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Jacob D. Elder Papers, Folklore Archives, 1949-2003 (inclusive) 1962-1965 (bulk)

Extent:

5 linear feet

Abstract:

Born in Trinidad in 1913, Jacob Elder was a primary school teacher and community development officer before attending Penn to study for his doctorate in folklore. Elder specialized in the traditional music of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to his scholarly studies, Elder worked to develop the Steel Band and song competitions in his native land to encourage the restless youth to find purpose and fulfillment. Manuscript holdings include approximately two linear feet of cultural material, research, working manuscript and dissertation, song, lyric and interview transcriptions, folktales, stories and scripts. The West Indies Recordings contain approximately 160 hours of recorded sound collected in Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, and St. Vincent between 1959-1965, during Elder's dissertation fieldwork.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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Roger D. Abrahams Papers, Folklore Archives, 1960-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:

3 linear feet

Abstract:

Roger D. Abrahams was a native of Philadelphia, PA. He received his B.A. at Swarthmore College, M.A. at Columbia University, and Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1986 he came to teach in the English and Anthropology Departments at the University of Pennsylvania following many years at the University of Texas and Scripps and Pitzer Colleges. While at Penn he served as the Founding Director for the Center for Folklore and Ethnography. The Roger D. Abrahams Collection consists of three linear feet of textual records related to his research in the Caribbean Islands and publications from throughout his career. Reel-to-reel tape recordings of songs, stories, and poems from the Caribbean, as well as photographic slides and negatives are also included in the collection.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives [Contact Us]