Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families photographs and oral histories, 2008-2009

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Summary

Creator:
Rue, Elena, Rankin, Tom, Schapiro, Steve, Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, and Blair, Alix Lowrey
Abstract:
The Center for Documentary Studies is a center at Duke University established for the study of the documentary process. The color photographs and oral histories in the Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families collection form part of a multimedia project carried out under the auspices of the Center for Documentary Studies. Beginning in March 2008, photographers Alix Lowrey Blair, Andrew Lewis, Tom Rankin, Elena Rue, and Steve Schapiro, along with audio specialists Ben Adler, Rob Dillard, Camille Lacapa, Susannah Lee, and John Biewen, each visited an American farm and documented the farm families' experiences over the course of a year. The locations for the Five Farms series are: a family farm on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; an organic farm in California's Capay Valley; a dairy farm in western Massachusetts; a diversified farm in central Iowa; and an African American-owned hog farm in eastern North Carolina. Details on each farm are found in the series descriptions in this collection guide. Acquired by the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Extent:
1.0 Linear Foot (2 boxes; 50 color photographic prints)
54.6 Megabytes (940 files)
50 prints; 940 electronic files
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00200

Background

Scope and content:

The color photographs and oral histories in the Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families collection form part of a multimedia project carried out under the auspices of the Center for Documentary Studies. Beginning in March 2008, photographers Alix Lowrey Blair, Andrew Lewis, Tom Rankin, Elena Rue, and Steve Schapiro, along with audio specialists Ben Adler, Rob Dillard, Camille Lacapa, Susannah Lee, and John Biewen, each visited an American farm and documented the farm families' experiences over the course of a year. The locations for the Five Farms series are: a family farm on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; an organic farm in California's Capay Valley; a dairy farm in western Massachusetts; a diversified farm in central Iowa; and an African American-owned hog farm in eastern North Carolina. Details on each farm are found in the series descriptions in this collection guide.

The photographs in the collection, chosen for the 2009 project exhibit, feature views of farmers and family members, farm workers, farm animals, and landscapes. The first set of 25 13x16-inch color digital prints, five from each photographer, is accompanied by a second set of 25 prints of the same images, but in varying sizes ranging from 12 1/8 x 17 inches to 13 3/8 x 20 inches. All prints are arranged and foldered by geographical location. The photographer's names are written on the back of all the prints, and the captions are also included on the backs of the prints in the first set.

The oral history interviews and short sound files, over 100 hours of recordings, provide many details on the lives of the families, typical activities on each farm, the local culture and natural environments, and thoughts of individuals on the past, present, and the future. Also included are digital files containing ambient sounds, theme music, and credits, all used in a five-part Public Media radio program broadcast in July 2009. Although most of the files are currently stored in .wav format, there are also a handfule of mp3 files.

The Five Farms project culminated in an exhibit from April 27-August 21, 2009 at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies; other outreach included a multimedia website and programs on public radio stations nationwide.

Acquired by the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Acquisition information:
The Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families photographs and oral histories were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2011, 2012, and 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Matthew Warren, February 2013

Encoded by Paula Jeannet, Matthew Warren, February 2013

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2011-0130; 2012-0089; 2015-0008.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains electronic records that may need to be reformatted. Access copies of electronic records require special equipment. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families photographs and oral histories, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m13307