Traditional Music Archives
The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music has a large collection of traditional music pieces that are accessible to the public for scholarly use. These digital audio and video files include many examples of traditional Appalachian music and culture, including ballads and songs, fiddle and banjo tunes, old-time string band music, traditional and modern bluegrass music, religious preaching, and interviews with performers and church members. Because of the unique and irrreplaceable nature of these materials, they must be used under supervision at KCTM offices. A database of this collection is availabile at KCTM.
Archive Station
The archive station at KCTM is availabile to the public for research and entertainment. The station includes digital audio, video, documents and photographs of traditional musicians from Eastern Kentucky and beyond. Also included are materials from collections including photographs of Molly O' Day (Pike Co.), George Lee Hawkins (Bath Co.) and unreleased recordings of Ricky Skaggs (Lawrence Co.). The collection also includes research documents from Geroge R. Gibson (Knott Co.), who continues to define the origin and role of the banjo in East Kentucky Mountains. KCTM also houses rare photographs and recordings of 'Banjer' Bill Cornett, a former Kentucky State Representative from Knott County.
