Celebrating over 20 years of banjo scholarship and enthusiasm.
The first Banjo Gathering occurred in Cape May, NJ in 1998 when 14 banjo collectors got together for round table discussions about minstrel-era banjos, classic era banjos, and banjo ephemera. Since then, the Gathering has occurred annually, featuring presentations and performances that highlight the banjo as an object of material culture, exploring the instrument's African origins, transformation as an object of the Blackface Minstrel stage, popular music instrument in the Victorian and Jazz eras, and central to the development of Old Time and Bluegrass music. Overtime, the Banjo Gathering has also changed names from the 5-string Banjo Collector's Gathering to the Banjo Collectors Gathering to the Banjo Gathering. You can read more about the history of the event in the Old Time Herald.
This presents a complete list of the presentations hosted by the Gathering from 1998 - 2015. Helpful tip: if you are interested in a particular subject, you can use control F to search for keywords. Please feel free to contact us if you are looking for more information about a presentation or presenter, and we'll see if we can help you.
This presents a complete list of the presentations hosted by the Gathering from 1998 - 2015. Helpful tip: if you are interested in a particular subject, you can use control F to search for keywords. Please feel free to contact us if you are looking for more information about a presentation or presenter, and we'll see if we can help you.
2015 - Baltimore, Maryland
Eighteenth Annual Banjo Gathering -- October 30 – November 1, 2015
Friday
1:00 - 1:25 Welcome, Tribute to Shlomo Pestcoe (Greg Adams, Tony Thomas, Hank Sapoznik, Bob Winans)
1:30 - 2:25 Greg Adams, Pete Ross, Bob Winans: Making Music - The Banjo In Baltimore and Beyond
2:30 - 3:25 Tony Thomas: My Route Back to Banjo History
3:30 - 4:25 Bob Carlin: Book Projects including Bill Keith, Eric Weissberg, and An Illustrated History of the Banjo
7:30 - 8:25 Pete Ross & Kristina Gaddy: Levi Brown, the Other Baltimore Banjo Maker (several rare Levi Brown banjos will be on display)
8:30 - 9:25 Christian Stanfield: A Banjo Peep Show
9:30 - ?? Jam, socialize, etc.
Saturday
9:00 - 9:55 John Hoft: Melody Banjos
10:00 - 10:55 Bill Powers: Fred Bacon, His Forest Dale Years
11:00 - 11:55 Bob Sayers: Baltimore Images of the 19th Century
2:00 - 2:25 General discussion: Future or Death of Banjo Collecting (Peter Szego, moderator)
2:30 - 3:25 Panel discussion: Future of The Banjo Gathering (Greg Adams, moderator)
3:30 - 6:00 Pete Ross/Kristina Gaddy: A Walking/Driving Tour of Important Baltimore Banjo History Sites (Boucher, L. Brown, etc.)
8:30 – 9:25 Banjo Show & Tell: A Showcase for Attendees to present interesting and important banjos (prior signup recommended)
9:30 - ?? Jam, Socialize, etc.
Sunday
9:30 - 10:25 Research Projects (Eli Kaufman, Norm Peterson, Joe Hornung, Greg Adams, Bob Winans)
10:30 - 11:25 Michael Wright: From the Renaissance Kitchen to the Purchase of Rockefeller Center: Japanese Banjos 1960–1985
Friday
1:00 - 1:25 Welcome, Tribute to Shlomo Pestcoe (Greg Adams, Tony Thomas, Hank Sapoznik, Bob Winans)
1:30 - 2:25 Greg Adams, Pete Ross, Bob Winans: Making Music - The Banjo In Baltimore and Beyond
2:30 - 3:25 Tony Thomas: My Route Back to Banjo History
3:30 - 4:25 Bob Carlin: Book Projects including Bill Keith, Eric Weissberg, and An Illustrated History of the Banjo
7:30 - 8:25 Pete Ross & Kristina Gaddy: Levi Brown, the Other Baltimore Banjo Maker (several rare Levi Brown banjos will be on display)
8:30 - 9:25 Christian Stanfield: A Banjo Peep Show
9:30 - ?? Jam, socialize, etc.
Saturday
9:00 - 9:55 John Hoft: Melody Banjos
10:00 - 10:55 Bill Powers: Fred Bacon, His Forest Dale Years
11:00 - 11:55 Bob Sayers: Baltimore Images of the 19th Century
2:00 - 2:25 General discussion: Future or Death of Banjo Collecting (Peter Szego, moderator)
2:30 - 3:25 Panel discussion: Future of The Banjo Gathering (Greg Adams, moderator)
3:30 - 6:00 Pete Ross/Kristina Gaddy: A Walking/Driving Tour of Important Baltimore Banjo History Sites (Boucher, L. Brown, etc.)
8:30 – 9:25 Banjo Show & Tell: A Showcase for Attendees to present interesting and important banjos (prior signup recommended)
9:30 - ?? Jam, Socialize, etc.
Sunday
9:30 - 10:25 Research Projects (Eli Kaufman, Norm Peterson, Joe Hornung, Greg Adams, Bob Winans)
10:30 - 11:25 Michael Wright: From the Renaissance Kitchen to the Purchase of Rockefeller Center: Japanese Banjos 1960–1985
2014 - Morristown, New Jersey
Seventeenth Annual Banjo Gathering — September 4 - 7, 2014
Thursday
7:00 - 7:30 Welcome, announcements, questions
7:40 - 8:40 Peter Szego: Introduction to the Met’s Early Martin Guitar Exhibit
8:50 - 9:50 Eli Kaufman: Banjos at the Met
9:50 -? Jam, socialize, etc.
Friday
10:00 - 10:30 Carpool to Lark Street Music
3:30 Tour of Early Martin Guitar exhibit and curator’s tour of the Met’s banjos
4:30 - 6:30 Free time at the Met
6:30 - 8:00 Craig Thatcher concert in the Englehard Court, American Wing
10:00 - ? Jam, socialize, etc.
Saturday
10:00 - 12:00 Morristown Museum: Tour of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata
2:00 - 2:50 Jerry Fabris: Edison Recording demonstration with Greg Adams & Henry Sapoznik
3:00 - 4:00 Eli Kaufman: Early Edison Banjo Recordings and Artists
4:10 - 5:10 Henry Sapoznik: The Banjo at the Movies Strikes Back
5:15 – 5:45 Cullen Strawn: MIM Exhibit, discussion of Phoenix as a possible Gathering venue 6:00 – 8:00 Dinner*
8:00 – 9:00 John Hoft: Internal Resonator Banjos of Frederick Bacon
9:10 – 10:00 Christian Stanfield: The Long Neck Assassin: The Banjo in American Comics
10:00 - ? Jam, socialize
Sunday
10:00 - 1:00 Open House at home of Peter and Kathryn
Thursday
7:00 - 7:30 Welcome, announcements, questions
7:40 - 8:40 Peter Szego: Introduction to the Met’s Early Martin Guitar Exhibit
8:50 - 9:50 Eli Kaufman: Banjos at the Met
9:50 -? Jam, socialize, etc.
Friday
10:00 - 10:30 Carpool to Lark Street Music
3:30 Tour of Early Martin Guitar exhibit and curator’s tour of the Met’s banjos
4:30 - 6:30 Free time at the Met
6:30 - 8:00 Craig Thatcher concert in the Englehard Court, American Wing
10:00 - ? Jam, socialize, etc.
Saturday
10:00 - 12:00 Morristown Museum: Tour of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata
2:00 - 2:50 Jerry Fabris: Edison Recording demonstration with Greg Adams & Henry Sapoznik
3:00 - 4:00 Eli Kaufman: Early Edison Banjo Recordings and Artists
4:10 - 5:10 Henry Sapoznik: The Banjo at the Movies Strikes Back
5:15 – 5:45 Cullen Strawn: MIM Exhibit, discussion of Phoenix as a possible Gathering venue 6:00 – 8:00 Dinner*
8:00 – 9:00 John Hoft: Internal Resonator Banjos of Frederick Bacon
9:10 – 10:00 Christian Stanfield: The Long Neck Assassin: The Banjo in American Comics
10:00 - ? Jam, socialize
Sunday
10:00 - 1:00 Open House at home of Peter and Kathryn
2013 - Knoxville, Tennessee
Sixteenth Banjo Gathering — Nov. 14-17, 2013
Thursday
7:30 – 8:00 Welcome, Introductions, Research Projects
8:00 – 9:00 Bradley Reeves & Dave Ball - Knoxville's St.James Sessions 1929-1930
9:00 – ? Jam, Instrument Swap, Social
Friday
9:00 - 10:00 Eli Kaufman - A.D.Grover & the Boston Ideals
10:15 - 11: John Hoft & Lincoln Cromwell - Rettberg & Lange
12:00 - 1:00 Radio Concert at Knoxville Visitor Center (free admission, food available)
2:00 - 3:00 Tony Thomas - What I Learned Looking for Picayune Butler
3:15 - 4:15 Bobby Fulcher - Banjo In The Tennessee Cumberlands
4:30 - 5:30 Peter Szego - Pre-Civil War Martin Guitars
8:00 Banjo Concert Hosted by Bob Carlin at the Laurel Jubilee Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave.
Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 Christian Stanfield - Paddle Faster, I Hear Banjos: Images in American Cartoons & Comics, 1916-present
10:15 - 11:15 Andy Fitzgibbon - Mass Producing America's Instrument: 19th Century Banjos and Metal Working Machinery
11:30 - 12:30 Bob Carlin - North Carolina: A Banjo State
2:00 - 5:00 Tour of the Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Norris ($15 special reduced fee)
8:30 - 9:00 Jim Carrier - The Librarian and the Banjo
9:45 - 10:45 Cece Conway - African Roots of the Fiddle & Banjo
10:45 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
Thursday
7:30 – 8:00 Welcome, Introductions, Research Projects
8:00 – 9:00 Bradley Reeves & Dave Ball - Knoxville's St.James Sessions 1929-1930
9:00 – ? Jam, Instrument Swap, Social
Friday
9:00 - 10:00 Eli Kaufman - A.D.Grover & the Boston Ideals
10:15 - 11: John Hoft & Lincoln Cromwell - Rettberg & Lange
12:00 - 1:00 Radio Concert at Knoxville Visitor Center (free admission, food available)
2:00 - 3:00 Tony Thomas - What I Learned Looking for Picayune Butler
3:15 - 4:15 Bobby Fulcher - Banjo In The Tennessee Cumberlands
4:30 - 5:30 Peter Szego - Pre-Civil War Martin Guitars
8:00 Banjo Concert Hosted by Bob Carlin at the Laurel Jubilee Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave.
Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 Christian Stanfield - Paddle Faster, I Hear Banjos: Images in American Cartoons & Comics, 1916-present
10:15 - 11:15 Andy Fitzgibbon - Mass Producing America's Instrument: 19th Century Banjos and Metal Working Machinery
11:30 - 12:30 Bob Carlin - North Carolina: A Banjo State
2:00 - 5:00 Tour of the Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Norris ($15 special reduced fee)
8:30 - 9:00 Jim Carrier - The Librarian and the Banjo
9:45 - 10:45 Cece Conway - African Roots of the Fiddle & Banjo
10:45 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
2012 - Blue Ridge Institute, Ferrum, Virginia
Fifteenth Nineteenth Century Banjo Gathering — November 4-7, 2012
Thursday
7:30 PM Welcome, Introductions, etc.
8:00 – 9:00 Black Face Diplomacy: The Japanese Olio Minstrels & the Opening of Japan (Robert Fraker)
9 - ? Jam, Swap, Social,
Friday
9:00 - 12:30 Boucher, the Banjo, Baltimore and Beyond (Greg Adams, Bob Winans, Pete Ross)
2:00 - 3:00 Kyle Creed, Banjo Legend (Tom Mylet, Kevin Fore)
3:15 - 4:15 Conversations with North American Banjo Builders (Craig Evans)
4:30 - 5:30 The Plectrum Banjo Story (John Hoft)
8:00 - 9:00 Panel Discussion: Revivalist Creed Banjos (Bob Carlin, Kevin Fore, Kevin Enoch, etc.)
9 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 The Tsumura Collection at the Hamamatsu Museum (Eli Kaufman)
10:15 - 11:15 Fairbanks-Vega Oddballs (Andy Fitzgibbon)
1:00 - 2:00 Appalachian Mountain Banjos (Roddy Moore)
2:00 - 5:30 Viewing of the Collections of The Blue Ridge Institute
8:30 - 9:30 Panel Discussion: The Mike Seeger Banjo Collection (Alexia Smith, Bob Carlin,Fred Oster)
9:30 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
Sunday
9:00 – 10:00 Black Banjoists in the Digital Library of Appalachia: A Continuing Treasure (Tony Thomas)
10:15-11:15 From African Roots to Mountain Banjos and Kyle Creed's Formica Innovations (Cece Conway)
11:15 Wrap Up
Thursday
7:30 PM Welcome, Introductions, etc.
8:00 – 9:00 Black Face Diplomacy: The Japanese Olio Minstrels & the Opening of Japan (Robert Fraker)
9 - ? Jam, Swap, Social,
Friday
9:00 - 12:30 Boucher, the Banjo, Baltimore and Beyond (Greg Adams, Bob Winans, Pete Ross)
2:00 - 3:00 Kyle Creed, Banjo Legend (Tom Mylet, Kevin Fore)
3:15 - 4:15 Conversations with North American Banjo Builders (Craig Evans)
4:30 - 5:30 The Plectrum Banjo Story (John Hoft)
8:00 - 9:00 Panel Discussion: Revivalist Creed Banjos (Bob Carlin, Kevin Fore, Kevin Enoch, etc.)
9 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 The Tsumura Collection at the Hamamatsu Museum (Eli Kaufman)
10:15 - 11:15 Fairbanks-Vega Oddballs (Andy Fitzgibbon)
1:00 - 2:00 Appalachian Mountain Banjos (Roddy Moore)
2:00 - 5:30 Viewing of the Collections of The Blue Ridge Institute
8:30 - 9:30 Panel Discussion: The Mike Seeger Banjo Collection (Alexia Smith, Bob Carlin,Fred Oster)
9:30 - ? Jam, Swap, Social
Sunday
9:00 – 10:00 Black Banjoists in the Digital Library of Appalachia: A Continuing Treasure (Tony Thomas)
10:15-11:15 From African Roots to Mountain Banjos and Kyle Creed's Formica Innovations (Cece Conway)
11:15 Wrap Up
2011 - Waltham, Massachusetts
Fourteenth Banjo Collectors Gathering — November 4-6, 2011
Thursday
12:00 - 5:00 Open House - Bollman Collection (signup is advised)
7:30 pm Welcome, introductions, schedule, last minute info
8:30 - 9:30 Marc Fields - The Banjo Project, history, out-takes, etc.
9:30 - 10:00 Cece Conway - The Farthing Concert, 2010 Black Banjo reunion
10:00 - 12:00 Jam, swap, socialize
Friday
9:30 - 10:30 John Hoft - S.S.Stewart Banjos In The 20th Century
10:45 - 11:45 Eli Kaufman - Early Banjo Journals, part 2
1:00 - 2:00 Drew Frech - Weymann Banjos: A History
2:30 - 5:30 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - private showing of the Musical Instrument Collection and tour of new American Wing with curator, Darcy Kuronen
9:00 - 10:30 Real Time Airing of Marc Field's PBS Special, “Give Me The Banjo”
10:30 - 12:00 Jam, swap, socialize
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 am Hank Sapoznik - Climbing Up the Golden Stairs: The 5 Lives of Harry C. Browne
10:45 - 11:15 Bob Webb & Ed Britt - New findings & new projects
11:30 - 12:00 Dave Ball - The Curious Banjos of Willis D. Gordon
1:30 - 2:30 Larry Marcus - Picturing the Banjo
2:45 - 3:45 Andy Fitzgibbon - J.French: The Banjos That Changed Cleveland
4:00 - 5:00 Kate Spencer - The Arthur E Smith Banjo Company
8:00 - 8:30 Mike Holmes - A Mugwumps Odyssey
8:45 - 9:45 Shawn McSweeny - Gatherings Through the Years
10:00 - 12 :00 Jam, swap, socialize
Sunday
11:00 - 3:00 Open house Bollman Collection (signup is advisable)
Thursday
12:00 - 5:00 Open House - Bollman Collection (signup is advised)
7:30 pm Welcome, introductions, schedule, last minute info
8:30 - 9:30 Marc Fields - The Banjo Project, history, out-takes, etc.
9:30 - 10:00 Cece Conway - The Farthing Concert, 2010 Black Banjo reunion
10:00 - 12:00 Jam, swap, socialize
Friday
9:30 - 10:30 John Hoft - S.S.Stewart Banjos In The 20th Century
10:45 - 11:45 Eli Kaufman - Early Banjo Journals, part 2
1:00 - 2:00 Drew Frech - Weymann Banjos: A History
2:30 - 5:30 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - private showing of the Musical Instrument Collection and tour of new American Wing with curator, Darcy Kuronen
9:00 - 10:30 Real Time Airing of Marc Field's PBS Special, “Give Me The Banjo”
10:30 - 12:00 Jam, swap, socialize
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 am Hank Sapoznik - Climbing Up the Golden Stairs: The 5 Lives of Harry C. Browne
10:45 - 11:15 Bob Webb & Ed Britt - New findings & new projects
11:30 - 12:00 Dave Ball - The Curious Banjos of Willis D. Gordon
1:30 - 2:30 Larry Marcus - Picturing the Banjo
2:45 - 3:45 Andy Fitzgibbon - J.French: The Banjos That Changed Cleveland
4:00 - 5:00 Kate Spencer - The Arthur E Smith Banjo Company
8:00 - 8:30 Mike Holmes - A Mugwumps Odyssey
8:45 - 9:45 Shawn McSweeny - Gatherings Through the Years
10:00 - 12 :00 Jam, swap, socialize
Sunday
11:00 - 3:00 Open house Bollman Collection (signup is advisable)
2010 - Nashville, Tennessee
Twelfth Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 4-6, 2010
Thursday
8:00-8:30 pm Welcome, intros, announcements
8:30-9:30 Ulf Jagfors - Mali & Morocco; Early Banjo Prototypes
9:30-? Jam, swap meet
Friday
9:30-10:30 Tony Thomas - Gus Cannon and Black Banjo Styles
10:45-11:45 Bob Carlin / Tom Mylet - Schmick Banjos "New Joisey's Finest "
1:30-2:30 Eli Kaufman - Early banjo periodicals
2:45-3:45 Jim Bollman - The banjos of W.A.Cole (Jim White banjo display)
4:00-4:30 Bob Winans - book update
7:30-9:30 Bela Fleck movie " Throw Down Your Heart " followed by Q&A
9:30-? Jam, swap meet
Saturday
9:30-10:30 Cece Conway - Black Banjo Videos
10:45-11:45 Paul Sedgwick - The Banjo Lesson
1:15-2:15 Dealer panel - Gruhn, Werbin, Oster, Smakula, (Szego-moderator)
2:15-5:00 Free time (museums, etc)
5:00-8:00 Open house at Gruhn Guitars
10:00-? Jam, swap meet
Thursday
8:00-8:30 pm Welcome, intros, announcements
8:30-9:30 Ulf Jagfors - Mali & Morocco; Early Banjo Prototypes
9:30-? Jam, swap meet
Friday
9:30-10:30 Tony Thomas - Gus Cannon and Black Banjo Styles
10:45-11:45 Bob Carlin / Tom Mylet - Schmick Banjos "New Joisey's Finest "
1:30-2:30 Eli Kaufman - Early banjo periodicals
2:45-3:45 Jim Bollman - The banjos of W.A.Cole (Jim White banjo display)
4:00-4:30 Bob Winans - book update
7:30-9:30 Bela Fleck movie " Throw Down Your Heart " followed by Q&A
9:30-? Jam, swap meet
Saturday
9:30-10:30 Cece Conway - Black Banjo Videos
10:45-11:45 Paul Sedgwick - The Banjo Lesson
1:15-2:15 Dealer panel - Gruhn, Werbin, Oster, Smakula, (Szego-moderator)
2:15-5:00 Free time (museums, etc)
5:00-8:00 Open house at Gruhn Guitars
10:00-? Jam, swap meet
2009 - Rochester, New York
Eleventh Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 12-15, 2009
Thursday
8:00 – 8:30 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:30 - 9:30 Jim Carrier - I was lost but now am found: the black banjo 1900-1930
9:30 - ??? Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 AM Bob Winans - Overview of the NY banjo scene
10:45 - 11:45 Kevin Enoch, Pete Ross, Peter Szego – Capturing the Minstrel Banjo
1:30 – 2:30 Norm Peterson - Teedium: George Teed and his banjos
2:45 – 3:45 Ed Britt - Transitional Bacons
4:00 – 5:00 Show & Tell - Significant NY Instruments: Peterson, Bernunzio, etc
7:30 - 8:00 Hank Sapoznik and others: Ray and Mike remembered
8:00 – 9:00 Hank Schwartz - Pre- F & C revisited
9:00 - ??? Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 AM Andy Fitzgibbon - Bling the banjo
10:45 - 11:45 Doug Unger – Creative within the tradition: aesthetic considerations
1:15 – 2:15 Eli Kaufman - Demystifying the Dobsons
2:30 – 3:00 Bob Carlin – A few new discoveries
3:15 – 4:15 Panel Discussion - Issues in deaccessioning collections: Werbin, Smakula, Bernunzio, Uhrik
4:30 - 5:30 Jim Bollman - Marquetry Mania: NY Banjos from the collection
8:00 - ??? Bill Destler - Open House, tour of collection, jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:00 - ??? John & Julie – Brunch and House Tour
Thursday
8:00 – 8:30 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:30 - 9:30 Jim Carrier - I was lost but now am found: the black banjo 1900-1930
9:30 - ??? Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 AM Bob Winans - Overview of the NY banjo scene
10:45 - 11:45 Kevin Enoch, Pete Ross, Peter Szego – Capturing the Minstrel Banjo
1:30 – 2:30 Norm Peterson - Teedium: George Teed and his banjos
2:45 – 3:45 Ed Britt - Transitional Bacons
4:00 – 5:00 Show & Tell - Significant NY Instruments: Peterson, Bernunzio, etc
7:30 - 8:00 Hank Sapoznik and others: Ray and Mike remembered
8:00 – 9:00 Hank Schwartz - Pre- F & C revisited
9:00 - ??? Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 AM Andy Fitzgibbon - Bling the banjo
10:45 - 11:45 Doug Unger – Creative within the tradition: aesthetic considerations
1:15 – 2:15 Eli Kaufman - Demystifying the Dobsons
2:30 – 3:00 Bob Carlin – A few new discoveries
3:15 – 4:15 Panel Discussion - Issues in deaccessioning collections: Werbin, Smakula, Bernunzio, Uhrik
4:30 - 5:30 Jim Bollman - Marquetry Mania: NY Banjos from the collection
8:00 - ??? Bill Destler - Open House, tour of collection, jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:00 - ??? John & Julie – Brunch and House Tour
2008 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Eleventh Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 20 – 23, 2008
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:45 Tony Thomas Black banjo in 19th & 20th Century Black musical revolutions
9:00 - 9:30 Cece Conway: Black Banjo film project update
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 AM Bob Winans: African Elements in Dan Emmett’s Manuscript Tunebook
10:45 - 11:45 Ray Alden: Theory, Practice & components of Banjo Sound Modification
12:00 - 12:30 WHYY-TV Program about 2007 BCG Concert & Interviews
12:30 – 1:00 PM Memories of Pete Smakula & Lowell Schreyer
2:30 - 3:30 PM Chuck Levy: Jola in Senegambia, Comparing Clawhammer, Stroke & O’Tec
3:45 - 4:15 Greg Adams: Important New Antebellum Banjo Discoveries
4:30 - 5:30 Henry Sapoznik: A Century of the Banjo in Films
8:00 - 9:00 Eli Kaufman: Schall & Chicago Banjos
9:00 – 11:30 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 – 10:45 AM Panel Discussion on Banjo Trends and Preferences: Who, What & Why
11:00 - 11:45 Peter Szego: Age of Innovation - The Birth of the American Banjo & Guitar
12:00 – 1:00 PM Andy Fitzgibbon: Bad Repairs - It’d Be Worth More If You Hadn’t Done This!
9:00 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:30 AM Bob Carlin: Roots of Earl (Scruggs, that is)
10:45 - 11:45 Greg Adams: Banjo Beginnings, Continuing the Conversation
12:00 - 12:30 Wrap up; next year, etc.
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:45 Tony Thomas Black banjo in 19th & 20th Century Black musical revolutions
9:00 - 9:30 Cece Conway: Black Banjo film project update
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 AM Bob Winans: African Elements in Dan Emmett’s Manuscript Tunebook
10:45 - 11:45 Ray Alden: Theory, Practice & components of Banjo Sound Modification
12:00 - 12:30 WHYY-TV Program about 2007 BCG Concert & Interviews
12:30 – 1:00 PM Memories of Pete Smakula & Lowell Schreyer
2:30 - 3:30 PM Chuck Levy: Jola in Senegambia, Comparing Clawhammer, Stroke & O’Tec
3:45 - 4:15 Greg Adams: Important New Antebellum Banjo Discoveries
4:30 - 5:30 Henry Sapoznik: A Century of the Banjo in Films
8:00 - 9:00 Eli Kaufman: Schall & Chicago Banjos
9:00 – 11:30 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 – 10:45 AM Panel Discussion on Banjo Trends and Preferences: Who, What & Why
11:00 - 11:45 Peter Szego: Age of Innovation - The Birth of the American Banjo & Guitar
12:00 – 1:00 PM Andy Fitzgibbon: Bad Repairs - It’d Be Worth More If You Hadn’t Done This!
9:00 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:30 AM Bob Carlin: Roots of Earl (Scruggs, that is)
10:45 - 11:45 Greg Adams: Banjo Beginnings, Continuing the Conversation
12:00 - 12:30 Wrap up; next year, etc.
2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tenth Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 1 – 4, 2007
Thursday
10:00 AM Meet for carpool at Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq.
12:30 PM Martin Guitar Factory and Museum tour in Nazareth, PA
4:00 Return to Philadelphia
8:00 - 8:30 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:30 - 9:00 The Banjos of J. French (Andy Fitzgibbon)
9:15 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam sessions, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:00 Open Forum: Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:00 - 11:00 S. S. Stewart (Eli Kaufman)
11:15 - 12:15 African Update- (Shlomo Pestco and Ulf Jagfors)
1:30 - 2:30 Banjos, the Birds and the Bees (Bob Winans)
2:45 - 3:15 Recent Minstrel Banjo Sightings (Greg Adams & George Wunderlich)
3:15 - 3:45 Rufus Kasey (Cece Conway)
5:00 - 7:00 Philadelphia Banjo Maker Exhibit at the Lippencott House 509 S. Broad
7:30 - 10:00 BCG dinner at Prima Donna, 1506 Spruce St., or dinner on your own
10:30 - Midnight Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 Weymann (David Fridy)
10:45 - 11:45 Lessons from High-End Furniture Restoration (Richard Brunkus)
11:45 - 12:15 New Books by Lowell Schreyer & Bob Carlin
3:30 – 4:30 The Holy Grail: Searching For Consalvi (Shawn McSweeny & Jim Bollman
4:45 - 5:45 Philadelphia business: Stewart vs. Bauer (Rich Myers)
8:00 - 10:30 BCG Anniversary Concert
10:30 - Midnight Swap, jam, social
Sunday
10:00 – 12:00 Open House at Vintage Instruments (Ethical Society must be vacated by 11 AM! We’ll need volunteers to help with cleanup)
Thursday
10:00 AM Meet for carpool at Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq.
12:30 PM Martin Guitar Factory and Museum tour in Nazareth, PA
4:00 Return to Philadelphia
8:00 - 8:30 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:30 - 9:00 The Banjos of J. French (Andy Fitzgibbon)
9:15 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam sessions, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:00 Open Forum: Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:00 - 11:00 S. S. Stewart (Eli Kaufman)
11:15 - 12:15 African Update- (Shlomo Pestco and Ulf Jagfors)
1:30 - 2:30 Banjos, the Birds and the Bees (Bob Winans)
2:45 - 3:15 Recent Minstrel Banjo Sightings (Greg Adams & George Wunderlich)
3:15 - 3:45 Rufus Kasey (Cece Conway)
5:00 - 7:00 Philadelphia Banjo Maker Exhibit at the Lippencott House 509 S. Broad
7:30 - 10:00 BCG dinner at Prima Donna, 1506 Spruce St., or dinner on your own
10:30 - Midnight Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 Weymann (David Fridy)
10:45 - 11:45 Lessons from High-End Furniture Restoration (Richard Brunkus)
11:45 - 12:15 New Books by Lowell Schreyer & Bob Carlin
3:30 – 4:30 The Holy Grail: Searching For Consalvi (Shawn McSweeny & Jim Bollman
4:45 - 5:45 Philadelphia business: Stewart vs. Bauer (Rich Myers)
8:00 - 10:30 BCG Anniversary Concert
10:30 - Midnight Swap, jam, social
Sunday
10:00 – 12:00 Open House at Vintage Instruments (Ethical Society must be vacated by 11 AM! We’ll need volunteers to help with cleanup)
2006 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Ninth Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 2 – 5, 2006
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:30 Dave Ball: Hobart Middlebrooke's Big Adventure
8:30 - 9:00 Open Show & Tell session (limit of 2 instruments/items per person)
9:15 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:00 – 9:30 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
9:30 – 10:00 Ben Nelson: The Akonting and a New Senegambian Instrument Discovery
10:00 – 10:15 Henry Sapoznik: Proposed Banjo Museum
10:30 - 11:45 Williamsburg curatorial staff: Banjos in Museum Collections?
12:00 - 12:30 Hank Schwartz: San Francisco Banjo Makers
2:00 - 3:00 James Webb: Banjo History in the Atlantic World
3:15 - 4:15 Collectors Panel: Future of Banjo Collections
4:30 - 5:30 Mike Seeger: Lucius Smith
8:00 - 8:30 Eli Kaufman: AD Grover
8:30 - 9:00 Seth Swingle: Playing the xalam vs. clawhammer
9:00 – 11:30 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 – 10:00 Lew Stern: A P Sharp
10:15 - 11:15 Peter Szego: Confessions of a Mad Collector
11:30 – 12:30 Shawn McSweeney & Jim Bollman: A Boston Bestiary
12:30 - 5:00 Free time for Williamsburg
8:15 - 9:30 Bob Winans: Metalizing the banjo
9:30 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:45 Ulf Jagfors: African Update: New Folklore Center in Gambia
11:00 – 11:30 Cece Conway: Rufus Casey
11:45 – 12:30 Wrap Up: Name change, Philadelphia, etc.
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:30 Dave Ball: Hobart Middlebrooke's Big Adventure
8:30 - 9:00 Open Show & Tell session (limit of 2 instruments/items per person)
9:15 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:00 – 9:30 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
9:30 – 10:00 Ben Nelson: The Akonting and a New Senegambian Instrument Discovery
10:00 – 10:15 Henry Sapoznik: Proposed Banjo Museum
10:30 - 11:45 Williamsburg curatorial staff: Banjos in Museum Collections?
12:00 - 12:30 Hank Schwartz: San Francisco Banjo Makers
2:00 - 3:00 James Webb: Banjo History in the Atlantic World
3:15 - 4:15 Collectors Panel: Future of Banjo Collections
4:30 - 5:30 Mike Seeger: Lucius Smith
8:00 - 8:30 Eli Kaufman: AD Grover
8:30 - 9:00 Seth Swingle: Playing the xalam vs. clawhammer
9:00 – 11:30 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:30 – 10:00 Lew Stern: A P Sharp
10:15 - 11:15 Peter Szego: Confessions of a Mad Collector
11:30 – 12:30 Shawn McSweeney & Jim Bollman: A Boston Bestiary
12:30 - 5:00 Free time for Williamsburg
8:15 - 9:30 Bob Winans: Metalizing the banjo
9:30 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:45 Ulf Jagfors: African Update: New Folklore Center in Gambia
11:00 – 11:30 Cece Conway: Rufus Casey
11:45 – 12:30 Wrap Up: Name change, Philadelphia, etc.
2005 - Arlington, Virginia
Eighth Banjo Collectors Gathering - December 8 – 11, 2005
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:30 Dave Ball: Banjo Inventions--a Regional Survey
8:30 - 9:00 Open Show & Tell session (limit of 2 instruments/items per person)
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:00 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:00 - 11:15 Bob Winans – In Banjo Land: banjo sheet music covers
11:30 - 12:00 Tony Thomas – BBT&N update
2:00 - 5:00 Tour of Smithsonian Banjo Collection
8:15 - 9:30 Eli Kaufman – British Banjos 1
9:30 - 12:00 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:00 - 12:00 Tour of Corcoran Gallery “Picturing the Banjo” exhibit
2:00 - 3:00 Bob Smakula & Andy Fitzgibbon – Hit Parade of Botched Banjo Repairs
3:15 - 4:00 George Wunderlich – the William Sidney Mount Boucher banjo
4:15 - 5:30 Mike Seeger- Josh Thomas
8:15 - 8:30 Lew Stern – British Banjos 2
9:00 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:45 Ulf Jagfors & Daniel Jatta – African Update
11:00 - 12:15 Amazing Collector Stories
12:30 - 1:00 Wrap Up
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 8:30 Dave Ball: Banjo Inventions--a Regional Survey
8:30 - 9:00 Open Show & Tell session (limit of 2 instruments/items per person)
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam session, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:00 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:00 - 11:15 Bob Winans – In Banjo Land: banjo sheet music covers
11:30 - 12:00 Tony Thomas – BBT&N update
2:00 - 5:00 Tour of Smithsonian Banjo Collection
8:15 - 9:30 Eli Kaufman – British Banjos 1
9:30 - 12:00 Swap, jam sessions, social
Saturday
9:00 - 12:00 Tour of Corcoran Gallery “Picturing the Banjo” exhibit
2:00 - 3:00 Bob Smakula & Andy Fitzgibbon – Hit Parade of Botched Banjo Repairs
3:15 - 4:00 George Wunderlich – the William Sidney Mount Boucher banjo
4:15 - 5:30 Mike Seeger- Josh Thomas
8:15 - 8:30 Lew Stern – British Banjos 2
9:00 - 11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30 - 10:45 Ulf Jagfors & Daniel Jatta – African Update
11:00 - 12:15 Amazing Collector Stories
12:30 - 1:00 Wrap Up
2004 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Seventh Annual Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 18-21, 2004
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 9:00 Dave Ball - The Path Of Most Resistance—Banjo Patents
9:00 - 9:30 Open Show & Tell Session (4 object limit per person)
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:30 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:45 - 11:45 Bob Winans - It’s In The Cards- Collectible Images of The Banjo on Postcards, Trade Cards, Greeting Cards and Stereo views
1:00 - 2:00 Hank Schwartz - The Evolution Of Several Early Banjo Makers
2:00 - 3:00 Pete Ross and Ulf Jagfors - Haiti Banza
3:15 - 4:15 Peter Szego - Search for the Roots of the Banjo
4:15 - 5:15 Shawn McSweeney/ Doug Unger - The Art of the Gryphon
7:30 - 8:30 Cece Conway - More Black Banjo Songsters
8:45 - 9:45 Eli Kaufman - Weird & Wonderful Banjos I Have Known
10:00 -11:30 Swap, jam, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 Bob Carlin - Old Forms And New Ideas, Open Back Banjo Manufacturing in the Modern Age
10:45 -11:15 Sule Greg Wilson - Black Banjo Then and Now
11:30 - 12:30 Mike Seeger - Northern Banjos, Southern Players
7:00-8:00 Panel: George Wunderlich, Sule Greg Wilson, Clark Buehling, Keith Collins - Issues for Interpreters and Revivalists
8:15 - 9:30 Jim Bollman - Elegant Banjo Junque
9:30-11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30-10:30 Ulf Jagfors - Ancient Egyptian Lutes, New African Recordings
10:45-11:45 Dealer Forum - Bernunzio, Werbin, Smakula, Bollman: State of The Market, Trends, etc.
12:00 - 12:30 Wrap Up
Thursday
7:30 - 8:00 Welcome, introductions, announcements
8:00 - 9:00 Dave Ball - The Path Of Most Resistance—Banjo Patents
9:00 - 9:30 Open Show & Tell Session (4 object limit per person)
9:30 - 11:30 Swap meet, jam, social
Friday
9:30 - 10:30 Open Forum - Special Research Projects, Reproduction Parts, etc.
10:45 - 11:45 Bob Winans - It’s In The Cards- Collectible Images of The Banjo on Postcards, Trade Cards, Greeting Cards and Stereo views
1:00 - 2:00 Hank Schwartz - The Evolution Of Several Early Banjo Makers
2:00 - 3:00 Pete Ross and Ulf Jagfors - Haiti Banza
3:15 - 4:15 Peter Szego - Search for the Roots of the Banjo
4:15 - 5:15 Shawn McSweeney/ Doug Unger - The Art of the Gryphon
7:30 - 8:30 Cece Conway - More Black Banjo Songsters
8:45 - 9:45 Eli Kaufman - Weird & Wonderful Banjos I Have Known
10:00 -11:30 Swap, jam, social
Saturday
9:30 - 10:30 Bob Carlin - Old Forms And New Ideas, Open Back Banjo Manufacturing in the Modern Age
10:45 -11:15 Sule Greg Wilson - Black Banjo Then and Now
11:30 - 12:30 Mike Seeger - Northern Banjos, Southern Players
7:00-8:00 Panel: George Wunderlich, Sule Greg Wilson, Clark Buehling, Keith Collins - Issues for Interpreters and Revivalists
8:15 - 9:30 Jim Bollman - Elegant Banjo Junque
9:30-11:30 Swap, jam, social
Sunday
9:30-10:30 Ulf Jagfors - Ancient Egyptian Lutes, New African Recordings
10:45-11:45 Dealer Forum - Bernunzio, Werbin, Smakula, Bollman: State of The Market, Trends, etc.
12:00 - 12:30 Wrap Up
2003 - Port Jefferson, New Jersey
The Sixth 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 13-16, 2003
Thursday evening
7:30 – 8:00 Welcome, introductions and announcements
8:00 – 9:00 Peter Szego & Pete Ross: Banjos in early art and illustration
9:15 – 12:00 Swap meet, jamming, social
Friday
9:00 - 5:00 Bus trip to Birth of the Banjo Exhibition, Katonah Museum of Art
7:00 – 7:30 Ulf Jagfers: Prehistoric banjos: from Egypt to Jamaica
7:45 – 8:15 Mini-reports of current banjo research projects (all attendees are invited to present a 5-minute profile of their research)
8:30 – 9:15 Eli Kaufman: A Cynic’s View of Very Old Banjos
9:30 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Saturday
9:30 – 10:30 Bob Winans: Banjo Kitsch
10:30 – 11:00 Kitsch Show & Tell and Worst Kitsch Contest
11:00 – 11:45 Ulf Jagfers & Daniel Jatta: the Akonting and other Living West African Music
1:00 – 5:30 Carpool to Museums at Stony Brook for exhibition of Bollman Banjo Collection, Wm. S. Mount, and carriage collection
7:45 – 8:15 Dave Ball: Lion Banjo Company
8:15 – 8:45 Midwest Banjo Show &Tell
8:45 – 9:00 Greg Adams: Minstrel-Era Banjo Inventory, a status report
9:15 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:30 – 10:00 Ed Britt: The Many Careers of David L. Day
10:15 – 11:45 Dealer Forum: state of vintage banjo market
12:00 – 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Dbase? Journal?
Thursday evening
7:30 – 8:00 Welcome, introductions and announcements
8:00 – 9:00 Peter Szego & Pete Ross: Banjos in early art and illustration
9:15 – 12:00 Swap meet, jamming, social
Friday
9:00 - 5:00 Bus trip to Birth of the Banjo Exhibition, Katonah Museum of Art
7:00 – 7:30 Ulf Jagfers: Prehistoric banjos: from Egypt to Jamaica
7:45 – 8:15 Mini-reports of current banjo research projects (all attendees are invited to present a 5-minute profile of their research)
8:30 – 9:15 Eli Kaufman: A Cynic’s View of Very Old Banjos
9:30 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Saturday
9:30 – 10:30 Bob Winans: Banjo Kitsch
10:30 – 11:00 Kitsch Show & Tell and Worst Kitsch Contest
11:00 – 11:45 Ulf Jagfers & Daniel Jatta: the Akonting and other Living West African Music
1:00 – 5:30 Carpool to Museums at Stony Brook for exhibition of Bollman Banjo Collection, Wm. S. Mount, and carriage collection
7:45 – 8:15 Dave Ball: Lion Banjo Company
8:15 – 8:45 Midwest Banjo Show &Tell
8:45 – 9:00 Greg Adams: Minstrel-Era Banjo Inventory, a status report
9:15 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:30 – 10:00 Ed Britt: The Many Careers of David L. Day
10:15 – 11:45 Dealer Forum: state of vintage banjo market
12:00 – 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Dbase? Journal?
2002 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Fifth 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 7-10, 2002
Thursday evening
7:30 – 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions and announcements
8:00 – 9:00 Cece Conway: Film of Black Songsters
9:15 – 10:00 Pre-swap show and tell
10:00 –12:00 Swap meet, jamming, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 Dave Ball: Van Eps
10:45 – 11:00 George Wunderlich: minstrel dbase
11:15 – 11:45 Peter Szego & George Wunderlich: preview of Birth of the Banjo exhibition
11:45 –12:30 Show & Tell – Minstrel Banjo Discoveries
2:15 – 3:00 Carpool to Richmond or free afternoon in Williamsburgh
3:00 – 5:00 Virginia Historic Society: OKeh records exhibit
5:30 – 8:00 Dinner in Richmond
9:00 – 10:00 Ulf Jagfers: recent films of African pre-banjo music
10:00 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Saturday
9:30 – 10:30 Ely Kaufman: Banjos go to college
10:45 – 11:30 Jim Bollman: Baystate
11:45 – 12:30 Show & Tell – Early Manufactured and Classic Banjo Discoveries
2:00 – 3 :00 Hank Schwartz: Early Fairbanks
3:15 – 4:15 Makers & restorers forum
4:30 – 5:30 Mini-lectures and reports
8:00 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:30 – 10:15 AM George Gibson: gourd banjos
10:30 – 11:30 Dealer Forum: state of vintage banjo market
11:45 – 12:30 PM Wrap Up: What next? Society? Dbase? Journal?
Thursday evening
7:30 – 8:00 PM Welcome, introductions and announcements
8:00 – 9:00 Cece Conway: Film of Black Songsters
9:15 – 10:00 Pre-swap show and tell
10:00 –12:00 Swap meet, jamming, social
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 Dave Ball: Van Eps
10:45 – 11:00 George Wunderlich: minstrel dbase
11:15 – 11:45 Peter Szego & George Wunderlich: preview of Birth of the Banjo exhibition
11:45 –12:30 Show & Tell – Minstrel Banjo Discoveries
2:15 – 3:00 Carpool to Richmond or free afternoon in Williamsburgh
3:00 – 5:00 Virginia Historic Society: OKeh records exhibit
5:30 – 8:00 Dinner in Richmond
9:00 – 10:00 Ulf Jagfers: recent films of African pre-banjo music
10:00 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Saturday
9:30 – 10:30 Ely Kaufman: Banjos go to college
10:45 – 11:30 Jim Bollman: Baystate
11:45 – 12:30 Show & Tell – Early Manufactured and Classic Banjo Discoveries
2:00 – 3 :00 Hank Schwartz: Early Fairbanks
3:15 – 4:15 Makers & restorers forum
4:30 – 5:30 Mini-lectures and reports
8:00 – 12:00 Social, Jamming, etc.
Sunday
9:30 – 10:15 AM George Gibson: gourd banjos
10:30 – 11:30 Dealer Forum: state of vintage banjo market
11:45 – 12:30 PM Wrap Up: What next? Society? Dbase? Journal?
2001 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Fourth 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 8-11, 2001
Thursday evening
7:00 – 7:15 Welcome, introductions and announcements
7:15 – 8:15 Slide show of unpublished early photographic images of banjo players and minstrel broadside images – Jim Bollman, Eli Kaufman and Peter Szego
8:30 – 9:00 African American syncopation in early minstrel banjo tunes – Bob Winans
9:00 – 12:00 Swap meet, Jamming, etc.
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 Tour of the slave quarters at Carters Grove Plantation
11:00 – 12:15 Gourd banjos – Panel: Pete Ross, Bob Thornberg
1:00 – 2:30 Fred Bacon – Eli Kaufman, Bacon Serial Numbers – Bob Carlin
3 :00 – 5:00 Tour Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Gallery of American Folk Art – special viewing of “The Old Plantation” and banjo related artifacts
7:30 – 9:45 African American Transmission of Banjo to Mountains: Survey of Positions and Q & A – Panel: Cece Conway, George Gibson, Bob Winans
9:45 – 12:00 Jamming, hanging out, etc. (cash bar)
Saturday
9:00 – 10:00 Boucher and Philadelphia/Baltimore music industry – Pete Ross, George Wunderlich
10:15 – 11:15 African Roots Update – Ulf Jagfors
11:30 – 12:15 Introduction to Mountain Banjos – Roddy Moore
12:30 – 1:15 Show & Tell: Mountain Banjos and Minstrel Banjo Discoveries
2:00 – 3:00 Carpool to Richmond
3:00 – 3:15 Intro to Virginia Banjo Exhibit at the Virginia Historic Society – Bob Carlin
3:15 – 5:30 Virginia Banjo Exhibit and other exhibits at the Virginia Historic Society
9:00 – 12:00 Back to Williamsburg for jamming, etc. (cash bar)
Sunday
9:30 – 10:45 Guide to Fairbanks engravers 1901 vs. 1903 – Jim Bollman
11:00 – 12:00 Show & Tell: Early Manufactured and Classic Banjo Discoveries
12:00 – 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Museum? Journal? Establishing a Gambia Research Center
Thursday evening
7:00 – 7:15 Welcome, introductions and announcements
7:15 – 8:15 Slide show of unpublished early photographic images of banjo players and minstrel broadside images – Jim Bollman, Eli Kaufman and Peter Szego
8:30 – 9:00 African American syncopation in early minstrel banjo tunes – Bob Winans
9:00 – 12:00 Swap meet, Jamming, etc.
Friday
9:30 – 10:30 Tour of the slave quarters at Carters Grove Plantation
11:00 – 12:15 Gourd banjos – Panel: Pete Ross, Bob Thornberg
1:00 – 2:30 Fred Bacon – Eli Kaufman, Bacon Serial Numbers – Bob Carlin
3 :00 – 5:00 Tour Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Gallery of American Folk Art – special viewing of “The Old Plantation” and banjo related artifacts
7:30 – 9:45 African American Transmission of Banjo to Mountains: Survey of Positions and Q & A – Panel: Cece Conway, George Gibson, Bob Winans
9:45 – 12:00 Jamming, hanging out, etc. (cash bar)
Saturday
9:00 – 10:00 Boucher and Philadelphia/Baltimore music industry – Pete Ross, George Wunderlich
10:15 – 11:15 African Roots Update – Ulf Jagfors
11:30 – 12:15 Introduction to Mountain Banjos – Roddy Moore
12:30 – 1:15 Show & Tell: Mountain Banjos and Minstrel Banjo Discoveries
2:00 – 3:00 Carpool to Richmond
3:00 – 3:15 Intro to Virginia Banjo Exhibit at the Virginia Historic Society – Bob Carlin
3:15 – 5:30 Virginia Banjo Exhibit and other exhibits at the Virginia Historic Society
9:00 – 12:00 Back to Williamsburg for jamming, etc. (cash bar)
Sunday
9:30 – 10:45 Guide to Fairbanks engravers 1901 vs. 1903 – Jim Bollman
11:00 – 12:00 Show & Tell: Early Manufactured and Classic Banjo Discoveries
12:00 – 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Museum? Journal? Establishing a Gambia Research Center
2000 - Concord, Massachusetts
Third 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - November 3–5, 2000
Friday evening:
8:00 — 9:30 The English Connection: Panel — Bob Carlin, Eli Kaufman, Bob Winans, Cyril Wyckham
9:45 — 10:45 Early banjo photo images from the Harvard Collection — Jim White*
10:45 — 11:30 Show & Tell: Early banjo images — Facilitators: Jim White*, Jim Bollman
Saturday morning
9:00 — 10:00 Ashborn banjos & guitars — Philip Gura
Show & Tell: Ashborn banjos & guitars
10:00 — 11:45 Roots of the Banjo: the Akonting from Gambia — Daniel Jatta, Ulf Jagfors
Saturday afternoon
1:30 — 4:30 Pre-opening tour of the blockbuster Guitar Exhibit at the MFA
Saturday evening
8:00 — 9:30 Show and Tell: everyone is invited to share the special banjos & ephemera you’ve brought to the Gathering
9:30 — ? Swap meet, jamming, hanging out
Sunday morning
9:00 — 9:30 Baystate banjos — Jim Bollman
9:30 — 10:30 Identifying early banjo design elements: 5th string, shoes, heel, scoop, etc. — Panel: Ed Britt, Peter Szego, George Wunderlich
10:30 — 12:00 Open Forum: Developing a Banjo Database — Facilitators: Mike Holmes, Ed Britt, George Wunderlich
12:00 — 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Exhibit? Museum? Journal? — Facilitators: Bollman, Peter Szego
Bollman Collection — Open House
Jim has graciously invited us to tour his collection at the following times after the Collectors Gathering:
Sunday, November 5th, from 3 to 7 PM
Monday, November 6th, from 9 to 12 AM
Friday evening:
8:00 — 9:30 The English Connection: Panel — Bob Carlin, Eli Kaufman, Bob Winans, Cyril Wyckham
9:45 — 10:45 Early banjo photo images from the Harvard Collection — Jim White*
10:45 — 11:30 Show & Tell: Early banjo images — Facilitators: Jim White*, Jim Bollman
Saturday morning
9:00 — 10:00 Ashborn banjos & guitars — Philip Gura
Show & Tell: Ashborn banjos & guitars
10:00 — 11:45 Roots of the Banjo: the Akonting from Gambia — Daniel Jatta, Ulf Jagfors
Saturday afternoon
1:30 — 4:30 Pre-opening tour of the blockbuster Guitar Exhibit at the MFA
Saturday evening
8:00 — 9:30 Show and Tell: everyone is invited to share the special banjos & ephemera you’ve brought to the Gathering
9:30 — ? Swap meet, jamming, hanging out
Sunday morning
9:00 — 9:30 Baystate banjos — Jim Bollman
9:30 — 10:30 Identifying early banjo design elements: 5th string, shoes, heel, scoop, etc. — Panel: Ed Britt, Peter Szego, George Wunderlich
10:30 — 12:00 Open Forum: Developing a Banjo Database — Facilitators: Mike Holmes, Ed Britt, George Wunderlich
12:00 — 1:00 Wrap Up: What next? Society? Exhibit? Museum? Journal? — Facilitators: Bollman, Peter Szego
Bollman Collection — Open House
Jim has graciously invited us to tour his collection at the following times after the Collectors Gathering:
Sunday, November 5th, from 3 to 7 PM
Monday, November 6th, from 9 to 12 AM
1999 - Baltimore, Maryland
Second 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - April 23–25, 1999
Friday evening: Pioneers of Production Banjos Ashborn, Buckbee, the Dobsons, Teed, Tilton, etc.
8:00 — 8:10 PM Musical Intro —Buelling
8:10 — 9 How the banjo became popular – Panel: Moore, Schreyer, Winans
9:00 — 9:30 Untangling the Dobson Family Tree — Gura
9:30 — 10:30 English Connection — Panel: Kaufman, Wycom, Wynans
10:30 — 11:30 Show & Tell: early production banjos — Facilitator: Bollman
Saturday morning: Minstrel Era Banjos
8:30 — 8:45 AM Musical Intro — Wunderlich and gang
8:45 — 9:30 Following the gourd banjo — Panel: Buehling, Moore, Ross
9:30 — 10:30 Boucher: Is it or isn’t it? Boucher design elements and survey of Boucher & near-Boucher banjos — Panel: Britt, Szego, Wunderlich
10:30 — 12 Defining a vocabulary of minstrel-era design elements — Panel: Britt, Szego, Wunderlich
Saturday afternoon Classic Banjos — Fairbanks, Cole, Baystate, Stewart, etc.
1:00 PM Musical Intro — Buelling, Carlin
1:10 — 2 SS Stewart — Kaufman
2:00 — 3 Makers and restorers: where we find our inspiration — Panel: Darmstadter, Enoch, Gough, Ramsey, Unger
3:00 — 4:30 Show & Tell — Great classic banjos — Facilitator: Bollman
Saturday evening Swap meet, jamming, restoration clinic, hanging out
7:30 — ?
Sunday morning Issues of Banjo Scholarship and Collecting
9:00 — 9:30 Banjo Scholarship Exchange: Current banjo research projects — Winans, moderator
10:00 — 10:30 Developing a Banjo Database: Open forum — Holmes, moderator
10:30 — 11:30 Dealer Panel: State of the vintage banjo market — Bernunzio, Bollman, Coulson, Holmes, Oster, Coulson
11:30 — 1:00 What next? Society? Exhibit? Museum? Journal? Open forum — Bollman, moderator
Friday evening: Pioneers of Production Banjos Ashborn, Buckbee, the Dobsons, Teed, Tilton, etc.
8:00 — 8:10 PM Musical Intro —Buelling
8:10 — 9 How the banjo became popular – Panel: Moore, Schreyer, Winans
9:00 — 9:30 Untangling the Dobson Family Tree — Gura
9:30 — 10:30 English Connection — Panel: Kaufman, Wycom, Wynans
10:30 — 11:30 Show & Tell: early production banjos — Facilitator: Bollman
Saturday morning: Minstrel Era Banjos
8:30 — 8:45 AM Musical Intro — Wunderlich and gang
8:45 — 9:30 Following the gourd banjo — Panel: Buehling, Moore, Ross
9:30 — 10:30 Boucher: Is it or isn’t it? Boucher design elements and survey of Boucher & near-Boucher banjos — Panel: Britt, Szego, Wunderlich
10:30 — 12 Defining a vocabulary of minstrel-era design elements — Panel: Britt, Szego, Wunderlich
Saturday afternoon Classic Banjos — Fairbanks, Cole, Baystate, Stewart, etc.
1:00 PM Musical Intro — Buelling, Carlin
1:10 — 2 SS Stewart — Kaufman
2:00 — 3 Makers and restorers: where we find our inspiration — Panel: Darmstadter, Enoch, Gough, Ramsey, Unger
3:00 — 4:30 Show & Tell — Great classic banjos — Facilitator: Bollman
Saturday evening Swap meet, jamming, restoration clinic, hanging out
7:30 — ?
Sunday morning Issues of Banjo Scholarship and Collecting
9:00 — 9:30 Banjo Scholarship Exchange: Current banjo research projects — Winans, moderator
10:00 — 10:30 Developing a Banjo Database: Open forum — Holmes, moderator
10:30 — 11:30 Dealer Panel: State of the vintage banjo market — Bernunzio, Bollman, Coulson, Holmes, Oster, Coulson
11:30 — 1:00 What next? Society? Exhibit? Museum? Journal? Open forum — Bollman, moderator
1998 - Cape May, New Jersey
The First 5-String Banjo Collectors Gathering - May 1 - 3, 1998
Friday
8:30 – ??? Banjo ephemera
Jim Bollman will present a brief “overview” of the sources for images of banjos and banjo playing (photography, toys, broad sides, sheet music, catalogs, etc.)
Round table presentation - banjo ephemera
Saturday morning
9:30 – 12:00 Minstrel-era banjos
Bob Carlin - Sweeney research
Round table discussion - minstrel-era banjos
Saturday afternoon
4:00 – 7:00 Classic banjos
Ed Britt - Boston engravers 1900-1910
Doug Ungar - restoration workshop
Round table discussion - bring your most interesting/beautiful/important Boston-made and other classic banjos
8:30 – ??? More Classic banjos
Sunday morning
10:00 – 12:00 Issues of banjo collecting
Current banjo-related research projects Establishing a banjo database
What next: Collectors club? Annual meeting? Museum exhibit? Journal?
Friday
8:30 – ??? Banjo ephemera
Jim Bollman will present a brief “overview” of the sources for images of banjos and banjo playing (photography, toys, broad sides, sheet music, catalogs, etc.)
Round table presentation - banjo ephemera
Saturday morning
9:30 – 12:00 Minstrel-era banjos
Bob Carlin - Sweeney research
Round table discussion - minstrel-era banjos
Saturday afternoon
4:00 – 7:00 Classic banjos
Ed Britt - Boston engravers 1900-1910
Doug Ungar - restoration workshop
Round table discussion - bring your most interesting/beautiful/important Boston-made and other classic banjos
8:30 – ??? More Classic banjos
Sunday morning
10:00 – 12:00 Issues of banjo collecting
Current banjo-related research projects Establishing a banjo database
What next: Collectors club? Annual meeting? Museum exhibit? Journal?
