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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.
Robert Penn Warren and Eudora Welty, White House, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren and Eudora Welty, White Hous..., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Country store, Old Port Cubson Road, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Country store, Old Port Cubson Road, Mississipp..., 1976
Chromogenic print
15.125 x 23.25 in
(38.42 x 59.06 cm)
S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gib..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville, 1972
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Clover Valley M.B. Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi, June, 1975 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Clover Valley M.B. Church, Vicksburg, Mississip..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Shelby Ferris, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris home, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Shelby Ferris, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris ..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Ed McGowin, New York, N.Y. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Ed McGowin, New York, N.Y., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson, 1978
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Jim Steed mailbox, Route 1, Box 18 A, Utica, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Jim Steed mailbox, Route 1, Box 18 A, Utica, Mi..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Roa..., 1963
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn., 1990
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Lee Kizart, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lee Kizart, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
13.25 x 9 in
(33.66 x 22.86 cm)
Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, 1975
Chromogenic print
13.375 x 20 in
(33.97 x 50.8 cm)
Jasper Love, Clarksdale by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Jasper Love, Clarksdale, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Gussie Tobe, Leland by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Gussie Tobe, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Pecolia Warner with her "P" quilt, Yazco City, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Pecolia Warner with her "P" quilt, Yazco City, ..., 1975
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, 1975
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Alex Haley, Universal Studios, Universal City, Calif. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Universal Studios, Universal City, ..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Walker Evans, East Lyme, Conn. by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Walker Evans, East Lyme, Conn., 1974
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Mary Gordon, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris, Image 1.
  • William R. Ferris
  • Mary Gordon, Rose Hill, 1978
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
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