Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
James H. Garland |
Other names |
James Hartsell Garland |
Dates & places of birth and death |
b. 1941 d. 2018 |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
The following biographical excerpt was submitted by a Reece Museum volunteer in October 2024: James Hartsell Garland (1941-2018) of Elizabethton, Tennessee was a gifted storyteller, musician and craftsman. Locally he was well-known for his music and dulcimer making. One of Garland's goals in life was to preserve traditional Appalachian music by carrying on the traditions of his father, T.N. Garland, who had made dulcimers for 35 years. He shared his love of music and instruments, including the dulcimer and autoharp. After a long career at Eastman Chemical, this Vietnam combat veteran devoted time to handcrafting his five-string gourd dulcimers. His instruments were comprised of home-grown gourds with fret boards of wood construction. The preferred gourd was the dipper gourd which features an elongated neck and a bulblike base at the blossom end. According to Garland in a video (date unknown) posted at Tetrick Funeral Home along with his obituary in 2018, gourds are harvested in October and cure in approximately six months at which time they are ready to use. This video indicated Garland crafted 86 gourd dulcimers and sold all but a dozen. His dulcimers might have taken at least 20 hours to complete while detailed ones could take up to 40 hours. Garland made other instruments including maracas, drums and a bass, and had also ventured into other novelty gourd items like clocks. One of Garland's joys was teaching youngsters about Appalachian music. Through his teaching and a number of public appearances, he influenced regional musicians a great deal. |
Notes |
SOURCES: Elizabethton Star 6/29/2015 (Accessed on Newspapers.com) garden.org findagrave.com tetrickfuneralhome.com (obituary, video, tribute comments) Elizabethton Star 6/29/2015 |
Places of residence |
Elizabethton, Tennessee |
Role |
Artist |
Related Records
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1985.003 - Dulcimer
This dulcimer was made by James Garland and based on style and measurements of similar instruments made by his father, T.N. Garland. The body of the dulcimer is made of a gourd, likely a dipper gourd. Gourd decoration is an ancient t...
Record Type: Object
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2017.006.028 - Dulcimer
This dulcimer is made out of a gourd, likely a dipper gourd. The American Gourd Society, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Kokomo, Indiana, was founded in 1937 and publishes its own magazine. The AGS is dedicated to the education and instruction of those interested in gourd history, cultivation, painting, crafts, and participating in competitions. Gourd art shows and festivals occur in many places throughout North America, th...
Record Type: Object
