Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of records created and maintained by Howard Bass while producing public programs at the National Museum of American History (NMAH). The majority of the records pertain to the "American Sampler" series of programs which presented traditional music, dance, and storytelling from communities and cultural groups throughout the United States. Also documented are the "Communities in Concert" series which presented outdoor concerts featuring a variety of musical styles including jazz, folk, gospel, Latin American, and American popular songs; the "Word of Mouth" series which featured performances celebrating African American, Native American, and Anglo American oral traditions in storytelling, oratory, and ballad singing; the "Music of New Mexico Festival" which explored traditional Hispanic and Native American music and dance; and the Smithsonian's America exhibition in Chiba (Chiba-shi), Japan in 1994. This accession contains materials from when Bass was contractor and later a program producer for the Department of Public Programs and then the Office of Cultural History prior to the Division of Cultural History. Materials include correspondence, brochures, programs, images, reviews, teacher's guides, student learning guides, advertisements, and clippings.