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Audio recording of Josephus Farmer speaking with Charles and Janice Rosenak

 Digital Record
Identifier: A0009_10_14a_Farmer

Dates

  • circa 1982

Creator

Summary

In this interview, Chuck and Jan Rosenak interview artist Josephus Farmer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An unidentified man can be heard speaking at moments throughout the interview as well. Farmer begins by recounting his childhood and schooldays in Trenton, New Jersey and later Humboldt, Tennessee. After graduating high school in Humboldt, Farmer explains that he went to East St. Louis to work for a packing company. Notably, he talks about being in East St. Louis during the race massacre of 1917. Farmer also talks about meeting his wife Evelyn, founding his own church in St. Louis, and how his faith inspires his artwork. Farmer ends the interview by playing the guitar for the Rosenaks. He explains that while he cannot read or write music, he used to play on stage at carnivals when he lived in Tennessee.

Conditions Governing Access

The Charles B. and Janice M. Rosenak Collection is owned by the American Folk Art Museum. The collection is subject to all copyright laws, and is dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship.

Extent

1 file(s) ; Length: approx. 28 minutes

Language of Materials

English

Related Materials

The full transcript of this recording is available upon request.

Processing Information

This recording was digitized from tape cassette through a grant from the National Recording Preservation Foundation in 2020.

Repository Details

Part of the American Folk Art Museum Archives Repository

Contact:
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