Whitetop Folk Festival
Dublin Core
Title
Whitetop Folk Festival
Subject
Whitetop Mountain is the second-highest mountain (possible third) in Virginia. The highest navigable road in Virginia leads to its summit. A hiking trail starts at Elk Garden on Virginia 600. The summit provides panoramic views of three states.
Description
Like mountains everywhere, Whitetop is steeped in history and lore. In this collection we will investigate some of the history and lore, and we will also link to more detailed sources related to these subjects.
Creator
Will Stein
Publisher
Washington County Public Library
Abingdon, VA.
Abingdon, VA.
Date
1931-1940
Contributor
Douglas Ogle
David Winship
David Winship
Rights
Washington County PL
Format
Document
Photos
Electronic resources
Photos
Electronic resources
Language
English
Coverage
19th-21st Century
Collection Items
White Top Folk Festival
The White Top Folk Festival grew out of a suggestion made to Abingdon attorney John Blakemore that a fiddler’s contest be held on White Top on the 4th of July. 13 In addition to being an attorney, Blakemore was a well-connected politician and an…
John Powell, Annabel Buchanan, John Blakemore
Photograph of the three individuals responsible for programming and promotion of the White Top Folk Festival, which took place in the 1930s in Grayson County, Virginia on property owned by John Blakemore. Annabel Morris Buchanan, who was credited as…
White Top flyer, side 1
Broadsheet announcing details of the 1932 WTFF originally distributed as a tri-fold brocure(two sided)
White Top flyer, side 2
Broadsheet announcing details of the 1932 WTFF originally distributed as a tri-fold brocure(two sided)
Festival tent
"Holy folk" settin' there? Not a bit of it. The holy folk are standing outside the ropes while a handful of city folk sit... According to Dave Whisnant, Charles Seeger was not as impressed with the White Top Folk Festival, which he attended in 1936…
Dancer Harve Sheets
Dancer Harve Sheets and local musicians, including guitarist Henry Whitter, were regulars at White Top.
Council Cruise
Council Cruise was from nearby Damascus, Va. He and his family were fixtures at the WTFF. "Each year he performed and brought both his neighbors and other members of his large family to perform." His wife is next to him; the other two men are not…
Richard Chase
Richard Chase, a folklorist who brought a number of folk traditions to the WTFF, primarily dance and drama. His influence in festival programming waxed as the influence of Annabel Buchanan's began to wane in the latter half of the thirties.
John Powell and musician C.B. Wohlford
John Powell "coaching" a musician
"What sorts of music were they [John Powell and Annabel Morris Buchanan] looking for?
"[T]hey wanted old time "folk music of white mountaineers... .
"To get what they wanted, they knew they would have to exercise…
"What sorts of music were they [John Powell and Annabel Morris Buchanan] looking for?
"[T]hey wanted old time "folk music of white mountaineers... .
"To get what they wanted, they knew they would have to exercise…