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Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_FOLK COLL 30f

Scope and Contents

Cassette tapes from the 1950s to 1996, which were recorded by Singin' Sam Agins; Mr. Agins own recordings made during sound recording sessions, folk festivals, radio interviews, conferences, etc. Musical content includes: cowboy songs and cowboy poetry, bluegrass, American folksongs, and folksongs of other nationalities. Also includes interviews, Hector Lee lecture, and an interivew conducted by John Powell (USU Manuscript Curator) with Mrs. Fredrica Agins, 24 September 1996).

Dates

  • 1950-1996

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research. To access the collection a patron must have the following information: collection number, series number, sub-series number, if applicable, box number and folder number (or image number).

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes must be obtained from the Curator of the Fife Folklore Archives and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Singin' Sam Agins was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 14, 1919. He was born with a congenital paralysis of both legs and only weighed 2 lbs. at birth. Agins was limited to using crutches or a wheelchair for mobility from childhood. Despite his disability he led an active life, playing guitar, making poetry, and writing and collecting music. In addition he was a leather craftsman, stringed instruments mechanic, and a maker of hand-tooled silver buckle jewelry and violins. Agins passion was writing, collecting and singing American folk songs, particularly of the West. During the 1940s and 1950s he entertained disabled youth, veterans, and children in hospitals, acting as an Ambassador of Goodwill Industries. In addition, he entertained prisoners in New Mexico, guests at dude ranches, and taught classes about folk singing throughout the American West. Agins was also the United States representative in 1976 at the Smithsonian Institution's Montreal Expo and also served as an expert on early American folk songs in Washington D.C. During the 1970s and 1980s he participated in the Festival of the American West and the Western Writers Conferences held in Logan, Utah. On November 19, 1957 he married Frederica Agins (born May, 1938) and they had two sons, Judd and Joseph Agins. Sam Agins died in Sun City, Arizona, on March 28, 1996.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

Abstract

Cassette tapes from the 1950s to 1996, which were recorded by Singin' Sam Agins; Mr. Agins own recordings made during sound recording sessions, folk festivals, radio interviews, conferences, etc. Musical content includes: cowboy songs and cowboy poetry, bluegrass, American folksongs, and folksongs of other nationalities. Also includes interviews, Hector Lee lecture, and an interview conducted by John Powell (USU Manuscript Curator) with Mrs. Fredrica Agins, 24 September 1996).

Organization

Cassette tapes arranged numerically by assigned tape number.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes (Folk Coll 30f) was donated by the Sam Agins Family and originally arranged and numbered by Mr. Agins. The original numbers are in brackets [].

Processing Information

Originally processed by John Powell and Randy Williams. Finding aid created by Randy Williams, July 2005; updated by Randy Williams, March 2012.

Title
Guide to the Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes1950-1996
Author
Finding aid created by Randy Williams, July 2005.
Date
©2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)