NEA National Heritage Fellows

In-depth profiles of NEA National Heritage Fellows from 1982 to the present. Materials for 1982-2007 biographies courtesy of Documentary Arts. Use of some photographs courtesy of the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives & Collections.

Man playing an accordion.
1984

Clifton Chenier

Creole Accordionist
A woman sitting on chair working on a notted bed spread.
1984

Bertha Cook

Knotted Bedspread Maker
Man playing a fiddle.
1984

Joseph Cormier

Cape Breton Violinist
Older Black woman playing a guitar left-handed.
1984

Elizabeth Cotten

Songster/Songwriter
A man holding a cly pot.
1984

Burlon Craig

Potter
A man sitting behind a hammer dulcimer.
1984

Albert Fahlbusch

Hammered Dulcimer Maker/Player
A woman making a straw broom.
1984

Janie Hunter

African-American Singer/Storyteller
A woman making a wicker basket on her door step.
1984

Mary Jane Manigault

African-American Seagrass Basket Maker
A woman woreks on a lace piece.
1984

Genevieve Mougin

Lebanese-American Lace Maker
Headshot of a man.
1984

Martin Mulvihill

Irish-American Fiddler
A man tap dancing on a stage.
1984

Howard "Sandman" Sims

African-American Tap Dancer
Man playing a banjo.
1984

Ralph Stanley

Appalachian Banjo Player/Singer
A woman holding a clay pot.
1984

Margaret Tafoya

Santa Clara Pueblo Potter
A man playing a clarinet.
1984

Dave Tarras

Klezmer Clarinetist
Portrait of older man with short hair wearing glasses, smiling.
1984

Paul Tiulana

Eskimo Maskmaker/Dancer/Singer