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Arkansas Arkie Woodchopper: Square Dance Calls with Music and Instructions

Collection:

Notable marginalia:

There's a stamp at the bottom of the page, saying this was one time in the posession of Houck Music Company in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Librarian's note:

I love music. I love weird historical artifacts. Combine them together, and you can have my money.

I was shopping for Christmas presents at the antique store (which I highly recommend -- one member of my family doesn't want presents anymore), when I came across this gem. It originally seemed like the kind of thing someone in my family might like; but they wouldn't like it as much as I do. So I gifted it to myself, and I've been thankful ever since.

I don't know enough about square dancing to comment on this method of aid, but I do play the violin, and recognize some of the standards they've included (Mississippi Sawyer, Arkansas Traveler, etc.). It was fun to play through the sheet music.

Square dancing is one of the earliest forms of entertainment, claims the inside cover. Nationally recognized dance authorities have announced that the old time square dance is soon going to occupy a place in the sun as the nation's most popular form of dancing. From all present indications, the suqare dance is sweeping the country.

My cousin hates square dancing because they forced her to learn it in school; and you might be surprised to see just how many states have it as their official state dance. You might also be surprised to know regular square dances still take place outside of Texas (I'm acquainted with a square dance caller in the mid-Atlantic region).

The real gift, though, was when I took it home and found a type-writer letter tucked away inside the pages. It's from a Lt. Col. stationed at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas, writing to a Col. stationed in Tennessee on October 20, 1941.

The Lt. Col. says to find enclosed a training manual (the square dance instructions) outlining certain Maneuvers which are calculated to improve ability and posture... You will note that the music appropriate to each Maneuver is included herewith in the Manual.

Army humor. But what follows is a little more unclear:

As regards the circumstances surrounding the death of a certain 'Mr. Howard', I have received assurance that full details concerning this tragic occurrence will be forthcoming in a few days.

Army humor? Hard to say. Why is "Mr. Howard" in quotes? If it was an actual tragedy they're discussing, why is it in an otherwise joke gift? The world (meaning me) may never know.

And who is Arkie? Why, he's America's Number One square dance caller whose picture lines many pages.