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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.

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)
C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 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)
Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Fairfiel..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Maudie Shirley and Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Maudie Shirley and Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn., 1990
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Othar Turner and Sharde Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner and Sharde Turner, Gravel Springs, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Othar Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner, Gravel Springs, 1970
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Aden Fisher White, S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aden Fisher White, S.M. White & Son Crossroads ..., 1974
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 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)
Willie Dixon, Yale University by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Willie Dixon, Yale University, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Ed McGowin, New York, N.Y. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Ed McGowin, New York, N.Y., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
William Eggleston, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Eggleston, Oxford, Miss., 1986
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
James "Son Ford" Thomas and Clay Skull, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • James "Son Ford" Thomas and Clay Skull, Leland, 1971
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Wes Carter Lake, Warren County, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Wes Carter Lake, Warren County, Mississippi, 1974, 1974
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland, 1973
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 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)
Robert Penn Warren and Eurdora Welty, White House, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren and Eurdora Welty, White Hou..., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963 by William R. Ferris
  • 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)
Aden White, Crossroads Store, Reganton, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aden White, Crossroads Store, Reganton, Miss., 1974
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
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)
Wall in Lee Kizart Home, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Wall in Lee Kizart Home, Tutwiler, 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
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Unidentified watermelon vendor and son, Betcheimer Store, Highway 27, Utica, Mississippi by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified watermelon vendor and son, Betchei..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
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