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Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection, 1875-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Agins, Sam.
Title
Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection
Dates
1875-1990 (inclusive)
1885-1980 (bulk)
Quantity
3 boxes, (3.0 linear ft. )
Collection Number
UUS_P0134
Summary
Photographs from the 1940s to the 1980s and photographic postcards with images from the 19th century. The majority are black & white silver gelatin prints, 8" x 10" or smaller, although there are a few color prints and a large number of postcards. There is a total of 105 photographs (11 in color), 126 black and white proof sheets, 59 postcards (1 in color), 76 black and white negatives, and 18 posters. The majority of the images range from 1960 to 1980 and consist of the various places and festivals where Agins performed, the people that he performed with, and photos used in the photo-essay, Round Legs. Also includes photographs of a portrait of Agins painted by John Henry Waddell. Many of the photos were taken by Frederica Agins, some by professional photographers and event photographers, and a few by Agins' fans. The postcards are reproductions of 19th century "old west" images including Buffalo Bill, Native Americans, cowboys, stagecoaches, etc. Many of the photographs have negatives.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions
Restrictions

Open to public research.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
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Biographical Note

Singin' Sam Agins was born in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 1919 and he died in Sun City, Arizona on March 28, 1996. He was born with a congenital paralysis of both legs and only weighed 2 lbs. at birth. Agins was limited to using crutches or a wheelchair for mobility from childhood. Despite his disability he led a very active and full life. Sam's activities included guitar playing, making poetry, and writing and collecting music. In addition he was a leather craftsman, stringed instruments mechanic, and a maker of hand-tooled silver buckle jewelry and violins. On November 19, 1957 he married Frederica Agins (born May, 1938) and they had two sons, Judd and Joseph Agins.

Agins' passion was writing, collecting, and recording American folk songs, especially of the West. During the 1940s and 1950s he entertained disabled youth, veterans, and children in hospitals acting as an Ambassador of Goodwill Industries. In addition, he entertained prisoners in New Mexico, guests at dude ranches, and taught classes about folk singing throughout the American West. Agins was also the United States representative in 1976 at the Smithsonian Institution's Montreal Expo and also served as an expert on early American folk songs in Washington D.C. During the 1970s and 1980s he participated in the Festival of the American West and the Western Writers Conferences held in Logan, Utah.

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Content Description

The collection includes photographs from the 1880s to the 1980s. The majority of the images are black-and-white silver gelatin prints, 8" x 10" or smaller although there are a few color prints and a large number of postcards. There is a total of 105 photographs (11 in color), 126 black and white proof sheets, 59 postcards (1 in color), 76 black and white negatives, and 18 posters. The majority of the images range from 1960 to 1980 and consist of the various places where Agins performed, the people that he performed with, and photos used in Round Legs. Many of the photos were taken by Frederica, some by professional photographers and event photographers, and a few by Agins' fans. The postcards are reproductions of 19th century "old west" images including Buffalo Bill, Native Americans, cowboys, stagecoaches, etc. Captions and some of the inscriptions (or parts of due to the length) are copied exactly as they appear on the photo inside of quotation marks with additional information enclosed in brackets. Many of the photographs have negatives.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Singin' Sam Agins photograph collection, 1875-1990. (P0134). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Photographs removed from album, in original order.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Frederica Agins in 1997. The photographs were removed from the Singin' Sam Agins papers, MSS 230. Included in that collection are copies of the publication Round Legs, a photo-essay by Agins.

Processing Note

Register completed by Daniel Davis, February 2005.

Related Materials

Singin' Sam Agins papersCOLL MS 230

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural experiment stations--Utah--Photographs
  • Cowboys--United States--Photographs
  • Folk musicians--West (U.S.)--Photographs
  • People with disabilities--West (U.S.)--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Agins, Sam--Photographs.
  • Waddell, John Henry--Photographs.

Corporate Names

  • Festival of the American West--Photographs.

Geographical Names

  • Bear Lake (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs
  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs
  • Logan (Utah)--Photographs
  • Utah--Photographs

Titles within the Collection

  • Round legs.

Finding aid created by Daniel Davis, February 2005.
2008

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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