Interview with cow whip maker George (Junior) Mills with his apprentice J. Taylor Marcus

General Note/Comment

• Two audio cassettes. Apprentice Marcus was funded to learn from cow whip maker Mills how make whips, including choosing hides, making strings, whip construction, and the historical/cultural background of whip making. For more information on Mills and Marcus, see S 1644, box 11, folder 30. The Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program began in 1983 with a NEA grant of $22,000. The program provided an opportunity for master folk artists to share technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices in order to keep the tradition alive. Apprentices must have had some experience in the tradition and agreed to train for at least six months. The first project director was Blanton Owen, later replaced by folklorist Peter Roller. The program was continued each year through 2004.