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Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College

Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College

Davidson, NORTH CAROLINA

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  • Artist: William R. Ferris (American, b. 1942)

Ferris is an American author and scholar born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Ferris' work focused on southern African American folklore and culture. He earned his BA in English Literature from Davidson College in 1964, his MA in English Literature from Northwestern University in 1965, and a PhD in Folklore from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. He was selected by President Bill Clinton to be the Chair of the National Endowment of the Humanities, a position which he held from 1997 to 2001. Ferris has written fiction, poetry, as well as book, record, and film reviews. He has recorded blues albums and produced 15 documentary films on southern folklore.

Jim Steed, Route 1, Box 18A, Utrea, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Jim Steed, Route 1, Box 18A, Utrea, Mississippi..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
B.B. King, Yale University by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • B.B. King, Yale University, 1977
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Walker Evans, East Lyme, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Walker Evans, East Lyme, Conn., 1974
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson and Maudie Shirley, Clarksdale by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson and Maudie Shirley, ..., 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville, 1972
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn., 1978
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Rural Church, Highway 27, West of Vicksburg, Mississippi, March 1972 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rural Church, Highway 27, West of Vicksburg, Mi..., 1972
Chromogenic print
20.125 x 24 in
(51.12 x 60.96 cm)
Maudie Shirley , Clarksdale by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Maudie Shirley , Clarksdale, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Charles Seeger, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Charles Seeger, New Haven, Conn., 1975
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Scott Dunbar, Lake Mary by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Scott Dunbar, Lake Mary, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Othar Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner, Gravel Springs, 1970
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Home on Highway 27, between Utica and Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Home on Highway 27, between Utica and Crystal S..., 1976
Chromogenic print
15.625 x 23 in
(39.69 x 58.42 cm)
William Eggleston, Waterford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Eggleston, Waterford, Miss., 1984
Gelatin silver print
16.5 x 11.75 in
(41.91 x 29.85 cm)
Unidentified fireworks salesman, Leland, Mississippi, circa 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified fireworks salesman, Leland, Missis..., c. 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss., 1988
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
"Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • "Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979, 1979
Chromogenic print
Johnny Brown and Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Johnny Brown and Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Gussie Tobe, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Gussie Tobe, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Highway 61, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Highway 61, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
17.125 x 24 in
(43.5 x 60.96 cm)
James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Sam Gilliam, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Sam Gilliam, Washington, D.C., 2012
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Mary Gordon, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Mary Gordon, Rose Hill, 1978
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Unidentified Street Actress, Kent's Alley, Leland, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified Street Actress, Kent's Alley, Lela..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Louis Dotson, Lorman by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louis Dotson, Lorman, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
J.L. Garrison, Rossville, Tennessee, summer 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • J.L. Garrison, Rossville, Tennessee, summer 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
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