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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.

Rebecca Davenport, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rebecca Davenport, Washington, D.C., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, 1975
Chromogenic print
13.375 x 20 in
(33.97 x 50.8 cm)
Inmate on water break, Parchman Penitentiary, Camp B, Laubert, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Inmate on water break, Parchman Penitentiary, C..., 1974
Chromogenic print
14 x 16.125 in
(35.56 x 40.96 cm)
Rose Hill Church and Congregation, Vicksburg by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church and Congregation, Vicksburg, 1975
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson, 1978
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Maud Gatewood, Yanceyville, N.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Maud Gatewood, Yanceyville, N.C., 1982
Gelatin silver print
11.75 x 16.5 in
(29.85 x 41.91 cm)
Rose Hill Church & Congregation by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church & Congregation, 1975
Chromogenic print
13.375 x 20 in
(33.97 x 50.8 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, Fisher..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 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)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, 1975
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
C.L. Redwine and Corine Gardner, Coahoma County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C.L. Redwine and Corine Gardner, Coahoma County, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Lee Kizart, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lee Kizart, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
13.25 x 9 in
(33.66 x 22.86 cm)
Cold watermelon vendor, Lelan, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cold watermelon vendor, Lelan, Mississippi, 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 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)
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)
Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Rose Hill, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Rose Hill, Miss., 1985
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Amanda Gordon, Diane Wright Smith, Shelby Wright, Sammy Wright, and Johnny Henry Wright, home of ... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Amanda Gordon, Diane Wright Smith, Shelby Wrigh..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Alice Walker, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alice Walker, New Haven, Conn., 1977
Gelatin silver print
11.75 x 16.5 in
(29.85 x 41.91 cm)
Robert Penn Warren, C. Vann Woodward, and Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren, C. Vann Woodward, and Clean..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 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)
Lucindy McGriggs, Mary Gordon, John Henry Wright, Diane Wright Smith, Beatrice Wright McGowan, ... Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lucindy McGriggs, Mary Gordon, John Henry Wrigh..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 x 60.96 cm)
Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn., 1979
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)
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)
Shelby Ferris, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris home, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Shelby Ferris, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris ..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
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