mountain Hot Shots
Folder 5: Ephemera

Series 4: Original Audio Recordings

This series contains disc and tape recordings that Nora Carpenter made of heself and others 1949-1950 and 1972.

Box 3: Reel-To-Reel Audo Tape

Nora Carpenter made these recordings in 1972 about three years before her death.

Item 1: NC-OR-003

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - songs and poems recorded 7/8/1972 by her granddaughters Karen and Sue. [NOTES on original reel: "Big Mamma 7/8/72 - Recorded to Blue Tape"]

Listen To Recording Read Recording Play List

Item 2: NC-OR-004

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - traditional and original songs, n.d. [paper insert with song listing]

Listen To Recording Read Recording Play List

Item 3: NC-OR-005

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - songs and poem recorded 3/6/1961 ["Mother 1961" label on original reel / paper insert with song listing]

Listen To Recording Read Recording Play List

Item 4: NC-OR-006

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - traditional and original songs, recorded 6/9/1961, [label on original reel "Aunt Mousie and Mother - etc"]

Listen To Recording Read Recording Play List

Item 5: NC-OR-007

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - original and traditional songs, recorded 7/7/1972 [Note on original reel: "7/7/72 Recorded Mother #1"]

Listen To Recording Part 1 Read Recording Play List Part 1

Listen To Recording Part 2 Read Recording Play List Part 2

Item 6: NC-OR-008

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter, traditional and original songs, recorded 7/7/1972, [NOTE on original reel: "2nd part by July 7 1972 Big Mama / Big Mama, Chester Miller, Garland Salyer, George Bailey" / paper insert of songs]

Listen To Recording Read Recording Play List

Item 7: NC-OR-010

Hatler Johnson - n.d. - radio broadcast with tribute to Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter

Listen To Recording

Item 8: NC-OR-011

Nora E. "Big Mama" Carpenter - "Mountain Dew."

Listen To Recording

Box 4: Home Disc Recordings

Nora Carpenter made these recordings in 1949 and early 1950s when she was in her early 60s.

Item 1: NC-ID-001-001

Listen To Side A: At The End Of [The] World - C.A. Miller and N.E. Carpenter - 03/06/1950

Listen To Side B: Maple On [The] Hill - C.A. Miller & N.E.C. - 03/06/1950

Item 2: NC-ID-001-002

Listen To Side A: You Broke My Heart - N.E.C. - 03/06/1950

Listen To Side B: Salty Tear Drops - N.E.C. - 03/06/1950

Item 3: NC-ID-001-003

Listen To Side B: Nigger Run - N.E.C. Singing and playing harmonica - 03/14/1950

Item 4: NC-ID-001-004

Listen To Side A: Honey In The Rock - N.E.C. - 03/14/1950

Listen To Side B: [Jesus Has Washed Me Whiter Than Snow] - [Nora E. Carpenter] - n.d.

Item 5: NC-ID-001-005

Listen To Side B: Rose Cona Lee [Rose Connelly] - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/13/1950

Item 6: NC-ID-001-006

Listen To Side A: Pain In My Heart - Lee Bailey - n.d.

Listen To Side B: [Gathering Flowers for the] Master's Bouquet - Lee Bailey & Fred___ - n.d.

Item 7: NC-ID-001-007

Listen To Side A: What Difference Does It Make - Chester Miller - n.d.

Listen To Side B: Green Mountain Breakdown - Licking River Boys - n.d.

Item 8: NC-ID-001-008

Listen To Side A: Darling I Miss You - Nora Carpenter - n.d.

Listen To Side B: [Banjo Piece] - Nora Carpenter - n.d.

Item 9: NC-ID-001-009

Listen To Side A: Going Across The Ocean [Going Around The World]- Chester & Nora - n.d.

Listen To Side B: Stay All Night - Chester Miller - n.d.

Item 10: NC-ID-002-001

Listen To Side A: Stay Little Longer - Chester Miller, Hot Shots - 01/31/1954

Item 11: NC-ID-002-002

Listen To Side A: Little Willie / Rock Julia - Nora Carpenter - 10/15/1949 [partial transfer]

Listen To Side B: Lonely Babe - composed by Nora Carpenter - 10/15/1949 [partial transfer]

Item 12: NC-ID-002-003

Listen To Side A: Someday We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Bill Cheatham - Eda Bailey & Marvin, Lee Bailey on fiddle - 03/17/1950

Listen To Side B: Vacant Spot In My Heart / "one of my own compositions" - Eda & Marvin, Lee on fiddle - 03/17/1950

Item 13: NC-ID-002-004

Listen To Side B: Cindy - Hot Shot[s] - 04/11/1950

Item 14: NC-ID-002-005

Listen To Side A: Old Joe Clark - [unidentified fiddler] - 07/09/1952

Listen To Side B: Prince of Peace - [Nora E. Carpenter] - 07/09/1952

Item 15: NC-ID-002-006

Listen To Side A: Old Church Yard - [unidentified female] - n.d.

Listen To Side B: I'm Now A Widow - [Nora E. Carpenter] - n.d.

Item 16: NC-ID-002-007

Listen To Side A: The Waxford Girl - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/13/1950

Listen To Side B: Cleorita My Cleorita - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/14/1950

Item 17: NC-ID-002-008

Listen To Side A: Old Dan Tucker - Jasper Miller, Walter Mullins - 03/20/1949

Listen To Side B: [unidentified dance call (Radio dub?) / Fragment Maple on the Hill - [unidentified] - n.d.

Item 18: NC-ID-002-009

Listen To Side A: No Place To Call Home - Chester & Nora - n.d.

Listen To Side B: Mathew [sic] 24 - Chester & Nora - n.d.

Item 19: NC-ID-002-010

Listen To Side A: True Life Blues - B. B. Summey [& Jean Summey] - n.d.

Listen To Side B: At The End [of the] World - Chester Miller and B.B. Summey - n.d.

Item 20: NC-ID-002-011

Listen To Side A: Foggie [sic] Mountain Top - Chester [Miller] & B.B. Summey - n.d.

Listen To Side B: True Life Blues - B.B. Summey [and sister Jean] - n.d.

Item 21: NC-ID-002-012

Listen To Side A: Those Lonley [sic] Tombs [Lonely Tombs] - by Chester Miller - 04/15/190

Listen To Side B: Ellen Smith [Poor Ellen Smith] - by Chester Miller & Nora Carpenter- n.d.

Item 22: NC-ID-002-013

Listen To Side A: The Blind Child - by Chester Miller - 04/13/1950

Listen To Side B: My War Fair is Ended [Warfare] - Chester [Miller] & Nora [Carpenter] - 04/13/1950

Item 23: NC-ID-002-014

Listen To Side A: Where Could I Go (But To The Lord) - Half Mountain Hot Shots - 03/17/1950

Listen To Side B: First Fall of Snow - Eda Bailey - 03/17/1950

Item 24: NC-ID-002-015

Listen To Side A: Little Rosewood Casket - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/12/1950

Listen To Side B: O'er Death Sea - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/13/1950

Item 25: NC-ID-002-016

Listen To Side B: Shortnin' Bread - N.E.C. [Nora E. Carpenter's sister "Matthew?"] - 03/07/1950

Item 26: NC-ID-002-017

Listen To Side A: [Death of] Muriel Baldridge - Nora E. Carpenter - 10/15/1949

Listen To Side B: Little Mohee - Nora E. Carpenter - 10/15/1949 (Speed Issue?)

Item 27: NC-ID-002-018

Listen To Side A: Going Downtown - Jasper Mullins, Walter Miller - 03/20/1949

Listen To Side B: Sourwood Mountain - Jasper Mullins, Walter Miller - 03/20/1949

Item 28: NC-ID-002-019

Listen To Side A: Sinner You Must Die - Nora E. Carpenter - 04/13/1950

Listen To Side B: Death Raging In Land - N.E. Carpenter [Nora E.] - 04/13/1950

Item 29: NC-ID-002-021

Listen To Side A: What Difference Does It Make - sung by Chester Miller - n.d. [partial transfer - jb]

Item 30: NC-ID-002-022

Listen To Side A: Write Me Sweetheart - C. Miller - n.d.

Item 31: NC-ID-002-023

Listen To Side A: The End [of the] World - Chester Miller - n.d.

Listen To Side B: What You Going To Do With The Baby-O - Walter Miller and Jasper Mullins - n.d

Item 32: NC-ID-002-024

Listen To Side A: What Difference Does It Make - Chester Miller - n.d

Listen To Side B: Matthew 24 - Molly O'Day - n.d. [dub of commercial recording, partial transfer - jb

Item 33: NC-ID-002-025

Listen To Side A: I Want Some Candy (Dub of Commercial) / [Where Could I Go But To The Lord] - [unidentified] - n.d

Listen To Side B: Standing On The Mountain (Dub of Commercial) / [I'll Have A New Body (I'll Have A New Life)] - [unidentified] - n.d.

Item 34: NC-ID-002-026

Listen To Side A: [Under The Double Eagle] [unidentified harmonica and guitar] - n.d.

Listen To Side B: [John Hardy?] - [Nora E. Carpenter, banjo/vocal] - n.d.

Item 35: NC-ID-002-027

Listen To Side A: [John Henry] [Nora E. Carpenter, harmonica] - n.d.

Listen To Side B: Fragment [Honky Tonk Blues] - [unidentified female vocal] - n.d

Box 5: Oral History Recorings and CD Listening Copies

Item 1: SC-CD-158-001

INTERVIEW Valarie Patrick, Nora Carpenter's grandaughter recorded by Emily Hilliard July 16, 2014 in connection with her Sound Archives Fellowship research project.

Listen To Interview

Item 2: SC-CD-158-002

INTERVIEW Cleonita Carpenter Arnett Nora Carpenter's daughter recorded by Emily Hilliard July 16, 2014 in connection with her Sound Archives Fellowship research project.

Listen To Interview

Item 3: SC-CD-158-003

INTERVIEW John and Selma Carpenter, Nora Carpenter's granddaughter, and Jonna Carpenter, John and Selma's daughter recorded by Emily Hilliard July 29, 2014 in connection with her Sound Archives Fellowship project.

Listen To Interview