Gerry Milnes Collection

Transitional sheitholt/dulcimer

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Two nearly identical images of an instrument owned by Gerry Milnes, and currently on display at the WV Folklife Center in Fairmont, WV. According to Milnes, this is a “slightly transitioned crude two-string instrument in that it has a peg box instead of vertical tuning pins as in those above. However, the peg box is clearly a newer recent addition to this instrument, and not original. It has two strings and staple frets.” This instrument was found in Randolph County, West Virginia, but was almost surely made by an L. Pitman, who made a very similar instrument in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1849. The instrument’s square sound holes suggest that it may be older than 1849, in that the sound holes are not as refined as the maker’s 1849 effort. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, Feb 1994.

archive reference: GM S1330 and GM S1336.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Back of fiddle made by Clyde Howes

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Back of a fiddle made by Clyde Howes from Upshur County. Clyde Howes was known for making fiddles with an animal head and animal carvings. This fiddle features a bird carved into the back. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, Dec 1989, Upshur County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1408.

Project description:
The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Cartwright fiddle in Patty Looman’s instrument collection

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Fiddle made by a Cartright at Mannington, WV, from Patty Looman’s instrument collection. In Patty Looman’s interview with Gerry Milnes, Patty talks about her family’s feed store, where people from the community sometimes traded handmade instruments for goods from the shop. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1397. (related content archive reference: A ACS 6.375).

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Cigar-box fiddle from Patty Looman’s collection

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Hand crafted cigar-box fiddle made in Wetzel County, WV. The instrument is from Patty Looman’s extensive instrument collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1398.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Paul McKinney’s dulcimer

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Paul McKinney’s hourglass-shaped lap dulcimer was made by Roy McKinney, Freeman McKinney’s father from Enoch in Clay County, WV. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1991, Clay County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1243.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Cigar box fiddle from Patty Looman’s collection

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Hand crafted cigar-box fiddle from Wetzel County WV; from Patty Looman instrument collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1396.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him

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Uke from 1933 in Patty Looman’s collection

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Depression-era ukelele made by Lloyd on 1-7-1933 from Patty Looman’s extensive instrument collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1400.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Tortoise-shell string instrument from Patty Looman’s collection

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Home-made tortoise shell burlap back string instrument from Patty Looman’s extensive collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1399.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Eastern European instrument from Patty Looman’s collection

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Back side of Eastern European instrument made at Barrackville, WV. This image corresponds to related photo of the instrument from Patty Looman’s collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1403. (related content archive reference: GM S1401).

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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Eastern-European string instrument from Patty Looman’s collection

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Eastern European instrument (lute?) made at Barrackville in Marion County, WV. The instrument is from Patty Looman’s extensive instrument collection. Photograph by Gerry Milnes, July 1990, Marion County, WV.

archive reference: GM S1401.

Project description: The Milnes Collection contains audio-visual recordings made and collected by the Augusta Heritage Center’s former Folk Arts Coordinator, Gerald Milnes. Throughout his career with Augusta, Milnes conducted field work to amass a large collection of photographs, oral histories, music, and event recordings. He recorded the bulk of the collection from the early 1970s to 2013, but the collection also includes tapes and photographs with earlier dates that others sent to him.

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