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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.

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)
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)
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)
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)
(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)
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)
Jasper Love, Clarksdale by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Jasper Love, Clarksdale, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 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)
Gussie Tobe, Leland by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Gussie Tobe, Leland, 1968
Gelatin silver print
17 x 11 in
(43.18 x 27.94 cm)
Aden White, Crossroads Store, Reganton, Miss. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Aden White, Crossroads Store, Reganton, Miss., 1974
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
"Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979 by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • "Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979, 1979
Chromogenic print
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)
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)
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)
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)
Maudie Shirley and Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Maudie Shirley and Wallace "Pine Top" Johnson, 1968
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 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)
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)
Rebecca Davenport, Washington, D.C. by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • Rebecca Davenport, Washington, D.C., 1982
Gelatin silver print
9 x 13.5 in
(22.86 x 34.29 cm)
B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston by William R. Ferris
  • William R. Ferris
  • B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston, 1976
Gelatin silver print
11 x 17 in
(27.94 x 43.18 cm)
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