Encoded in EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2019655314
Finding aid written in English.
DACS was used as the primary description standard.
Collection material in French, Haitian French Creole, and English.
Scott Keller; Donation; 2019.
Shirley Keller received the wire recordings from Odette Mennesson Rigaud on an unspecified date.
No accruals are expected.
The collection was processed by Marcia K. Segal in 2021-2022.
Diane Wolkstein collection (AFC 2016/057)
Maya Deren Collection (#515), Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University.
Duplication of collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions.
The collection is open to research. To request materials, please contact the Folklife Reading Room at https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Vodou religious expression in Haiti collected by Odette Mennesson Rigaud, Milo Rigaud, and Shirley Keller, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Odette Mennesson-Rigaud (1907-1990) was born in France and became a Haitian citizen following her marriage to Milo Rigaud (in New York City, on January 10, 1935). She became an ethnographer of Vodou, and was a noted photographer in her own right.
Milo Rigaud (1904-1981) was born in Port au Prince, Haiti, where he spent the greater part of his life studying Vodou traditions. In Haiti he also studied law, and in France ethnology, psychology, and theology. The involvement of Vodou in the political struggle of Haitian Blacks for independence was one of his main concerns.
Shirley Keller (-2017) of New Jersey was a white folk singer and musician who played guitar, Appalachian dulcimer, auto harp, and banjo. In the 1980s and 1990s, Keller hosted a weekly radio program on WFDU FM Radio and later a cable television show in New Jersey and New York called "The Folk People." She interviewed guest folk musicians and artists, who also performed in the studio.
The collection includes audio documentation of religious expression in Haiti, circa 1940s-1950s, as well as an audio interview with Shirley Keller about her work on the book
The collection is organized in four series:
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.
Includes documentation from sound recording containers, original and photocopied instructions on how to use a wire recorder, a handwritten note from Odette Rigaud to Shirley Keller, and a handwritten letter from Odette Rigaud to an unidentified person (implicitly identified as Shirley Keller, see afc2019041_dc001_aip_01 for details).
Information transcribed from audio containers and carriers has been edited for clarity (e.g., some abbreviations have been expanded). Tape recordings seem to be primarily dubs of wire recordings, and as such the audio quality reflects the original recording, as well as any imperfections introduced in the dubbing process.
Box panel: 1 / Passe / Concher Ciceron / Au Revoir / [?]onper debut [?] ajartes [?] 10' c[?] / de rondeau II a fin / milieu en fin excellents / Rerecording sur tape No 6-7
Box lid: 1 Tape 6-7 / 60' / Concher Ciceron
Written on the wire spool: passé / Concher Ciceron / rerecorded tape 6-7
Box panel 1: 21 / concher Ciceron / [?] - 8' / tape rerecording No 7
Box panel 2: 21 / Odette Rigaud / 21
Box lid: Concher Ciceron 8 / Tape 7 / 21
Written on the wire spool: passé / Concher Ciceron 4 / 8' 2 / rerecording son tape [?]
Box panel: I - Ciceron son des differentés danses / Rada / 55'
Box lid: Ciceron son Rada / 55' approx.
Written on the wire spool: 55' / I / Ciceron son des diverses danses Rada
Box panel: Ciceron 30' / son differentes danses / Congo - Petro / Pangole
Box lid: Ciceron sons Congo - Petro 30'
Written on the wire spool: II Ciceron sons differéntés danses / Congo - Petro / 30'
Box panel: passé 10' ca Ciceron à revoir chantes divers 10' / 10' vierge
Box lid: Ciceron chantes divers
Written on the wire spool: efforce 20' / [?]
Box panel: Ciceron 4' / bohoun / bohoun / appel [?]ondé [?] morts / Songs of the Dead
Box lid: Ciceron - bohouns
Written on the wire spool: Cicéron - bohouns
Box panel: effacé / 13' 15' / Ciceron - histoires / [?] jais bien / -[?] chien jappé / -[?] mu[?] pas fait par[?] / -[?] couleure r[?]
Box lid: Ciceron - histoires 2
Written on the wire spool (front): histoires Ciceron 13'
Written on the wire spool (back): effacé 13'
The content fades in about 00:00:19. A male singer (probably Cicéron), with multiple voices singing at times. Conversations can be heard in the background. The recording includes the following instruments: drums, a rattle, a whistle, and perhaps other instruments. Some hand clapping can be heard. The audio crackles intermittently, probably from the source recording. The recording fades in and out at times, and ends abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Box panel: Rerecording 1 Concher Ciceron 50' [?] sur [?] 7
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Tape 6 to cassette 6 / April 1982 by Shirley Keller / Odette was Voodoo [sic] Priestess from 1950's / Voodoo [sic] from wire recordings of Odette Rigaud of Port au Prince Haiti
The content fades in about 00:00:07. Male singer (probably Cicéron), with multiple voices singing at times. The recording includes drums, metal percussion, a rattle, and perhaps other instruments. Some hand clapping can be heard. The recording fades in and out at times, and ends abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Box panel: Rerecording (1) Concher Ciceron (suite) 10' / Rerecording (2) Concher Ciceron 8' / Rerecording (3) Canzo Ciceron (début) / 7 - should be 5
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Re-recorded on to Cassette #7 May 1982 by Shirley Keller
Written on the tape reel flange: Rerecorded on to Cassette #7 May 1982 by Shirley Keller
Accompanying documentation: Rerecording (1) Concher Ciceron (suite) 10' / Rerecording (2) Concher Ciceron 8' / Re-recording (3) / Canzo Ciceron (début)
The content starts at 00:00:05. Speech and a cappella singing, with some conversation and laughter, and possibly recitations. A baby can be heard crying occasionally. Some hand clapping can be heard. The recording includes drums can be heard; there may be other instruments played. The recording ends abruptly. The recording ends abruptly. Dubbed from one or more source recordings (probably wires).
The note "Made on Ito's machine (Webster)" is probably a reference to Teiji Ito, composer and drummer, who met Maya Deren in 1955 and traveled with her to Haiti. He may have loaned the wire recorder to the Rigauds.
Box panel [listed thus]:
Rerecording (M) V - commencé sur 4
Zaca Titon et Julia chants
arrivée de Ogon - Julia Ogon
Zaca Titon - venue Ogon [erased word] Titon
chants Wago paroles Issange [?] [duege Malo?]
Venue de entretoutt
Histoires Entre toutt - Chants
Titon Martinique "Sina"
Titon Martinique "Jouda [?]porte" "Amude" [?]
Titon Martinique A l'assant
Titon Martinique Erzulie Dantor
O loa rele Loas o Dantor javné[?]
Avanncé[?] o Z'arezs[?] non d'leau
Recordist's note:
Made on Ito's machine (Webster) [wire recorder]
Tape leader:
Head - Debut. Rerecording No 5. Vodou. 2e rerecording (M) V
Accompanying documentation:
11 wire / 2 copies sur tape moins 1 (priere) no 8 manqour [?] - reste in Boston / Rerecording 3 [?] [?] de Canzo Ciceron / et 19 non mis sur tape
The content starts about 00:00:05. Two male voices; the first sings in a yodeling style. It is unclear which is Ciceron. Other male voices sing in the background. Later in the recording, mixed voices sing in the background. A man sings in a hiccuping style. The recording includes drums, rattles, and other percussion can be heard. There is some hand clapping. Dubbed from one or more source recordings.
Box panel:
8 (note de 7) erreur
Rerecording (3) Canzo Ciceron (suite)
15' de prieré battemént de me[?]
a la fin priere catholique
priere G[?] [?] mache
[?] a la fin du wire du Canzo 3.
Rerecording (4) canzo Ciceron début (priere) 20 minutes
From the leader tape: fin Tape 8 Rerecording Canzo Ciceron 3 (suite) et no 4 (debut)
Box panel: 52 / Emmanuel / 3 Parreun Cain Hounfor / 4 Damballah Oueddo / 4 Viré Damballah Oueddo / 5 Wo je rele [further details on the box panel; Legba is one of the names]
Box lid: Emmanuel Vodon - rois / 52'
Written on the wire spool: Emmanuel chants 52' Chants Sortu de Bande
Box panel: Bande Emmanuel - 30' / mascaron / r'aras / Quinbe [?] jes Cagré [?] / 2
Written on the wire spool: Bande Emmanuel - 30' / mascaron / r'aras
Box panel: Box panel 1: No. I / Manger Ste Terre / 52' / à garder rec[?] priere -- Box panel 2: Odette Rigaud
Box lid: Manger Ste Terre / 52' / no I / à revoir
Written on the wire spool: Manger St Terre I / 52'
Box panel 1: passé rerecording I [further details on the box panel] / tape rerecording no 1 et 2
Box panel 2: rerecording
Box lid: 3 / Tape 1-2 / Rerecording I / Rada
Written on the wire spool: passé re recording I
Box panel: Tape recording no 4 / Rerecording IV I / 5' o madia ové / 3 1/2 Jambé Calfon / 4 Miro Miba / 4 1/2 Panama'm Tombé Congo / Rerecording IV 1 Tape 4
Box lid: Tape 4 / Rerecording IV - 1
Written on the wire spool: Rerecording IV / I chants et tambours Petro?
Box panel: rerecording IV 2 / 4 Nago drawd / 4 1/2 Guede Crabigne [?] / 4 1/2 Wago / 3 1/2 Congo / 4 Aux chases [?] / Rerecording sur tape no 4
Box lid: Tape 4 / Rerecording IV - 2 / 8
Written on the wire spool: rerecording IV 2 tambourines
Box panel: Canzo III / a [?] [?] prier[?] jusque 55' / jusque 28' Rerecording sur tape no 8 et 28 ags [?] / tape rerecording no 8
Box lid: 3 / Tape 7 8 / Canzo III
Written on the wire spool: 3 / Canzo III rerecording sur tape 7-8
Box panel: 4' / 2 chants de travailleurs
Box lid: 10 / 2
Written on the wire spool: 4' / 2 chants travailleurs
Box panel: 1 / 5 / Chants de Travailleurs each 10' / Prie non jo [?] / [further details on the box panel]
Box lid: 1 / 10 / 9 / 5 / chants de travailleurs
Written on the wire spool: Chants des travailleurs / each 10'
Box panel: Guedés (Lorgina) / sur assez long apres mon Antoine
Box lid: 5 / Guédés - 2 Novembre 1949
Written on the wire spool: Guédés - Lorgina / 2 Novèmbre
Box panel: Box panel 1: 1/ Odette Ligilia Andoclés 4' / histoire Man Bellande 11' / Milo A[?] 1950 5' / [?]issa etc 8' -- Box panel 2: Lizila Andoclés / Man Bellande / 15'
Box lid: 1 / Lizila Andoclés / Man Bellande / Milo / 28'
Box panel: a garder / Bobine II / Debut manger Hounter / 31' + 10' de 4 (B) / Manger Hountor / Bobine II / 31 10' 3 / Odette Rigaud
Written on the wire spool: III 31' Hounter (A) a garder / + 10' des grande 4 - (B)
Box panel: Bobine III / 31' / a garder / 4 / Fin Manger Hountor (C)
Written on the wire spool: Manger Hountor (C) / 31' / 4
Box panel: Antoinette 10' / [?] Congo [?] / Antoinette
Written on the wire spool: Antoinette / 1 [?]
Box panel: passé vierge
Written on the wire spool: Milo 25'
Box panel: [??] B[?] Guede / Banda / Malu / Famille Nada / [?] / Jodon [?] (divers) / Odette Rigaud
Written on the wire spool: Belecon [further details on the spool]
Box panel: Lorgina [??] / Guedes Lorgina 1950
Written on the wire spool: Guedes Lorgina 1950
The content begins about 00:00:08. Singing with mixed voices. On different songs, a man (possibly more than one man) leads singing, with a sung response from mixed voices. Later in the recording conversations can be heard. The recording includes drums, a rattle, a sound like a cowbell, an unidentified wind instrument. Songs start and end abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Tape 2 to cassette 2 April 1982 by Shirley Keller
Box panel: Rerecording III [?] 40' / [??] / Rerecording III Tape 3
Written on the wire spool: Rerecording III
The content begins about 00:00:06. At times a man sings the lead (almost certainly more than one man sings lead, at different times), with a group of mixed voices. Vocal whoops, possibly by a woman, can be heard. The recording includes drums, rattles, and other percussion (both wood and metal). The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Box panel: 3A / [more details in pencil here] / Voodoo [sic] - Rigaud
Written on the tape reel flange: Head (debut) Rerecording ([?]) 4 - [?]
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Tape 3A to cassette April 1982 by Shirley Keller
The content begins at 00:00:25. Primarily mixed voices, with occasional lead vocals by a woman and by a man. The recording includes drums and other percussion. The sound fades in and out on occasion. Hand-clapping can be heard towards the end of the recording. The recording ends abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Box panel: Rerecording (M) 1 / [more details here]
Written on the tape reel flange: Side A: 5 1/2 signalé Agoné / 2 1/2 cinna ou cinna / 6' Fai guon [?] neve s[?] yanquilé [?] neve [?] can / 5 african [?] [?] legba Beni da o alyzan aluzan [?] marché / 4 1/2 voco atissan / 3 Coco Coco / 6 Demballah Aveddo [?] / 4 creol' o vodoines [?] Side B: 7 Rèle l.ment [?] . 1 manhaver [?] / 3 salve legba é / 3 Keke salve legba
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 3 / Tape 3 to cassette April 1982 by Shirley Keller / Wire Rerecordings from Madame Odette Rigaud - P-au-P. [Port au Prince] Haiti year? 1950s / Bob Avedon made these / Voodoo [sic] tapes from wire Recordings
The content begins at 00:00:04. Michael Richards interviews Shirley Keller on Radio Metropol (Haiti). Subjects include the Appalachian dulcimer, the autoharp, Keller's family, educational, and professional backgrounds, her feelings about Haiti (as this was her second visit), her interest in preserving Haitian culture, the book she recently worked on with Diane Wolkstein (
Box panel: Imperial / 12 Nov 1980 / Shirley Keller interview / Haiti / 894 595 / Refrains de demain 80/11 / 28' 00" 7 1/2 i.p.s. Francais 28.5.1980 / Philo Anjlach [?] [?] / Tiroro died 1 year ago 1979
Written on the tape reel flange: Shirley Keller interview 2/27/81
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Interviewer - Michael Richards 11-12-80 / Tiroro died 1 year ago 1979
The content begins at 00:00:07. A man sings a cappella, and soon after with drum accompaniment. One song has a chorus of children singing. One song seems to be entirely one man singing a capella, and is cut off abruptly. Singing also includes mixed adult voices. Conversations can be heard but the voices are almost unintelligible (as a result of low audio quality). There is occasional sound distortion, either from the source recording's condition, or possibly because the mic was too close to the instruments as they were being played. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, metal percussion, and whistles.
Box panel: [??] Congo [further details on the box panel] / Haiti - Rigaud - Voodoo [sic] / Head - (debut Rerecording (M) Lil Etudes [?] - IV
Written on the tape reel flange: Tape 4 to cassette 4
Side A: The content begins at 00:00:09. A man sings to drum accompaniment. In another song, men sing lead vocals, to mixed chorus accompaniment. Instruments played include drums, a stringed instrument (possibly a guitar)
Side B: The content begins at 00:00:09. This side seems to be a continuation from Side A, with a man singing to stringed instrument accompaniment, with at least one extended solo on the instrument. Instruments played include a stringed instrument (possibly a guitar) and drums.
Written on the cassette housing: IIA #6 / Voodoo [sic] ceremonies recorded on wire by Odette Rigaud / put onto digital master - made by Bob Avedon - Park Ridge, N.J.
Shirley Keller records herself speaking into a tape recorder, and uses another recorder to play back music performances and parts of Vodou ceremonies. She talks about Haitian drumming and her first experience attending a Vodou ceremony, in 1975. She mentions Diane (probably Diane Wolkstein) and Marie (otherwise unidentified). At 00:06:56 she mentions Milo Rigaud.
Written on the tape reel flange: Voodoo [sic]
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:13. People are speaking while instruments are being played. For more than one song, a man leads the singing for a chorus of mixed voices. A dog can be heard barking. There are instances of hand clapping. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, metal percussion, and rattles.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:20. One man and sometimes two men lead a group of mixed voices in song, accompanied by rattles and drums. At one point a chicken can be heard clucking. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, rattles, and metal percussion.
Box panel: Side A: I #3 / Side B: #4 #5
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:15. Vocal performances. Musical instruments include drums and metal percussion. The recording ends abruptly.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:05. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Conversations can be heard. Musical instruments include drums, rattles and other percussion, and whistles. The recording ends abruptly.
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:23. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Hand clapping can be heard. At 00:33:19 a woman says "chants des travailleurs" (worker's songs); this may be Marie Rigaud. At 00:41:34 a horn honks twice (possibly a car passing by). The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments include drums, metal percussion, and rattles.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:06. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Hand clapping can be heard. There are occasional, brief conversations. The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments include drums, rattles, and metal percussion
Written on the cassette housing: 100 / [Side] B
Content begins about 00:00:08. The first two songs are sung by two different men, possibly with one woman singing in the background. The balance of the recording has mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, who perform songs. From about 00:10:48-00:12:17 a woman sings solo and a cappella. Conversations can be heard. Audio distortion from the source recording towards the end of the tape. The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments played include drums, rattles, metal percussion, and whistles.
Written on the cassette housing: Voodoo [sic] - Rigaud tape - #? [sic]
Bruce Lee interviews Odette Rigaud about various topics related to Vodou. She talks about her association with Vodou, Vodou as a religion and not black magic, her interest in African sculpture and religion, the exhibit of her photographs at the Elma Lewis Center, Vodou in Haiti, the perception of Vodou as black magic, the role of missionaries in developing this perception, Haiti as a colony and the perception of colonists about Vodou, elements of Christianity in Vodou, lwa (spirits) as emanations from God. Rudy Robinson (a professional photographer) and Barry Gaither are introduced. Barry's connection with the Elma Lewis Center exhibition was to work with Odette Rigaud for two weeks to select images for the show, and the time and effort involved in discussions and the selection process. Barry Gaither, the director of the art teaching program at the center, and is also the curator and director for the museum program of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (which includes the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts) talks about "Ah-Haiti: Glimpses of Voodoo [sic] " (the exhibit's title) and the focus on Vodou as a series topic, details about the exhibit, plans for a traveling exhibit, publication of the book
The show spans three recordings in the collection (regardless of the documentation that accompanies the tapes); this is part 1. See SR046 for part 2 and SR045 for part 3. See SR047 for a dub of part 1.
Box panel: Rigaud / Bay St Forum / 1
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 12 / 12-1 Boston, Mass. Radio station WEEI Interview of Odette M. Rigaud on the Bruce Lee Show. 1 Hour - 3 3/4 speed / transferred to cassette #12 by Shirley Keller 5-9-82
Continuation of the Bruce Lee show, beginning at 00:05:15. A story is continued, regarding a young Puerto Rican girl who traveled to Haiti and was healed by lwa. The panel discusses the nature of healing and the role of lwa, and discuss lwa with a man who call in to the show. Rigaud explains the how the word "Vodou" is used in Haiti (the name of the religion and also as an adjective). A woman calls the show and asks Rigaud about a particular ceremony she witnessed in Haiti, and asked Rigaud to explain the ceremony. Rigaud suggested that she may have witnessed a ceremony presented for the benefit of tourists. Another caller asks for guidance if someone is using Vodou to gain control over her. Rigaud recommends she pray to her own deity for protection. She responds to a caller who asks about elements of Vodou practice that he has observed. Barry Gaither gives an overview of the exhibit at the Elma Lewis Center. The panel discusses the perception of Vodou in America. They talk with a caller concerned about her teenage son; it turns out there was no relationship between her inquiry and Vodou. The recording ends abruptly.
Box panel: Interview with Odette Rigaud by Bruce Lee - 1972 WEEI. I think this should be played after tape 12 and 13 is played after this for connect [?] [?].
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 1-2 Re-recorded on to cassette #14 by Shirley Keller - May 1982. Subject, continued from tape 13
See SR044 for part 1 of the show and SR046 for part 3. See SR048 for a dub of this recording.
The interview portion of the recording begins about 00:04:06. Barry Gaither speaks about the center's interest in archival materials, how the current show evolved, and the preparations. Gaither and Robinson talk about how preparations changed them, and Odette Rigaud's impact on them and her personality. Bruce Lee talks about his admiration for the exhibit. Gaither and Robinson talk about the exhibit going on tour, Rigaud's ability as a photographer, and the nature of a visual exhibit. The panel engage in a conversation with a caller. The show effectively ends at 00:27:22. The tape ends abruptly shortly after that.
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 13 / Continuation of tape 12 - Radio Interview of Odette Rigaud by Bruce Lee - WEEI. Boston, Mass. Rerecorded by Shirley Keller on cassette #13 on 5-9-82. 2-230
SR047 is a dub copy of SR044 .
Written on the cassette housing: 12 - Odette Rigaud - Radio Shoro [?] / WEEI - Boston, Mass. / Bruce Lee - interviewer
SR048 is a dub copy of SR045 .
Written on the cassette housing: 13 - Bruce Lee Interviews Odette Rigaud - WEEI - Boston, Mass.
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:08. A large group of mixed voices sing more than one song, with a male lead singer. Instruments include drums, metal percussion, whistles, and possibly other instruments.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:05. A large group of mixed voices sing more than one song. Frequently, a male singer can be heard above the other singers, possibly leading the song. Instruments include drums, metal percussion, rattles, and possibly other instruments.
Written on the cassette housing: Milo Rigaud - Voodoo [sic] / #2
The content begins about 00:00:05. Shirley Keller interviews Milo Rigaud during his hospital stay. The recording begins with Shirley suggesting he addresses Odette in French (his "native language"). Next, he mentions his younger brother Carl, who lives in his own home in Port-au-Prince. Keller has difficulty understanding what he says. Milo writes down his brother's address, since Keller has offered to contact Carl. She says she can record Milo speaking, and take the cassette to Carl and play it for him. He speaks in French, addressing his brother. He tells Shirley that his brother was in the same hospital last year for surgery. Shirley and Milo talk about his diet (foods he is permitted and enjoys). Milo talks about visitors he has while in the hospital. They make small talk, and then talk about his book, and the difficulties of publishing a book in New York, written in French. They talk about the need for a translator to understand about Vodou to translate the text accurately. He talks about Odette's wish to return to Haiti with him [currently, they are in New York]. The talk about the work of writing a book, and where he and Odette would live when they return to Haiti. They talk further about his brother, and as they say their farewells, they make further small talk. Shirley mentions Diane [probably Diane Wolkstein]. Milo gives Shirley contact information for a person in Haiti [unclear if this is to help her find a house]. The recording ends abruptly.
Box panel: Haiti - Odette Rigaud - Milo / their voices
Written on the cassette housing: Side A: Milo to Odette and Karl; Side B: Odette to Michelle
Side A: See SR050, Side A for a summary of the contents.
Side B: An unidentified woman speaks in French. "Madame Shirley " (probably Shirley Keller) is mentioned near the end of the recording, which ends abruptly.
Written on j-card: [j-card spine] Milo Rigaud - in Hospital / message to Odette and Brother in Haiti (198_) [sic] [Side A] Milo Rigaud / at Hospital / messages to wife Odette and Brother in Haiti - Karl / this made in NYC house [?] / Milo died the day I left for Haiti to see his brother [Side B] Odette Rigaud to Michelle
Written on the cassette housing: copy only (2012) Milo at Hospital and message to Brother 1981? [sic] / copy - In Hospital Milo sec part on B
The content begins about 00:00:05. Shirley Keller interviews Odette Rigaud, with a translator present. Shirley asks questions in English, and Odette responds in French, with the translator acting for both. Shirley talks about the tape recorder she is using to record the interview. Interview topics include Odette's family, a relative who was killed during World War II, and how she met Milo. Dropout from 00:03:1100:03:23.
Written on the cassette housing: Odette Min Rigaud - 3-11-82 / talk of nothing in particular - Milo - how long ago they were married (1934?) - the name of Mennesson. Who was shot by Germans, etc. Odette and translator friend / 3-11-82 - (2-6-10) talk with Odette Rigaud re Milo with translator friend. Married 46 years. Met in France. Milo lived there for 14-15 years. Married in Haiti. Tape length - Side I only? About 20 min.
Content begins about 00:00:05. A man (probably Edward Berwet) can be heard singing bits of a song or songs. Traffic can be heard in the background, as well as recording equipment noise. There is a brief conversation, beginning about 00:02:07. A man can be heard in the background; possibly the recordist. The conversation begins at 00:03:53. Present during the interview: Leni Hamilton, Odette Rigaud, Shirley Keller, and Edward Berwet. The conversation alternates between French and English. In the recording Leni Hamilton says that Edward Berwet was recommended to her by Shirley Keller as a good source for stories relating to Vodou. Among other topics, Hamilton talks about the parallels between Greek mythology and Vodou. Toward the end of the recording it is made clear by Edward that Odette had been initiated as a mambo (priestess) but was not active in that role (she was not a practicing mambo).
See SR054 for a partial dub of this tape.
Written on the cassette label 1: Divine [?] / [other words]
Written on the cassette label 2: Odette - Haiti
Written on the cassette j-card: Interview and talk between Leni Hamilton and Odette Rigaud (Mennesont [sic]) and Edward Berwet / 2-27-84 4:30 p.m. Port-au-Prince Haiti
Side A: This is a copy of SR043, but lacking the first 00:04:19 of that recording.
Side B: The content begins at 00:00:05. The dub of SR043 continues until about 00:04:43, and is immediately followed by a dub of the audio from the television show "In Search Of..."; specifically the episode on Vodou. Episodes in the series were narrated by Leonard Nimoy. This is episode 22 from Season 1. Rada and Petro (later Petwo) rites are referenced, and toward the end of the episode Maya Deren is quoted from her book
See SR043 for a more complete copy of the interview.
Written on the cassette housing: Leni Hamilton / Rigaud / Voodoo [sic] - Haiti Port Au Prince / Leni Hamilton - Interview with Odette Rigaud and Edward B / Haiti - Feb. 1984 / Batteries ran down / Interview-continued. / TV Broadcast on Voodoo [sic] - March 1984
Side A: Leni Hamilton interviews Max Beauvoir. Hamilton gives some background about Greek ritual and its evolution into drama, and the same evolution in Ancient Egypt and Christian ritual during the Middle Ages [no country specified] and asks Beauvoir about the evolution of ritual to drama, and the myths about the lwa, and also how ancestors were transformed to lwa. Beauvoir's response is an overview of Vodou belief in regard to lwa, and also addresses the role of Christianity in beliefs, the mythological pantheon, the dead in Vodou belief as opposed to Christian belief, the materialization of spirits, and other topics. The conversation is multidisciplinary in nature (social, theological, etc.). Shirley Keller can also be heard occasionally on the recording.
Side B: The conversation continues about 00:00:04, with an abrupt start (mid-sentence). He also recommends a movie about the guede (spirits of the dead) that Lila [Lilas] Desquiron (Director of Cultural Affairs, at Television Nationale), could get Hamilton access to view the video. Shirley Keller asks about vévé, and Milo Rigaud's book is mentioned, and Beauvoir praises it for its thoroughness on the treatment of vévés. He explains numerous terms and beliefs involved in Vodou, gives a reference to another published work. Keller suggests a Beauvoir apply for a grant or do work to publish a book on Vodou. Beauvoir says he doesn't have the time to write a book. He suggests that Hamilton could get a grant to write the book. Hamilton emphasizes the importance of documenting Vodou as a religion but cannot get a grant to study outside the U.S. Further topics include matriarchal cultures and the role of women in culture. Toward the end of the recording Keller takes photos of Beauvoir, and of Beauvoir and Hamilton together. Hamilton photographs Beauvoir and Keller together. The discussion moves to "voodoo [sic] dolls," when the recording ends abruptly.
Written on the cassette housing: Leni Hamilton's interviews with Max Beauvoir - Voodoo [sic] Priest - Haiti - 2-84 / in Haiti
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:12. Shirley Keller's interview with Max Beauvoir. He talks about the multiple roles of the houngan, and how he became the successor to his grandfather Brun Icart as a houngan. Other topics include misconceptions about Vodou, American marines in Haiti and the response to their presence, the role of the houngan, Vodou's role in Haitian identity, vévés and other elements of Vodou rites, locations where Vodou rites are conducted, how believers are possessed by lwa, the nature of fire, the experience of a person who has been possessed, the recognition of the presence of spirits, Vodou practices passed on as oral tradition, and voodoo dolls vs. paquet congo. The recording ends abruptly.
Side B: The interview continues, with discussion of the paquet congo. Further topics include Vodou as a tool, the subject of dolls again, biki (smaller version of paquet congo) that are used for good luck. Keller reviews the facts about Beauvoir as the houngan of his hounfour and related details. Further topics discussed include fire-eating, various ceremonies, the categories of lwa, the function of animal sacrifice, the individual natures of lwa, interest in publishing in book form what he knows and the difficulties involved, discussion of Milo Rigaud's writing and the issue of Rigaud's mingling of opinions with facts, and the vévé on Keller's banjo. Keller explains that she had interviewed Beauvoir two years ago, but her tapes and the recorder were stolen while she was on the plane. She encourages people to come visit Haiti, and ends her part of the recording by saying her name and that of "The Folk People" (her radio show).
Box panel: La Peristyle - Voodoo [sic] - Max Beauvoir
Written on the cassette housing: Max Beauvoir - La Peristyle - Voodoo [sic]
Angus Gillespie's lecture on Haitian Vodou, at a gathering of members of the Rutgers University French Club. Towards the end, Shirley Keller speaks to the group briefly.
Box panel: Angus Gillespie and Shirley Keller - Haitian voodoo [sic] at Rutgers French Club (unedited) / TC
Box panel: 3'/4 Flute chinoise / 5' Flute chinoise / 8/2 Méd[?] chinoise / 11[?] Inde / 16 Inde danse / 20 Java Surrend / 23 1/2 Harass / 27 habre ja / 30 Sonragbati / 33 1/2 Kenbang / 37 Kereos [other details, not transcribed]
Box lid: Oriental 40'
Written on the wire spool: abime' pas bousee courant attention reste 1/4 [?] [other details, not transcribed]
Box panel: Vierge [?] 17 + 5 + 8 / Titon (etudes)
Written on the wire spool: Vierge [?] 170 + 5 + 8
Box panel: passé / 44' / Bandes (1-) e[?] 5' / Bandes (2) tressé rubaus 12' / Bande roi diab' 10' / Bande mascaron (2) / Bande Roi diab' / Bande Silvestre danse Rois / Bande Cholo danse Rois / Bande vaccines / Bande Rori Tuba - inter calée / Bandes 44'
Written on the wire spool: Bande Petronelle / env. [?] 45'
Box panel: Ti Jazz avec Titon / 60' [??]
Written on the wire spool: Ti Jazz avec Titon
Box panel: Meringues - Julia / avec [?] / 1. Belle Congo 3 / 2. Tip' pa com [?] 2 / 3. Carle ca'que o similar 2 / Meringues / Julia / 7 1/2 [ips]
Written on the wire spool: Meringues / Julia / 7 1/2 [ips] / [?]
Box panel: passé effacér
Written on the wire spool: passé
Box panel: a passer
Written on the wire spool: a passer 1#
Box panel: effacer 30' / Grade I / a S[?]der
Written on the wire spool: 30' effacé [?]
Box panel: rerecording - V / 3 Zaca Titon - Julia [further details on the box panel]
Box lid: Rerecording V / Tape 5
Written on the wire spool: passé / Rerecording V / x Titon 8'
Box panel: a effacer I
Written on the wire spool: passé vierge [?] mo[?]s 10'
The audio content begins about 00:00:06. Nina (otherwise unidentified) reads an English translation of a letter (originally written in French by Odette Rigaud) to Shirley Keller. In the letter Rigaud writes about her current health and domestic circumstances. Shirley Keller is the woman listening (and occasionally speaking in response). The original letter , translated after 2001, was dictated by Rigaud to Marie (otherwise unidentified).
See afc2019041_dc001_aip_01 for the digital file.
Digital copy of DVD extracted from original by AFC staff for preservation and access purposes.
Documentary on the Rolling Stones (musical group). While the content is out of scope for the collection, this recording has been retained.
Written on the tape reel flange: Stones Story 14, 45, 81, 101, 150, 170
Box panel: Afrique - copie disques V. / 60'
Box lid: Afrique - copie disques V. / 60'
Written on the wire spool: Afrique disques V.
African disc copies
Box panel: Congo belge 30' / chants et danses / Afrique copie disques
Written on the wire spool: Congo belge 30' / chants et danses
Accompanying documentation: African disc copies
Box panel: Andano etude (Mendelssohn) / Rondo brillant (Weber)
Written on the wire spool: Tagliafero [further details on the spool]
Accompanying documentation: Classical music
Box panel: Flamenco - copie disques V. / Flamenco - copie disques Valentine [?]
Written on the wire spool: Flamenco (disques V.)
Accompanying documentation: Flamenco disc copies
Box panel: [??] disques haitiens
Written on the wire spool: [?] 23'
Accompanying documentation: Haitian disc copies
Box panel: Jazz copie disques V.
Box lid: Jazz copie disques V.
Written on the wire spool: pas bon Jazz copie disques V. / 1/2 minute free
Box panel: Duke Ellington - Liberian Suite / Liberian Suite - Duke Ellington [?] 25'
Written on the wire spool: Liberian Suite [?]. 25'
Accompanying documentation: Jazz disc copies
Box panel: copie disque V. 8' / Jazz copie disques V. 8'
Written on the wire spool: copie disques V. Jazz 28'
Accompanying documentation: Jazz disc copies
Box panel: Jazz copie disques V. / attentian [?] casse / Jazz copie disques V. / Casse ce [?] plus [?] places
Written on the wire spool: essais toto
Accompanying documentation: Jazz disc copies
Box panel: Musique Sud Americaine / copie disques V. / Sud Americaine / copie disques V.
Written on the wire spool: Argentina samba etc [?] copie disques / Roger
Accompanying documentation: South American disc copies
Box panel: 2/2 Peeter [Peter] - Marlene Dietrich /2/2 Johnny [Jonny] - Marlene Dietrich /2/2 Kasbek - Igor Gorin /2/2 Viut viteé [Viut Vitre] ([?]) - Igor Gorin /2/2 Song of the Plains - Red Army Choir /2/2 Write What [?] - Red Army Choir /5 The moon shine (danse [?]) /2/2 Saetas - Niña de los Peines / Bulerias [?] - Niña de los Peines / Tango flamenco - Niña de los Peines / Sevillanas - Niña de los Peines
Box lid: Dietrich Russian-Flamenco
Written on the wire spool: Dietrich II - Russian Flamenco
Accompanying documentation: various disc copies