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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.

Unidentified Street Actress, Kent's Alley, Leland, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified Street Actress, Kent's Alley, Lela..., 1974
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)
Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks, Fairfield, Conn., 1979
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Bobby Rush, Oxford, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Bobby Rush, Oxford, Miss., 1987
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Lucindy McGriggs, Mary Gordon, John Henry Wright, Diane Wright Smith, Beatrice Wright McGowan, ... Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lucindy McGriggs, Mary Gordon, John Henry Wrigh..., 1975
Chromogenic print
16.25 x 24 in
(41.28 x 60.96 cm)
Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alex Haley, Norris, Tenn., 1990
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 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)
William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Roa..., 1963
Chromogenic print
24 x 16.125 in
(60.96 x 40.96 cm)
Julien Binford, Powhatan County, Va. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Julien Binford, Powhatan County, Va., 1982
Gelatin silver print
13.5 x 9 in
(34.29 x 22.86 cm)
Alice Walker, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Alice Walker, New Haven, Conn., 1977
Gelatin silver print
11.75 x 16.5 in
(29.85 x 41.91 cm)
Louis Dotson, Lorman by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Louis Dotson, Lorman, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Unidentified man and woman, Cohn Brothers Country Store, Lorman, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Unidentified man and woman, Cohn Brothers Count..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Roadside trailer, Highway 61, north of Vicksburg, Mississippi, March 1977 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Roadside trailer, Highway 61, north of Vicksbur..., 1977
Chromogenic print
Eudora Welty, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Eudora Welty, New Haven, Conn., 1974
Gelatin silver print
11.75 x 16.5 in
(29.85 x 41.91 cm)
"Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • "Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979, 1979
Chromogenic print
Benny Andrews, New York, N.Y. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Benny Andrews, New York, N.Y., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Fairfield, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Fairfiel..., 1979
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
Lee Kizart, Tutwiler by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Lee Kizart, Tutwiler, 1968
Gelatin silver print
13.25 x 9 in
(33.66 x 22.86 cm)
Margaret Walker, New Haven, Conn. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Margaret Walker, New Haven, Conn., 1978
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gib..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
Willie Dixon, Yale University by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Willie Dixon, Yale University, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
C.L. Redwine and Corine Gardner, Coahoma County by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • C.L. Redwine and Corine Gardner, Coahoma County, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
Jim Steed, Route 1, Box 18A, Utrea, Mississippi, 1974 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Jim Steed, Route 1, Box 18A, Utrea, Mississippi..., 1974
Chromogenic print
16.125 x 24 in
(40.96 x 60.96 cm)
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)
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