Connections in Collections
Part of a series: Diamonds In The Rough
Through a grant-funded project awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the Autry National Center sets out to process approximately 2,000 linear feet of archival material over two years, ending in 2012. Every third week of the month, the Autry Libraries blog will feature collection gems being brought to light by NHRPC Project Archivist Holly Rose Larson.
Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys, with Smokey Rogers in front, circa 1935. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
One of the funnest things about working with archival collections at a historical institution like the Autry is when the connections between collections are revealed, showing us a more holistic picture of a certain moment or era.
While processing the papers of Smokey Rogers and his wife Maymie Anderson, I learned that the two were friends of Nudie and Bobbi Cohn. Of course, I knew that they were associates, because I had seen Smokey’s name in Nudie’s customer files (MIMSY MSA.30 in our online catalog). But I didn’t realize the full extent of their connection until I ran across this photo in the Smokey and Maymie archives:
Smokey, Bobbi, Nudie, and Maymie, circa 1974–1984. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
But then I found this, which was really special: a photograph of Nudie playing his mandolin! There wasn’t even a photo of this in the Nudie archive!
Smokey Rogers and Nudie Cohn performing onstage. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
And of course, they had photos of their other friends, too:
Smokey with Spade Cooley and others, 1944. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
Shirley Adams, famous for her performances at the Town Hall Parties in Compton, California, in the 1950s, with our founder Gene Autry, who was honored by the American Folk Music Council at a Town Hall Party in the 1950s. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
The more work we do in our archives, the more connections we can make! Take a look in our libraries and archives catalog and see if there are any connections you’d like to investigate! http://autry.iii.com/
Smokey in front of his marquis, circa 1969. Smokey Rogers and Maymie Anderson Papers, 1931–2003, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MSA.36
