Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- This collection contains photographs and sound recordings by folklorist Robert Stone. These materials document the Sacred Steel gospel tradition from two African American Pentecostal churches in Florida: the House of God, Keith Dominion and the Church of the Living God, Jewell Dominion.
- Extent:
- 9 Linear Feet 15 photograph boxes (9 linear feet), 184 audio cassettes, 27 minidiscs, 34 digital audiotapes
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Item title], Robert Stone Sacred Steel Collection (AF-005). The Arhoolie Foundation, El Cerrito, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection comprises Stone's documentary work on the Sacred Steel tradition. Photographic materials include negatives, black and white proofs, and color prints. Stone's photographs document performances, church services, and music festivals such as the Sacred Steel Convention and the National Folk Festival. The sound recordings include original tapes and digitized audio files. Stone's sound recordings feature interviews with significant figures in the Sacred Steel community, including the Campbell Brothers, Willie Eason, Aubrey Ghent, The Lee Boys, and many others. These materials were collected while Stone was working for the Florida Folklife Program.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Originally developed for playing Hawaiian music, the steel guitar was integrated into the sacred music of two branches of the House of God, an African American Holiness Pentecostal church, in the late 1930s. Electric steel guitar music became a key part of the services, conventions, and revivals of these two sects. Sacred Steel has evolved into a distinctive genre of African American gospel music with a unique guitar style and repertoire.
Robert Stone is a Florida-based folklorist and photographer who has been instrumental in documenting the Sacred Steel gospel tradition in African American holiness churches. From 1990 to 2010, Stone was a folklorist for the Florida Folklife Program. During this time, he photographed the Sacred Steel tradition and interviewed its practitioners. Stone worked with Arhoolie Records to produce several Sacred Steel albums and a documentary film entitled Sacred Steel (2001). He has published his research and photographs in two books: Sacred Steel: Inside an African American Steel Guitar Tradition (2010) and Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus! Photographs from the Sacred Steel Community (2020).
Source: Sacred Steel: Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music in Florida (liner notes), Arhoolie Records CD 450, 1997.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Robert Stone, 2020.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Maggie Harrison, 2023. This collection was minimally processed to facilitate access. Materials are in their original folders and retain their original folder titles and organization. Boxes are organized by year and type of material.
- Arrangement:
-
Series 1: Photographs, 1997-2006
Series 2: Sound Recordings, 1992-2008
- Accruals:
-
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
- Material specific details:
- Photographs, Sound Recordings
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to the Arhoolie Foundation.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Item title], Robert Stone Sacred Steel Collection (AF-005). The Arhoolie Foundation, El Cerrito, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
10341 San Pablo Ave.El Cerrito, CA 94530, US
- Contact:
- (510) 525-7471