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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.

Tom Dumas, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Tom Dumas, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 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)
Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss., 1988
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Oxford, Miss., 1987
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
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Universal Studios, Universal City, ..., 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)
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)
Victor "Hickory Stick" Bobb, Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Victor "Hickory Stick" Bobb, Vicksburg, Mississ..., 1976
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 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)
Johnny Brown and Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Johnny Brown and Shelby "Poppa Jazz" Brown, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 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)
Othar Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner, Gravel Springs, 1976
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Martha Dunbar, Lake Mary by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Martha 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)
Unidentified man and woman, Cohn Brothers Country Store, Lorman, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified man and woman, Cohn Brothers Count..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
William Christenberry, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Christenberry, Washington, D.C., 1982
Gelatin silver print
11.75 x 16.5 in
(29.85 x 41.91 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
C.L. Redwine, Coahoma County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C.L. Redwine, Coahoma County, 1968
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
9 x 13 in
(22.86 x 33.02 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)
"Get Right With God" road sign, Indiana, Mississippi, March 1977 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • "Get Right With God" road sign, Indiana, Missis..., 1977
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
William Dunlap, McLean, Va. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Dunlap, McLean, Va., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Roadside trailer, Highway 61, north of Vicksburg, Mississippi, March 1977 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Roadside trailer, Highway 61, north of Vicksbur..., 1977
Chromogenic print
Carroll Cloar, Memphis, Tenn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Carroll Cloar, Memphis, Tenn., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
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