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Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College

Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College

Davidson, NORTH CAROLINA

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  • Artist: William R. Ferris (American, b. 1942)

Ferris is an American author and scholar born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Ferris' work focused on southern African American folklore and culture. He earned his BA in English Literature from Davidson College in 1964, his MA in English Literature from Northwestern University in 1965, and a PhD in Folklore from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. He was selected by President Bill Clinton to be the Chair of the National Endowment of the Humanities, a position which he held from 1997 to 2001. Ferris has written fiction, poetry, as well as book, record, and film reviews. He has recorded blues albums and produced 15 documentary films on southern folklore.

C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C. Vann Woodward, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9.5 x 13 in
(24.13 x 33.02 cm)
Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn., 1990
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Oxford, Miss., 1987
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Carroll Cloar, Memphis, Tenn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Carroll Cloar, Memphis, Tenn., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, Fisher..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 x 60.96 cm)
Louis Dotson, Lorman by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louis Dotson, Lorman, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Tom Dumas, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Tom Dumas, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Sterling Brown, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Scott Dunbar, Lake Mary by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Scott Dunbar, Lake Mary, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Head of cedar walking cane carved by Luster Willis, Crystal Springs, Mississippi 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Head of cedar walking cane carved by Luster Wil..., 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, 1975
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
John Blassingame, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • John Blassingame, New Haven, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
John Dollard, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • John Dollard, New Haven, Conn., 1975
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Unidentified watermelon vendor and son, Betcheimer Store, Highway 27, Utica, Mississippi by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified watermelon vendor and son, Betchei..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Wes Carter Lake, Warren County, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Wes Carter Lake, Warren County, Mississippi, 1974, 1974
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Highway 61, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Highway 61, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
17.125 x 24 in
(43.5 x 60.96 cm)
William Eggleston, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Eggleston, Oxford, Miss., 1986
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
William Dunlap, McLean, Va. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Dunlap, McLean, Va., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Unidentified rider and pony, Yazoo City, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified rider and pony, Yazoo City, Missis..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn., 1978
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
James Bottom, Ross Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • James Bottom, Ross Road, Warren County, Mississ..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Robert Appleton, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Appleton, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren Coun..., 1963
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.25 in
(60.96 x 41.28 cm)
(left to right) "Little Son" Jefferson, James "Son Ford" Thomas, Gussie Tobe, and "Moon Shine" (seated), Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • (left to right) "Little Son" Jefferson, James "..., 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Ernest Gaines, San Francisco, Calif., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
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