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Contact Information:Special CollectionsCarol G. Belk Library and Information Commons Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina 28608 USA Phone: (828) 262-4041 Fax: (828) 262-2553 Email: spcoll@appstate.edu URL: http://www.library.appstate.edu/appcoll |
| Repository: | Appalachian State University W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection |
| Creator: | W. Amos Abrams |
| Title: | W. Amos Abrams Papers, 1884 - 1984, n.d. |
| Language of Material: | Material in English |
| Location: | For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Appalachian State University. |
| Abstract: | W. Amos "Doc" Abrams (1905-1991) was chairman of the English Department of Appalachian State Teacher's College from 1932 to 1946. The Abrams Papers contains four significant sections: Abrams' audio recordings, his correspondence, his folksong collection and his speech collection. The audio recordings were recorded primarily while he lived in Watauga County. |
| The Abrams Papers contains Series 114A. Recordings. (1938-1979) (12 boxes), Series 114B. Manuscripts. (1884-1973) (39 boxes), Series 114C. Memorabilia (1973-1984) (1 box), and Series 114D. Addendum (1970). Manuscripts consist of Folksong Files Subseries, Correspondence Subseries, Speeches Subseries, and Education Subseries. | |
| Extent: | 26.4 linear feet, 53 archival boxes |
An appointment for research is required. Some archaic recordings have limited patron access. No Inter-Library Loan. Authors retain copyright.
Authors retain copyright.
[Identification of item], Collection 114. W. Amos Abrams Papers, W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, NC, USA.
Transferral of materials occurred prior to 1990. The Folksong Subseries were housed in the Appalachian Collection's open stacks for a number of years.
Inventoried by Deborah Bell, 1994
Processed by Kathryn Staley, 1 March 2002
Encoded by Kathryn Staley, December, 2004
W. Amos "Doc" Abrams (1905-1991) was a professor of the English Department of Appalachian State Teacher's College from 1932 to 1946. He was appointed chairman of the department in 1937, when the institution adopted administrative academic chairman. He held degrees from Duke and Cornell Universities. From 1946 until his retirement in 1970, he served as editor of the North Carolina Education Association publications. He was an enthusiastic collector, scholar and promoter of North Carolina folklore since the 1930s. A significant number of folksong variants (some collected in association with Dr. Frank C. Brown and later with Dr. Cratis D. Williams) in the 7 volumes of the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore are from the W. Amos Abrams Collection. He served multiple terms as president of the North Carolina Folklore Society and contributed a number of articles to its Journal. He received the Society's Brown-Hudson Award in 1974. In 1984, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Appalachian State University in 1974 and receieved Appalachian State University's Chancellor's Award in 1984. was also very active in the Lions Club. He was the District Governor of the Western North Carolina District in 1943-1944 and also the chairman of the Board of Councilman. Abrams was well-liked by students. Wife Lillian Cost, one son "Bill".
| Abrams, William Amos, 1904- |
| Appalachian State Teachers College (N.C.) |
| Ballads, English -- Appalachian Region, Southern |
| Folk songs, English -- Appalachian Region, Southern |
| Folk songs, English -- North Carolina -- Watauga County |
| Lions Club (N.C.) |
| North Carolina Education Association |
| Williams, Cratis D |
| World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American |
| Collection 114B. Manuscripts Series. (1884-1973) | |||||||||
| Folksong Files Subseries- (1884-1972, n.d.) The lyrics of over 610 folksongs collected primarily in Watauga County, North Carolina during the 1930s-1940s, original arrangement, primarily alphabetical. Many lyric sheets include the informant's name and date of the song. Seven contain a musical score. Variants of songs, including those with different titles, are included in the folder. Some songs are enclosed in correspondence. Some dating from nineteenth century. Reoccurring informants include Betty and Mary Bostic, Herman Eggers, Mrs. Nathan Hicks, Nora Hicks, Frank Proffitt, and Edith Walker (Madison). Few musical scores included. Many songs of local origin such as "Tom Dula", "The Ballad of Laura Foster", "The Flood of 1916?". Political tunes such as "FDR in hell?" also included. Also contains the photocopied record covers from Abrams' sound discs. To see digital images of these files, please go to Documenting Appalachia's "So Mote It Ever Be." | |||||||||
| Correspondence Subseries- (1936-1970) Correspondence dating from 1936 to 1970, original arrangement. Grouped by alphabetically within each year or school calendar year except for the following: 1936-1941, 1942, 1943-1945, 1946, 1947, 1963-1965. Includes carbon copies of Abrams' responses. Most correspondence is related to submissions to the North Carolina Education Magazine and invitations to speak at high school commencements, North Carolina Education Association chapters, North Carolina chapters of the Lions Club. | |||||||||
| 1942 includes letters from former students enlisted in military; a co-ed expelled from school for riding in a car; war's effects on public schools; Freemasonry application response; Folger Shakespeare Library correspondence; Lion's Club; state-wide recognition of Appalachian State Teachers College; Abrams' upcoming book; Abrams' Navy Reserve correspondence; requests for supplies for field recording; Remedial English class information. Letters from ballad singer Horton Barker, Kidd Brewer, Frank C. Brown, folksong informant Mary Bost, A.J. "Jack" Greene, folk singer James York. | |||||||||
| 1943 includes congratulations on Lion's Club governorship. Letters from Edith Walker. | |||||||||
| 1946 includes North Carolina Education, mention of teacher labor unrest (Surnames beginning with the letter N-P); example of Christmas pageant. Letters from Wade Brown. | |||||||||
| 1947 includes criticism of Wade Brown (Surnames B); brief description of woman-less wedding (Surnames H); problems with children from broken homes (Surnames M-N); reasons for leaving Appalachian State Teachers College (Surnames M-N). Letters from John Barden, Wade Brown, folksong collector Edith Walker, Herb Wey, Daniel "Spud" Whitener. | |||||||||
| 1948 includes description of North Carolina's good and bad points of education (Surnames G); reaction to teen marriage (Surnames G); political candidate Senator H.B. Perry's education policy. Letters from Wade Brown, Edith Walker, Herbert Wey, Cratis Williams. | |||||||||
| 1949 includes some good examples about beliefs about education's role in society; discussion on who was first female North Carolina school superintendent (Surnames B), N.C.E.A. elections (Surnames B); teacher shortage and pay raise; description of Texas (Surnames B); some comments on development of sex education (Surnames B). Letters from John Barden. | |||||||||
| 1952-1954 includes readership increase; marginally educated mother's attitude towards education (Surnames A); teachers' retirement (Surnames A); the Constitution (Surnames A); segregationist materials (Surnames B); school personnel salaries (Surnames B); mountain life experience (Surnames P). Letter from Dr. Robert King (Boone resident in Congo Belgium as missionary). | |||||||||
| 1960-1963 includes letters regarding the State Teachers Magazine, North Carolina Educators Association. Letters from North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford, Cratis Williams. | |||||||||
| 1963 includes comments on how teachers are taken for granted (Surnames M); reaction to Saturday Evening Post's 1963 article re: P.T.A.; wife Lillian won Carribean cruise; letter re: race of possible National Education Association delegate (Surnames K); anti-Communism rhetoric (Surnames Y). Letters from Rebecca Rivers, Cratis Williams. | |||||||||
| 1964-1965 includes teachers making political pay-offs to remain employed (Surnames J); health benefits for teachers (Surnames M); example of ideas Abrams used at commencement speeches (Surnames M); praise for editorial on 1964 Civil Rights Act (Surnames W). | |||||||||
| 1965-1967 includes mention of the Abrams' ill health; disagreement with N.C.T.A. uniting with N.C.E.A. (Surnames B); desegregation (Surnames D, E, F); mountain scam (Surnames J); teacher's problems taking summer school (Surnames P); I.G. Greer's illness and house fire (Surnames G); problems of an alcoholic teacher (Surnames N). Letters from Edith Walker Madison. | |||||||||
| 1968-1969 includes references to school desegregation but little discussion or opinion (Surnames M); integration of N.C.E.A. and N.C.T.A. (Surnames M, BB); commentary re: use of black panelists; U.F.L. program. Letters from W.H. Plemmons, Frank Proffitt's son (Frank Jr.). | |||||||||
| Speeches Subseries- (1931-1970, n.d.) Speeches used by Abrams as class lectures and public events, especially Lion's Club meetings, United Forces for Education (U.F.E) meetings, N.C.E.A. meetings and school commencements. Abrams organized some speeches alphabetically. Some unorganized, some contain handwritten changes to location and date. Includes speech title index. | |||||||||
| Education Subseries- (1927-1973, n.d.) Books, notes, journal articles, reports used and written by Abrams. Master's degree transcript from Duke University, 1928. Abrams' handwriting is somewhat illegible. Note cards contained apparent descriptions of poetry and literature. Notes appear to be from graduate level literature courses. | |||||||||
| Folksong Files Subseries. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | "A" | |||||||
| Folders 1-2 | "B" | ||||||||
| Folders 2-3 | "C" | ||||||||
| Folders 3-4 | "D" | ||||||||
| Folders 4 | "E" | ||||||||
| Folders 4-5 | "F" | ||||||||
| 5 | "G" | ||||||||
| Folders 5-6 | "H" | ||||||||
| 6 | "I" | ||||||||
| Folders 6-7 | "J" | ||||||||
| 7 | "K" | ||||||||
| Folders 7-8 | "L" | ||||||||
| Folders 8-9 | "M" | ||||||||
| 9 | "N" | ||||||||
| Folders 9-10 | "O" | ||||||||
| Folders 10-11 | "P" | ||||||||
| 11 | "R" | ||||||||
| 11 | "S" | ||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 2 | Folders 1-2 | "S" | |||||||
| 2 | "T" | ||||||||
| 2 | "U" | ||||||||
| Folders 2-4 | "W" | ||||||||
| 4 | "Y" | ||||||||
| 4 | "Y" | ||||||||
| Folders 4-9 | Child Ballads | ||||||||
| Folders 10-11 | Photocopies of Sound Disc Envelopes | ||||||||
| Box | |||||||||
| 3 | 1905 Manuscript of Mary Alice Hoover's Grandmother. | ||||||||
| Correspondence Subseries. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||
| Boxes 1-29 | 1936-1970 | ||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 29 | 8 | Organizations, Alphabetical Order | |||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 30 | 6 | Organizations, Alphabetical Order | |||||||
| Speeches Subseries. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||
| Boxes 1-2 | Miscellaneous Speeches | ||||||||
| Box | |||||||||
| 3 | Ballad Speeches | ||||||||
| List of Commencement Speeches for 1951 and 1952 | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||
| Boxes 3-5 | Speeches, by County | ||||||||
| Education Subseries. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 1 | Folders 1-3 | Note Cards | |||||||
| 4 | Notes | ||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||
| 2 | Folders 2-4 | Publications | |||||||
| 5 | Record Information | ||||||||
| Folders 5-6 | Thesis | ||||||||
| 6 | Transcript from Duke University | ||||||||
| Collection 114D. Addendum Series, dated April 2005. | |||||||||
| World War II newspapers. | |||||||||
| Certificate of Achievement for Amos Abrams from NCEA, 1970 | |||||||||
