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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.

Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry R..., 1975
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 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)
B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Eudora Welty, Jackson, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Eudora Welty, Jackson, Miss., 1978
Chromogenic print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 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)
Painted door sign, Indianola, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Painted door sign, Indianola, Mississippi, 1974, 1974
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Store keys held by Aden Fisher white, S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Re... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Store keys held by Aden Fisher white, S.M. Whit..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 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)
Robert Appleton, Rose Hill, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Appleton, Rose Hill, Miss., 1969
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
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)
Louis Dotson,Lorman by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louis Dotson,Lorman, 1973
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Shelby Fitzpatrick, Hester Magnunson, Martha Ferris, King, and Queenie, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, ... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Shelby Fitzpatrick, Hester Magnunson, Martha Fe..., 1963
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 x 60.96 cm)
Mary Gordon, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Mary Gordon, Rose Hill, 1978
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Alice Walker, Rowan Oak, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alice Walker, Rowan Oak, Miss., 1994
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Othar Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner, Gravel Springs, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Rose Hill Church pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Waren County, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Wa..., 1976
Chromogenic print
15.75 x 24 in
(40.01 x 60.96 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)
Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Benny Andrews, New York, N.Y. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Benny Andrews, New York, N.Y., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dumas, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dumas, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Virginia Peal Davis, Rose Hill, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Virginia Peal Davis, Rose Hill, Miss., 1969
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Bobby Rush, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bobby Rush, Oxford, Miss., 1987
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
(left to right) "Little Son" Jefferson, James "Son Ford" Thomas, Gussie Tobe, and "Moon Shine" (seated), Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • (left to right) "Little Son" Jefferson, James "..., 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
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