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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.

Shelby Fitzpatrick, Hester Magnunson, Martha Ferris, King, and Queenie, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, ... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Shelby Fitzpatrick, Hester Magnunson, Martha Fe..., 1963
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 x 60.96 cm)
"Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • "Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979, 1979
Chromogenic print
Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Fannie Bell Chapman, Centreville, 1972
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Alex Haley, Universal Studios, Universal City, Calif. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Universal Studios, Universal City, ..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Store keys held by Aden Fisher white, S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Re... by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Store keys held by Aden Fisher white, S.M. Whit..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bus Barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Summer 1976, 1976
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Rose Hill Church pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Waren County, Mississippi, 1976 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Wa..., 1976
Chromogenic print
15.75 x 24 in
(40.01 x 60.96 cm)
Robert Appleton, Rose Hill, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Appleton, Rose Hill, Miss., 1969
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Rose Hill, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Eudora Welty, Rose Hill, Miss., 1985
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Rose Hill Church & Congregation by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rose Hill Church & Congregation, 1975
Chromogenic print
13.375 x 20 in
(33.97 x 50.8 cm)
Alice Walker, Rowan Oak, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alice Walker, Rowan Oak, Miss., 1994
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
B.B. King, Yale University by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • B.B. King, Yale University, 1977
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 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)
Crescent Theatre, 211 North Hayden Street, Belzoni, Mississippi, 1977 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Crescent Theatre, 211 North Hayden Street, Belz..., 1977
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Robert Penn Warren and Eudora Welty, White House, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren and Eudora Welty, White Hous..., 1980
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Painted door sign, Indianola, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Painted door sign, Indianola, Mississippi, 1974, 1974
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
C.L. Redwine, Coahoma County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C.L. Redwine, Coahoma County, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aurelia Young and Margaret Walker, Oxford, Miss., 1988
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 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)
Othar Turner and Sharde Turner, Gravel Springs by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Othar Turner and Sharde Turner, Gravel Springs, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Rural Church, Highway 27, West of Vicksburg, Mississippi, March 1972 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rural Church, Highway 27, West of Vicksburg, Mi..., 1972
Chromogenic print
20.125 x 24 in
(51.12 x 60.96 cm)
James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • James "Son Ford" Thomas, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Robert Penn Warren, C. Vann Woodward, and Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Robert Penn Warren, C. Vann Woodward, and Clean..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Louvennia Willis and Nora (a neighbors' child), Route 1, Box 86, Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louvennia Willis and Nora (a neighbors' child),..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 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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