Vance Randolph was a folklorist and professional writer who lived most of his life in the Ozarks region of Missouri and Arkansas. Beginning in the 1920s, Randolph wrote many books and articles about Ozark culture. He traveled widely over the Ozarks and observed all aspects of folk culture. Randolph personally recorded and collected ballads, sayings, and stories that had been handed down orally from one generation to another in the isolated Ozark region. His published accounts of Ozark culture are of great value to folk culturists.

During the 1940s, Randolph lived for two years at Bonniebrook, home of the noted illustrator Rose O’Neill. He was impressed with and entertained by O’Neill’s many natural talents. Randolph helped O’Neill write her autobiography, which was finally published in 1997.

For more information about Vance Randolph, see the following Web sites:

• University of Arkansas Libraries, Special Collections
• Library of Congress' Vance Randolph Collection (pdf)
• Randolph, Vance (1892-1980), Ozark Folksongs, Collection, 1919-1957 of the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia

Unless otherwise noted, text and images © 2007, State Historical Society of Missouri