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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.

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)
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)
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)
Louis Dotson, Lorman by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louis Dotson, Lorman, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Rose Hill Church, Vicksburg by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church, Vicksburg, 1975
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Unidentified rider and pony, Yazoo City, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified rider and pony, Yazoo City, Missis..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 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)
Margaret Walker, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Margaret Walker, New Haven, Conn., 1978
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Lee Cooper and Joe Cooper, Kent's Alley, Leland, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lee Cooper and Joe Cooper, Kent's Alley, Leland..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bruce Payne, WOKJ Radio Station, Jackson, 1978
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)
Willie Dixon, Toad's Place, New Haven by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Willie Dixon, Toad's Place, New Haven, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Robert Appleton, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Appleton, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren Coun..., 1963
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.25 in
(60.96 x 41.28 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)
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)
Head of cedar walking cane carved by Luster Willis, Crystal Springs, Mississippi 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Head of cedar walking cane carved by Luster Wil..., 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Hubert Hamblett portrait by Theora Hamblett, Oxford, Mississippi, August, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Hubert Hamblett portrait by Theora Hamblett, Ox..., 1975
John Blassingame, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • John Blassingame, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9.5 x 13 in
(24.13 x 33.02 cm)
S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • 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)
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