Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld Collection on Gandy Dancers Documentary Film, 1991-1993

Collection Number: 20240

Collection Title: Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld Collection on Gandy Dancers Documentary Film, 1991-1993

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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.

Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size	68 items
Abstract	The collection contains film elements compiled during the making of Gandy Dancers, a 1994 documentary directed and produced by Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld. "Gandy dancer" is a slang term for a railroad section worker who lays and repairs track. Holtzeberg and Dornfeld's film features eight retired African American rail workers or gandy dancers. The retirees share stories of working in the mid-twentieth-century, segregated South, discuss organized labor and the safety standards and hazards of rail work, and demonstrate their occupation's musical and folklore traditions, especially rail calls (cadence chants) and work songs. These rail calls and work songs often had sexually explicit lyrics, while others had religious faith and social protest as themes. Acquired as part of the Southern Folklife Collection.
Creator	Holtzberg, Maggie, 1955- Dornfeld, Barry, 1958-
Curatorial Unit	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection.
Language	English

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Restrictions to Access: Use of audio or visual materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

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 Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld Collection on Gandy Dancers Documentary Film #20240, Southern Folklife Collection, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information: Received 2018 (Acc. 103487).

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.

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Encoded by: Laura Smith

Updated by Andrew Crook and Laura Smith, October 2022; April 2024

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

Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Maggie Holtzberg (1955-) and Barry Dornfeld (1958-) were co-directors and producers of the 1994 documentary film Gandy Dancers. The film featured retired African American railroad workers sharing their stories, musical traditions and railroad calls.

Maggie Holtzberg is a folklorist with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and the author of The Lost World of the Craft Printer and Portrait of Spirit: One Story at a Time. She has served as the folklife program director at the Georgia Council for the Arts and the manager of the folk arts program at the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Barry Dornfeld is a documentary filmmaker whose other films include Eatala: A Life in Klezmer, LaVaughn Robinson: Dancing History, Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown, and Plenty of Good Women Dancers: African-American Women Hoofers in Philadelphia. He holds a PhD from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Dornfeld has taught at New York University and worked at a management consulting firm.

Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection contains film elements compiled during the making of Gandy Dancers, a 1994 documentary directed and produced by Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld. "Gandy dancer" is a slang term for a railroad section worker who lays and repairs track. Holtzeberg and Dornfeld's film features eight retired African American rail workers or gandy dancers. The retirees share stories of working in the mid-twentieth-century, segregated South, discuss organized labor and the safety standards and hazards of rail work, and demonstrate their occupation's musical and folklore traditions, especially rail calls (cadence chants) and work songs. These rail calls and work songs often had sexually explicit lyrics, while others had religious faith and social protest as themes.

Contents list

Expand/collapse Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld Collection on Gandy Dancers Documentary Film, 1991-1993

Film F-20240/1	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 2400 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/2	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/3	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/4	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1222 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/5	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1228 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/6	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/7	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color
Film F-20240/8	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; B/W Box reads: "Customer: Georgia State, Subject: Gandy Dancers"
Film F-20240/9	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color Box reads: "Customer: Georgia State, Subject: Gandy Dancers"
Film F-20240/10	Gandy Dancers, 1993 16mm 1000 feet
Film F-20240/11	Gandy Dancers, 1993, pix 16mm 3600 feet
Film F-20240/54	Gandy Dancers, 1993, mag 16mm
Film F-20240/12	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 300 feet Mag stock; Magnetic
Film F-20240/13	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 350 feet Mag stock; Magnetic DC Fest - Tone/Wild
Film F-20240/14	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 650 feet Mag stock; Magnetic
Film F-20240/15	Gandy Dancers, 1992 16mm 700 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Ambient Mechanized Crew; Wild mech scenes
Film F-20240/16	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 900 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Interview w/Cornelius Wright Jr. + Sr. Sync Track 3
Film F-20240/17	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 700 feet Positive; Color "Group Interview" Roll 1 Sync Pic
Film F-20240/18	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 950 feet Mag stock; Magnetic "DC Festival" Sync Track
Film F-20240/19	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1100 feet Positive; Color "DC Festival" Sync Pic
Film F-20240/20	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 800 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Wild Sound - Trains
Film F-20240/21	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 700 feet Mag stock; Magnetic "Group Interview" Roll 1 Sync Track
Film F-20240/22	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 400 feet Mag stock; Magnetic "Carrington and Brown Interview" Sync Track HDS
Film F-20240/23	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 900 feet Mag stock; Magnetic "Linin Track" Sync Track 1 HDS
Film F-20240/24	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1100 feet Positive; Color "Linin Track" Sync Pic 1
Film F-20240/25	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 350 feet Mag stock; Magnetic WILD TRK "Linin' Track" HDS
Film F-20240/26	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 900 feet Positive; Color "Lining Track" Roll 2, Sync Track; optical sound (stereo)
Film F-20240/27	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1000 feet Positive; Color "Lining Track" Roll 2, Sync Pix
Film F-20240/28	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 200 feet Positive; Color M.O.S. Interviews
Film F-20240/29	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 250 feet Mag and Pix Mag stock (Wild - Wright Interview "Sewing Machine" Call), Positive, Color (Trims/Pix from missing roll)
Film F-20240/30	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 500 feet Mag stock; Magnetic
Film F-20240/31	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 550 feet Positive; Color Mechanical Crew + Training Sync Pix
Film F-20240/32	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 500 feet Positive; Color Stills (U.B.) M.O.S.
Film F-20240/33	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 200 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Wild Track for Group Interviews
Film F-20240/34	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 150 feet Positive; B/W Bono Film & Video Services 3200 Lee Highway Arlington, Virginia 22207; From National Archive = Not Printed; 200 FC 1770-72 FGM
Film F-20240/35	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 300 feet Positive; Color Mechanized Crew + Trains/Sync Track; Synch Marks; PIX
Film F-20240/36	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 300 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Frisco First Trk, Synch Marks
Film F-20240/37	Gandy Dancers, 1992 16mm 300 feet Inter Negative; Color Gandy Dancers Film Project 2 Tabs "Frisco First" 16 InterNegative, 1-16-92
Film F-20240/38	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 650 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Cole Intv, Roll 1 Sync TRK
Film F-20240/39	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 750 feet Positive; Color Cole Interview, Roll 1 SYNC PIC
Film F-20240/40	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 650 feet Positive; Color Optical sound (stereo), M.O.S. Train Shots/Alabama
Film F-20240/41	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 700 feet Positive; Color MOS Mech Crew
Film F-20240/42	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 700 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Group Intv Roll 2 Sync Track
Film F-20240/43	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 700 feet Positive; Color Group Intv Roll 2 Sync Pic
Film F-20240/44	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 750 feet Positive; Color Sync Pic Intv w/Cornelius Wright Jr. + Sr.
Film F-20240/45	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 650 feet Positive; Color Interview w/Cornelius Wright Jr. + Sr., Sync pic 2
Film F-20240/46	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 750 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Interview w/Cornelius Wright Jr. + Sr. Sync Track
Film F-20240/47	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 600 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Interview w/Cornelius Wright Jr. + Sr. Sync Track 2
Film F-20240/48	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 564 feet Negative; Color Three rolls on cores; Dornfield Natl Archives
Film F-20240/49	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1200 feet Negative; Color Neg Outs Pulled for Opt
Film F-20240/50	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1000 feet Positive; Color Interview w/ Cornelius Wright Jr + Sr., Sync Pix 3
Film F-20240/51	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 950 feet Mag stock; Magnetic "Cole Interview" Roll 2 Sync Track
Film F-20240/52	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1000 feet Positive; Color "Cole Interview" Roll 2 Sync Pic
Film F-20240/53	Gandy Dancers, 1991 16mm 1000 feet Mag stock; Magnetic Wild Trains 4, S.R. 4
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18240	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 1, 31 May 1991 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: 5-31-91, Gandy Dancers, Roll #1
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18241	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 2 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #2
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18242	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #3
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18243	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 4 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll 4
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18244	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 5, Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr. interview, 31 May 1991, reel 1 of 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #5, Interview w/ Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr., 5/31/91, First Reel of Interview, Mostly Sync
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18245	Gandy Dancers': Roll 6, Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr. interview, 31 May 1991, reel 2 of 3' 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers #6, Interview with Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr., 5/31/91, Sync
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18246	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 7, Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr. interview, 31 May 1991, reel 3 of 3, Group Re-Creation, Calera, AL.,1 June 1991, reel 1 of 3 31 May 1991; 1 June 1991 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers , Roll #7, Interview with Cornelius Wright Jr. and Cornelius Wright Sr., 5/31/91, Group Recreation 6/1/91, Calera, Alabama, Sync and Wild
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18247	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 8, Group Re-Creation, Calera, AL, 1 June 1991, reel 2 of 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #8, Group Re-creation, 6/1/91, Calera, Alabama, All sync material and some wild
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18248	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 9, Group Re-Creation, Calera, AL, 1 June 1991, reel 3 of 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #9, Group Re-creation, 6/1/91, Cornelius Wright, John Mealing, Henry Caffey, Abraham Parker, Arthur James, Mostly Sync, Last Reel of Work Re-creation
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18249	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 10, Group Re-Creation, Calera, AL, 1 June 1991, Gandy Dancer Group Interview 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: Gandy Dancers, Roll #10, Group Recreation, 6/1/91, Gandy Dancers Gathering in Calera, Alabama, This reel is all group interview
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18250	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 11, Group Re-creation, 1 June 1991, Group Interview, John Cole interview, 2 June 1991, reel 1 of 3 1-2 June 1991 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: G-1 & G-2 1991, Gandy Dancers, Roll #11, G-1 Group Recreation 6/1/91, CR22, Group Interview, G-2 John Cole Interview, 6/2/91, CR 23, Recorded on Mono Nagra
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18251	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 12, John Cole interview, Lauderdale, MS, 2 June 1991, reel 2 of 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: 6-2-91, Gandy Dancers, Roll 12, Interview with John Cole, 6/2/91, At his house in Lauderdale, MS
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18252	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 13, John Cole interview, Lauderdale, MS, 2 June 1991, reel 3 of 3 1/4" Open Reel Audio Back of Box: 6-2-91, Gandy Dancers, Roll 13, Interview with John Cole, 6/2/91, At his house in Lauderdale, MS
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18253	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 14, 29 June 1991 1/4" Open Reel Audio Note on Reel: Barry Dornfeld, Gandy Dancers, SR 14, 6/29/91
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20240/18254	'Gandy Dancers': Roll 15, 29 June 1991 1/4" Open Reel Audio Note on Reel: Barry Dornfeld, Gandy Dancers, SR 15, 6/29/91

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Films (F-20240/1-54)
Audiotapes (FT-20240/18249-18254)

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Collection Number: 20240 Collection Title: Maggie Holtzberg and Barry Dornfeld Collection on Gandy Dancers Documentary Film, 1991-1993