Collection Summary
Woody Guthrie Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) recordings circa 1941
circa 1941
AFC
2018/003
Guthrie, Woody, 1912-1967
5 original paper dust jackets
11 sound discs (lacquer on aluminum) : analog, various
speeds, 74 to 80 rpm; 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in.
English
In English
Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Woody Guthrie songs, performed by Guthrie
with guitar and harmonica. Twenty-six new songs were written by Guthrie on a one-month
contract for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in May 1941, and were recorded
during 1941 or later in Portland, Oregon. These are likely the originals or near copies
of the 1941 studio recordings Guthrie made at the BPA Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Some are first-generation discs, others are second-generation or other copies; songs
include alternate takes and outtakes. Three of Guthrie's songs were included in the 1948
film "The Columbia."
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Guthrie, Woody, 1912-1967, composer, performer.
Organizations
United States. Bonneville Power Administration
Subjects
Topical songs.
Places
Columbia River--Songs and music.
Grand Coulee Dam (Wash.)--Songs and music.
Form/Genre
Songs.
Arrangement
Organized by format into the following series: 1. Manuscripts; 2. Sound
Recordings.
Acquisition
The collection was purchased in 2018.
Processing History
The collection was processed by Marcia K. Segal.
Copyright Status
Duplication of sound recordings may be governed by copyright and other
restrictions.
Access and Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Access to recordings may be restricted. To request
materials, please contact the Folklife Reading Room at
[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact]
Electronic Format
Preservation digitization complete, 2018.
Preferred Citation
Woody Guthrie Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) recordings (AFC 2018/003),
Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington,
D.C.
Scope and Content
Woody Guthrie songs, performed by Guthrie with guitar and harmonica. Twenty-six new
songs were written by Guthrie on a one-month contract for the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) in May 1941, and were recorded during 1941 or later in Portland,
Oregon. These are likely the originals or near copies of the 1941 studio recordings
Guthrie made at the BPA Headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Some are first-generation
discs, others are second-generation or other copies; songs include alternate takes and
outtakes. Three of Guthrie's songs were included in the 1948 film "The Columbia."
Container List
Series 1: Manuscripts
One folder holding five original disc sleeves. Only the original paper sleeves
with any notes written on them were retained. Unless otherwise described all notes
are in pencil and are exact transcriptions.
AFC 2018/003: MS01
Disc sleeve
Guthrie
Sleeve for SR01. "Guthrie" is underlined.
AFC 2018/003: MS02
Disc sleeve
[see note]
Sleeve for SR02. A few numbers and calculations, plus two names that are
undeciphered.
AFC 2018/003: MS03
Disc sleeve
Hydro Music Not Used Record No. 1
Sleeve for SR03.
AFC 2018/003: MS04
Disc sleeve
4-1 Roll Columbia
Sleeve for SR04. "Roll Columbia" is underlined in red ballpoint pen.
AFC 2018/003: MS05
Disc sleeve
4-2 Biggest thing
Sleeve for SR05.
Series 2: Sound Recordings
Titles are as they appear on the discs. Published titles are taken from "Columbia
River Collection" (Rounder CD 1036).
AFC 2018/003: SR01
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 74 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Ballad of the Grand Coulee Dam
Published title: Grand Coulee Dam
Side B
Roll On Columbia, Roll
Published title: Roll On Columbia
AFC 2018/003: SR02
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 74 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Columbia Talking Blues
Published title: Talkin' Columbia
Side B
Song of the Grand Coulee Dam
Published title: same
AFC 2018/003: SR03
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
on one side of 1 sound disc (lacquer on
aluminum) : analog, 74 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Jackhammer Blues
Published title: same. Side B is blank.
AFC 2018/003: SR04
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 74 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Pastures of Plenty
Published title: same
Side B
Roll Columbia, Won't You Roll
Published title: Roll Columbia, Roll
AFC 2018/003: SR05
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Columbia Talking Blues
Published title: Talking Columbia
Side B
Good Morning, Mr. Captain
Published title: Columbia's Waters
AFC 2018/003: SR06
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Jackhammer Blues
Published title: same
Side B
Way Up In That Northwest
Published title: Song of the Grand Coulee Dam
AFC 2018/003: SR07
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Pastures of Plenty
Published title: same
Side B
[the song is unidentified on the
disc]
Published title: Grand Coulee Dam. This song is an outtake from the
recording session(s).
AFC 2018/003: SR08
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Roll, Columbia, Won't You Roll
Published title: Roll Columbia, Roll
Side B
Roll On Columbia Roll On
Published title: Roll On, Columbia
AFC 2018/003: SR09
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
The narrator is unidentified.
Side A
The World Has Several Wonders
Published title: Grand Coulee Dam
Side B
narrated segment 4
AFC 2018/003: SR10
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
The Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever
Done
Published title: The Biggest Thing Man Has Ever Done
Side B
Roll On Columbia
Published title: same
AFC 2018/003: SR11
Woody Guthrie recording, circa 1941
circa 1941
1 sound disc (lacquer on aluminum) :
analog, 80 rpm ; 12 in.
Side A
Pastures of Plenty
Published title: same
Side B
Roll, Columbia
Published title: Roll Columbia, Roll
Appendix:
[Sound engineer's notes]