HistoryFaces [ http://bit.ly/HistoryFacesApp ] honors Series 2’s Woody Guthrie, American folk singer/songwriter, composer of This Land Is Your Land, lifelong advocate for social justice & progressive ideas & an anti-fascist. He died 10/03/1967. #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

Some background: Guthrie was born in Okemah, OK, in a period of boom & bust. He experienced a series of tragedies, learned he had a knack for music & drawing, & started the rambling ways that would define his life. This thread concentrates on his humor. #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

By 1940, Guthrie was in CA becoming known through his popular radio show. In 9/1940, he wrote to Alan Lomax, the folk archivist, “I spend my time hearsing & rehearsing. This is just a few lines to tell you that I am just writing a few lines to tell you that.” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

Guthrie was already friends with Pete Seeger, a lifelong relationship. In the letter of 9/1940, he notes that Pete is in Alabama. Trying to get “the poll tax down. He sold his bike & rode off down the road with a long neck banjo.” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

In 2/1941, Guthrie writes again to Lomax. “My [new radio] program starts this coming Monday... By the time you get this letter I'll be wheeling & a dealing. ...What help can I be to your project in the Library?” But 1st, he needs a house. “We househunted 3 days #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

with no luck. Same old tale, How many kids? Sorry the owner's away. ...they look at you like you'd ought to take your kids ...& tie a grinding stone around their neck & throw them in the river... then you could pay twice as much... & rent you a house.” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

Guthrie, who is helping Lomax with his collecting, writes to him, 6/1942, concerned about a notebook & his legacy. “There are all kinds of things written down around the songs, along the margins & at the bottom of the pages. #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

...I feel like I'm wearing the book out lugging it around with me, & would like to see it filed away there in the library [of Congress]. I would like to make a deal with the library to file my original copies ...& make me some typed copies.” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

But there’s always time for humor. Guthrie asks after Lomax’s sister, “How is your sister Bess cadliaccing? I meant cadilaccing. Best I ever done was some pontiaccing.” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

By June of 1942, Guthrie was part of an informal, ever-changing folk “super-group” called the Almanac Singers, (Cisco Houston, Burl Ives, Josh White, Seeger). Guthrie sends along a song for them to sing, “Goin’ Away To Sea.” The inside address greets his... #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

“Comrades, Commandos, & Fellow Workers, Techincians, United Engineers, salutations; Factory workers, miners, railroaders, Peasants, sharecroppers & Union Labor! Hold The Fort!” #OTD#WoodyGuthrie

The songwriting men of HistoryFaces [[ http://bit.ly/HistoryFacesApp ] salute Woody Guthrie. It's been good to know more about you. Here's even more, a 1941 postcard to Lomax. Guthrie writes, "I'd almost learnt to love musicians — How's the book? Tell it hello, Woody" #OTD#WoodyGuthrie