Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the John Edwards papers #20000, Southern Folklife Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Purchased as part of the John Edwards Memorial Collection from the University of California at Los Angeles in March 1983 and subsequent additions.

Received from Steve Hirsch in 1989 (Acc. 93105).

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Collectors and collecting--Australia.
• Edwards, John, 1932-1960.
• Folk music--United States--Discography.
• Sound recordings--Catalogs.
• Sound recordings--Collectors and collecting.

• John Edwards Memorial Forum Records (#20001); Vertical files of the Southern Folklife that contain items once belonging to Edwards.

In his short life, John Edwards (1932-1960) amassed a valuable collection of early American folk music from his home in Sydney, Australia.

While in his teens Edwards started listening to, playing, and collecting what he called American "hillbilly" music. As his collection grew in the mid-1950s, he also began compiling professional discographies of early American country music of the 1920s and 1930s. Edwards, along with a few others, such as Eugene Earle, pioneered discographical research in this field. Around 1953, he started corresponding with other record collectors in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He continued both activities, producing a greater output each year until he died in an automobile crash in 1960.

After he was graduated from high school, Edwards accepted the job he would hold until his death, roster officer in the Department of Transport. He apparently worked there chiefly to earn money to build his collection.

Edwards had another avocation, hiking. He was a "bush walker," and also apparently an amateur botanist and map maker. In 1967, Mount Edwards was named in commemoration of his outdoor work.

This collection consists chiefly of letters from fellow collectors and Edwards's record collection inventories. There are also some letters from John Edwards, writings, legal papers, copies of song lyrics, photographs, and material about Edwards. Edwards was a prolific correspondent in the period 1954-1960. The letters generally concern record finds, discographical information, and tape or record trades.

Ever the meticulous record keeper, Edwards logged his outgoing correspondence for 1956 and 1958. Beginning in 1958, Edwards produced typed copies of his record collection discographies, updating them several times annually. These listings will help researchers determine the original holdings of what became the John Edwards Memorial Collection.

Photocopies of letters from John Edwards to Jim Evans. Originals are housed at the Country Music Foundation.

• Series 4. Pictures