Historical Portrait
Leon Ponce, head-and-shoulders portrait, photograph
Archive record
Photograph caption: "Mr. Ponce is half Indian. His only language is English." Forms part of a group of field materials documenting Leon Ponce performing Anglo-American music on July 17, 18, and 31, 1939, collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Columbia, Tuolumne County, California.
About this photograph
Leon Ponce was photographed and recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Columbia, Tuolumne County, California, as part of the W.P.A. California Folk Music Project. The project documented traditional musicians across Northern California between 1938 and 1940, working across immigrant communities rather than focusing on a single tradition.
Ponce performed Anglo-American music on three occasions in July 1939. The caption notes that he was half Indian and spoke only English. This photograph forms part of the field materials Cowell gathered during those recording sessions.
The project's materials, including recordings and photographs, are held by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Compiled from the catalogue record and reference notes on the formats and events involved. The archive record above is the primary source.
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