Location: Archon Homer Ledford Papers Finding Aid

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Homer Ledford Papers, 1952-2011 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Margaret Foote

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

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Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7: Audio Recordings, 1993-1994],
[Box 8: Audio Recordings, 1990s],
[Folder OS 1: Oversize],
[Item 1: Kentucky Collage],
[Item 2: Honorary Degree Hood],
[All]

Box 1

Barcode: 31234014045106

Folder 1: Correspondence and Contracts, 1960-1969

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 2: Correspondence and Contracts, 1970-1979

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, and various fairs, festivals and workshops. After 1976 these materials include information about Cabin Creek Band.

Folder 3: Correspondence and Contracts, 1980-1985

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 4: Correspondence and Contracts, 1986-1989

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 5: Correspondence and Contracts, 1990-1992

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 6: Correspondence and Contracts, 1993-1995

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 7: Correspondence and Contracts, 1996-1998

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Box 2

Barcode: 31234014045080

Folder 1: Correspondence and Contracts, 1999-2001

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 2: Correspondence and Contracts, 2002-2003

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 3: Correspondence and Contracts, 2004-2009

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 4: Correspondence and Contracts, Undated

Includes correspondence and contracts regarding instruments, orders, performances and various fairs, festivals and workshops.

Folder 5: Design-Banjo, Undated

Includes sketches and designs for banjos.

Folder 6: Design-Dulcimer and Guitar, Undated

Includes sketches and designs for dulcimers and guitars.

Folder 7: Design-Mandolin and Dulcilin, Undated

Includes sketches and designs for mandolins and one for a dulcilin, an experimental instrument.

Folder 8: Drawings by Cindy Lowy, Undated

Cindy Ledford Lowy is one of Ledford's daughters; this folder contains some of the drawings used in Ledford's autobiographical book, See You Further Up the Creek.

Folder 9: Instrument Inventory, Undated

An inventory of instruments made by Ledford and information about a loan of instruments to Eastern Kentucky University, possibly in the 1980s, although many of these instruments are the same ones in the 2010 loan.

Folder 10: Design and Construction of Musical Instruments

Essay written by Homer Ledford. He writes about the history of instruments, their design, types of woods used, and instrument making in high school shop classes.

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014045098

Folder 1: Articles and Programs, 1952-1970

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals and workshops he attended.

Folder 2: Articles and Programs, 1971-1974

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals and workshops he attended.

Folder 3: Articles and Programs, 1975-1979

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 4: Articles and Programs, 1980-1984

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 5: Articles and Programs, 1985-1988

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 6: Articles and Programs, Ecuador, 1989

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 7: Articles and Programs, 1989-1991

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Box 4

Barcode: 31234014045056

Folder 1: Articles and Programs, 1992-1993

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 2: Articles and Programs, 1994

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 3: Articles and Programs, 1995

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 4: Articles and Programs, 1996

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 5: Articles and Programs, 1997

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 6: Articles and Programs, 1998

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 7: Articles and Programs, 1999

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Box 5

Barcode: 31234014045064

Folder 1: Articles and Programs, 2000

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 2: Articles and Programs, 2001-2002

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 3: Articles and Programs, 2003

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 4: Articles and Programs, 2004

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 5: Articles and Programs, 2005-2011

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 6: Articles and Programs, Undated

Newspaper and magazine articles about Ledford as well as programs, flyers and other information about fairs, festivals, performances and workshops he attended.

Folder 7: Biographical and Genealogical Papers, Undated

Ledford's handwritten and typed notes on various performances and workshops he attended. Several biographical sketches compiled by various authors. Some of these have edits as the information was updated, but most are undated. Also includes a print out of a Ledford family genealogy showing the family from William Ledford (1722-1796) to Homer Ledford.

Folder 8: Business Brochures, Undated

Brochures from Ledford's luthier business

Folder 9: Cabin Creek Band, Undated

Contact information for band members, flyers and a list of the Berea College inventory of the radio program "Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band."

Folder 10: Fan Photograph, Undated

Of Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys: Ledford treasured this photograph of the pioneering bluegrass band from probably the mid-1940s.  Monroe's mandolin, in the lower left hand corner, was especially inspirational to Ledford.

Item 1: Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, 1945

Photo of the band from a program with song lyrics on the back from the Grand Ole Opry.

Physical Description: 10.5x8

Folder 11: Photographs, 1983, undated

Includes many of the photographs used in Gerald Alvey

Item 2: Dulcimer made by Homer Ledford

Physical Description: 3.5x4.0

Item 3: The Ledford Family in "The World Is Your Hometown", Nov, 1972

Homer Ledford and Family performing "The World Is Your Hometown".

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 4: Homer Ledford and The Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 5: Homer Ledford and The Cabin Creek Band

9 images of Homer Ledford and Cabin Creek Band.

Physical Description: 7.5x10

Item 6: Homer Ledford and The Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 7: Homer Ledford and The Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 8: Old-Style End Block of a Dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 9: Fine Tuners of a Dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 10: Fine Tuners

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 11: Homer Ledford using Lucite scale to mark fret, nut, and bridge positions.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 12: Homer Ledford punching holes for staple-type frets.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 13: Homer Ledford carving scalloped peg head.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 14: Homer Ledford laying the fingerboard.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 15: Homer Ledford attaching the finger board to a dulcimer.

Item 16: Homer Ledford attaching the fingerboard to the head of a dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 17: Turners Being Attached To Head of Dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 18: Strings being attached to the bridge

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 19: Mother of Pearl Inlay in the Shape of a Flower

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 20: Close Up of a Song board Including the Dulcimer String

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 21: Close Up Of A Dulcimer With Homer Ledford's Signature

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 22: Sound hole

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 23: Homer Ledford Working On Instrument

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 24: Dulcimer before the main pieces are attached.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 25: Using Bent Nail To Create Purfling

Creator: Jerry O. Schureman

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 26: Homer Ledford Working On Dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 27: Carving a Scalloped Peg Head

Creator: Jerry O. Schureman

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 28: Positioning Fingerboard Between Pegbox And End Block

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 29: Homer's Traditional Performing Stance

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 30: Homer Ledford Installing Sides of a Dulcimer

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 31: Homer Ledford aligning the dulcimer back with the pegbox before trimming it to the proper length.

Creator: Jerry O. Schureman

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 32: Homer Ledford fitting the dulcimer side into the end block.

Creator: Jerry O. Schureman

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 33: Homer Ledford using his pocketknife to give the pegbox its final contours.

Creator: Jerry O. Schureman

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 34: Homer Ledford With Dulcimer

Homer Ledford presenting a dulcimer in Winchester, Kentucky.

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 35: Homer Ledford Multi-Instrumentalist

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 36: Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 8x10

Item 37: Homer Ledford Holding a Mandolin

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 38: Dulcimer Being Played

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 39: Homer Ledford Playing His Dulcitar

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 40: Dulcimers Being Made

A finished dulcimer next to a dulcimer being created.

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 41: Homer and Colista Ledford Playing a  Sweetheart Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 42: Homer Ledford Playing a Sweetheart Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 43: Homer Ledford Playing a Sweetheart Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 44: Homer and Colista Ledford Playing a  Sweetheart Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 45: Ledford attaching the fingerboard to the scroll of a dulcimer.

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 46: Ledford attaching the pegbox to the scroll.

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 47: Homer Ledford Playing the Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 48: Homer Ledford

Physical Description: 3.5x3.5

Item 49: Cabin Creek Band

Backrow- Homer and Mike Minor. Front- John Barker, Kathy Angimeyer, and Larry Stewart

Physical Description: 3.5x4.0

Item 50: Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 51: Cabin Creek Band, Nov, 1982

Homer Ledford, Art Mize, Melissa Eubanks, David Cope, and John Baker.

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 52: Unidentified Musicians

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 53: Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 54: Cabin Creek Band

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 55: Homer Ledford and Others Playing Instruments, Apr, 1985

Homer Ledford and group of men playing traditional bluegrass instruments.

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 56: Homer Ledford Playing His Mandolin

Physical Description: 4.0x3.5

Item 57: Homer Ledford Holding a Dulcimer

Physical Description: 5x3.5

Item 58: Specialty Carved Dulcimer Scroll

Dulcimer scroll carved to look like a man's face.

Physical Description: 5x3.5

Item 59: Cabin Creek Band Performing

Physical Description: 5x3.5

Item 60: Cabin Creek Band Performing

Physical Description: 5x3.5

Item 61: Cabin Creek Band Performing

Physical Description: 3.5x4.5

Item 62: Cabin Creek Band Performing

Physical Description: 3.5x4.5

Item 63: Homer Ledford Playing His Dulcimer

Physical Description: 3.5x4.5

Item 64: Cabin Creek Band Performing

Physical Description: 3.5x4.5

Item 65: Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band at the Lions Club Show., Apr, 1984

Photo includes Gene Hall, Dave Cope, Homer Ledford,  Jen Sunega, and Lee Mastin (Dancing).

Physical Description: 3.5x5.0

Item 66: Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band at the Lions Club Show., Apr, 1984

Photo includes Gene Hall, Dave Cope, Jen Sunega, and Homer Ledford.

Physical Description: 3.5x4.0

Item 67: Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band at the Lions Club Show., Apr, 1984

Photo includes Gene Hall, Dave Cope, Jen Sunega, and Homer Ledford.

Physical Description: 3.5x4.0

Item 68: Homer Ledford Playing a Saw

Physical Description: 6.0x4.0

Item 69: Homer Ledford Holding Instrument

Physical Description: 6.0x4.0

Item 70: Historic Marker in Honor of Homer Ledford.

Physical Description: 4.0x6.0

Item 71: Homer Ledford, Helen Harmon-Cargile and Colista Ledford

Cargile presents Ledford with the Southern Highland Craft Guild Life Time Achievement Award.

Physical Description: 5.5x4.0

Item 72: Cabin Creek Band  Performing

Cabin Creek performing at Meadow Green Park.

Physical Description: 4.0x6.0

Item 73: Homer Ledford and Unidentified Man

Homer Ledford and unknown man hold article with the headline "Mountain Music Man".

Physical Description: 4.0x6.0

Item 74: Homer Ledford Standing Outside Southwest Virginia Community College

Physical Description: 4.0x6.0

Item 75: The Ledford Family Honored by the Kentucky Senate

Physical Description: 4.0x6.0

Item 76: Homer Ledford

Physical Description: 5.0x7.0

Item 77: Homer Ledford Performing

Physical Description: 7.0x5.0

Item 78: Homer Ledford and his Family at the Wesley Retirement Village Awards., Oct, 2003

Physical Description: 5.0x6.5

Item 79: Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band.

Physical Description: 5.0x6.5

Folder 12: Photographs, 1983, undated

Negatives

Item 80: Homer Ledford Playing Dulcimer

6 images of Ledford playing under a tree.

Physical Description: 2.5x5.5

Item 81: Homer Ledford Book-Instruments, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford instruments

Physical Description: 120

Item 82: Homer Ledford Book-Instruments, Jul, 1983

9 images of details of Ledford instruments as well as carved sculptures and carving tools.

Physical Description: 120

Item 83: Homer Ledford Book-Instruments, Jun, 1983

2 images of instrument details and tools.

Physical Description: 120

Item 84: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford working in his shop.

Physical Description: 120

Item 85: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford working in his shop.

Physical Description: 120

Item 86: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford working in his shop.

Physical Description: 120

Item 87: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford working in his shop.

Physical Description: 120

Item 88: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

9 images of Ledford working in his shop.

Physical Description: 120

Item 89: Homer Ledford Book-Shop, Jun, 1983

8 images of Ledford working in his shop and playing a dulcimer.

Physical Description: 120

Item 90: Edna Ritchie Baker

9 images of Baker playing a dulcimer.

Physical Description: 120

Item 91: Miscellaneous Photos

12 images that include wood carvings by Homer Ledford, headshots of Homer and Colista Ledford, Edna Ritchie Baker, and Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band.

Physical Description: 35mm

Item 92: Homer Ledford Book (Shop), Jun, 1983

2 images of Ledford working on instruments.

Physical Description: 120

Folder 13: Woodsongs, Undated

Brochures, schedules and flyers from the Woodsongs radio show.

Box 6

Barcode: 31234014045031

Folder 1: Musical instrument ledger (2397-5061), 1973-1985

Record by Ledford of the instruments he made; each entry is numbered and includes information about the purchaser and the instrument.

Folder 2: Musical instrument ledger (5043-6014), 1985-2005

Record by Ledford of the instruments he made; each entry is numbered and includes information about the purchaser and the instrument.

Folder 3: Song Lists, Undated

Used in performances of Homer Ledford and Cabin Creek Band.

Folder 4: Certificates, 1965-2007

Certificates received by Ledford recognizing his many accomplishments.

Folder 5: KGAC directories, 1991; 1993

Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen, of which Ledford was a member.  Handbook and Membership Directory for 1991 and for 1993.

Folder 6: Kentucky Presenter, 1997-1998

Directory from the Kentucky Arts Council.

Folder 7: Kentucky Performing Arts Directory, 1999-2006

Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band is included in each directory.

Folder 8: Crafts of the Southern Highlands, 1960s

by poet Jonathan Williams, a substantial article with photographs from about 1970, published probably by Craft Horizons.

Box 7: Audio Recordings, 1993-1994

Cassette recordings of Kentucky Traditions, a weekly radio program at WSKV in Stanton, KY. This collection of recordings is not complete.

Barcode: 31234014045023

Box 8: Audio Recordings, 1990s

Cassette recordings of Kentucky Traditions, a weekly radio program at WSKV in Stanton, KY. This collection of recordings is not complete. Also includes the album, Cutting the Grass and 5 volumes of Kentucky Traditions albums.

Barcode: 31234014045015

Folder OS 1: Oversize

Contains posters, programs, news clippings, a proclamation signed by Martha Layne Collins, and a large get well card signed by dozens of people.

Barcode: 31234013921992

Item 1: Kentucky Collage

Painting by Larry Carroll used for an album cover.

Barcode: 31234013921984

Item 2: Honorary Degree Hood

Hood from his honorary degree awarded by Eastern Kentucky University.

Barcode: 31234013922164

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7: Audio Recordings, 1993-1994],
[Box 8: Audio Recordings, 1990s],
[Folder OS 1: Oversize],
[Item 1: Kentucky Collage],
[Item 2: Honorary Degree Hood],
[All]

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