Number 1, September 1994 — PREVIEW

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On This Page

  • Description — Overview of the scanned newsletter (Dublin Core description).

  • Files — Carousel of associated files:

    • Dublin Core entry for the newsletter PDF

    • Dublin Core entry for the text transcript PDF

    • Dublin Core entries for photographs extracted from this issue

      (Note: the actual file download link is at the bottom of each Dublin Core item page.)

  • Full Text Transcript — Link to the complete searchable transcript of this issue.

  • Articles — Spreadsheet list of articles and summaries from this issue.

  • References & Further Exploration — Linked database entries for related people, bands, books, events, etc.

  • How to Read an Entry — Guide to understanding the database entry fields.

  • Editorial Notes (different page) — Curator’s notes on the issue and the references.

Description

The inaugural September 1994 issue of the "Women in Bluegrass" newsletter. It includes a greeting from the editor (Murphy Henry), information on a new database of women bluegrass musicians, an interview with songwriter Louisa Branscomb, personal columns including one from Murphy’s teenage daughter Casey, reader responses to the database questionnaire, and news about women in the bluegrass community.

*This issue references a band whose original name included language now recognized as a slur. It has been replaced in this database display with “Born G____,” though the uncensored form remains in historical documentation.

Files and Photos

  • Scan of original publication

  • Transcribed text

  • Louisa Branscomb, from arcticle 1.2.1 – Spotlight on...Louisa Branscomb

  • Casey Henry, from article 1.3.1 – Ratifications

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Click Here to Read Full Text Transcription

Articles

Number Title Subtitle By/Letter From Notes
1.1.1 Greetings! Murphy Henry An introduction to the newsletter as a forum for a "niche within a niche"
1.1.2 Greetings! Database Murphy Henry Murphy reveals work on a database of professional and semi-professional women in bluegrass, both historical and current. She's going through old issues of Bluegrass Unlimited and is starting with 325 addresses to send a questionnaire to. Initial findings of the data is shared
1.1.3 Greetings! Important New Book Murphy Henry Recommendation of a new book on women in music called "Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music" this book is referenced frequently in future issues
1.2.1 Spotlight on...Louisa Branscomb Murphy Henry / Louisa Branscomb An interview with Louisa Branscomb, one of the first women Murphy saw playing banjo in the 70s. Discussions about differences in personalities and thoughts on the future of the women in bluegrass.
1.3.1 Ratifications Casey Henry 16-year-old Casey's first column. She talks about being excited for the upcoming IBMA conference in Ownesboro.
1.4.1 Why Did You Start Bluegrass Carol Lombardo Carol Lombardo from Alaska talks about discovering bluegrass and deciding to learn and murphy reflects that many women discover bluegrass in the "second phase" of their life
1.4.2 Why Did You Start Bluegrass Mary Ann Cornelius Mary Ann from San Antonio talks about learning bass to play with/because of Janet Davis
1.5.1 Guest Columnist Nancy Hicks Pate Nancy Hicks Pate First column from Nancy Hicks Pate, Murphy's sister.
1.5.2 Guest Columnist Nancy Hicks Pate Breathing Out Nancy Hicks Pate Nancy talks about the experience of moving from Florida to Atlanta for work and family and feeling like she was leaving music behind until she started playing with Louisa Branscomb in "Born G*psy."
1.5.3 Guest Columnist Nancy Hicks Pate Breathing In Nancy Hicks Pate words to an original song called "Breathing In."
1.6.1 Where you can find what we've been talking about Murphy Henry Information on where to find music and books from this issue
1.7.1 Change of Life Murphy Henry Info about Ginger Boatwright's recent masectomy and cancer recovery as well as an invitation for women to reach out to Ginger with or for support
1.8.1 [Backpage] Murphy Henry A list of all-female bands that Murphy has found in her research so far

Click Here to Read Full Text Transcription

References and Further Exploration

Below are links to lists of (almost) every person, band, book, event, etc. mentioned in this issue. These represent a portion of a comprehensive database. Access to the full database is not available in this preview. Information about the database can be found in the Database Reference Ledger

Person — Individual people (musicians, authors, family members, etc.)

Band — Performing ensembles, named groups

Other Works / Media (Album) — Published sound recordings considered as whole works

Other Works / Media (Recording/Song) — Specific tracks, singles, or compositions

Label — Record labels, publishers of recorded music

Organization — Non-band organizations (festivals, societies, institutions)

Festivals / Events — Specific events (festivals, concerts, conferences)

Book — Published books (primary or secondary sources)

Education / Institutions — Schools, programs, academies, workshops, etc.

Stores / Businesses — Businesses (venues, vendors, studios, etc.)

Venue — Physical venues where performances take place

Media / Broadcast — Radio/TV shows, podcasts, media programs, broadcasters

Publishers / Periodicals — Periodicals, magazines, newsletters

Movie/Film — Motion pictures, documentaries, or film sources

How to Read an Entry

Each entry below is from a reference database. The database’s entries are standardized:

  • Photo a photo applicable to the entry. These are NOT necessarily a part of this archive and will their host will be credited when possible.
  • Category tells you what kind of thing the entry is — a person, a band, an album, a book, an event, etc.

  • Subject is the name of the person, group, or item the entry is about.

  • Ref_ID is an internal ID number specific to this archive. It’s like a filing number: unique to each entry, even if two subjects have similar names. i.e. “Lynn Morris” and the “Lynn Morris Band” are two different entries with two different IDs.

  • URI_ID is a stable web link (when available) to an official record of the subject, often in a trusted database such as MusicBrainz, VIAF, or the Library of Congress. A stable link is a web address that is designed to stay the same over time, even if the website itself is updated or reorganized. Stable links usually come from trusted databases, libraries, or archives that maintain permanent records.

  • ISBN: only applicable to BOOK category. An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a unique 13-digit numeric identifier assigned to each specific edition and format of a book or monograph by its publisher.

  • Links provide other useful places to learn more. Stable links are still preferred here. In some cases, if a stable link wasn’t originally available, as stable link in the form of a Wayback Machine snapshot is provided.

  • Issues Mentioned lists which newsletter issues talk about this subject, so you can trace where they appear in the collection.

  • Notes gives a short explanation of who or what the subject is. When applicable, context for why they’re included, and any extra context that makes their role in bluegrass history clearer is also listed.
  • Video a video applicable to the entry. These are NOT necessarily a part of this archive and will their host will be credited when possible.
Number 1—September 1994