Michael J. Hamer Papers

1980s-2010s
Manuscript Collection #1348
Creator(s)
Hamer, Michael J.
Physical description
4.0 Cubic Feet, 5 document cases, 1 half document case, 1 records center box, 1 flat box, and 1 shoe box, consisting of notebooks containing handwritten lyrics, poems, photographs, record, reel to reel tapes, postcards, CDs, and clippings
Preferred Citation
Michael J. Hamer Papers (#1348), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to original audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

This collection (1980s-2010s) contains material related to the life of Michael J. Hamer, an English professor at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, from 1986 through 2013, and a prolific songwriter, singer, and band leader who died in 2017. Included are notebooks containing his handwritten lyrics, poems, photographs, reel to reel tapes, clippings, and other material pertaining to his musical career.


Biographical/historical information

Mike Hamer (1948-2017) was born in Newport, Vermont and grew up on a dairy farm with his parents and sister. He graduated from the Sacred Heart High School in Newport in 1966 and studied for the brotherhood at Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Essex, NY. Hamer later joined the VISTA anti-poverty program that relocated him to Greenville, NC where he became active in the local music scene. His first band was formed in 1976 and was called the Mel Bay Trio. Hamer was a part of several bands throughout the 70s and 80s including Benefit Blues Ban, Lightnin' Wells Blues Band, Gillespie-Hamer Band, the Lemon Sisters and Rutabaga Brothers, and Mike Hamer and the Rhinoceroses. In 1985 Hamer was in a diving accident that left him quadriplegic. After rehab, he joined the English faculty at East Carolina University and taught English composition and song writing classes until 2004. While at ECU he continued to write music and poetry, produce CDs, and help produced a 15 minute video "Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Wheelchair Dancing" in 1989.


Scope and arrangement

This collection is broken up into eight series: 1. Songs, Lyrics & Sheet Music, 2. Poetry, 3. Journals & Spiral Bound Notebooks, 4. Postcards, Clippings, Posters, Art, Ephemera, 5. Photographs & Negatives, 6. Miscellaneous, 7. Articles, Writings, and Interviews about people with disabilities, and 8. Audio materials.

Much of this collection is scrap papers with song lyrics and poetry and journals full of notes, set lists, interviews, and song lyrics written by Mike Hamer. Other components of this collection include audio reels, clippings, art covers, and posters about Mike Hamer's bands. A small portion of the collection is dedicated to his work and interviews with other people who have disabilities and his work at ECU.


Administrative information
Custodial History

June 28, 2019, 2.25 cubic feet; This collection (1980s-2010s) contains material related to the life of Michael J. Hamer, an English professor at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, from 1986 through 2013, and a prolific songwriter, singer, and band leader who died in 2017. Included are notebooks containing his handwritten lyrics, poems, photographs, reel to reel tapes, clippings, and other material pertaining to his musical career. Donated by Joan Hamer.

July 29, 2020, (addition 1), 1.5 cubic feet; Addition consists of six 10.5-inch reel AMPEX 456 Studio Mastering audio tapes with dates of 1988, 1996 and 1997; six 7-inch reel audio tapes (undated) of which three may be tapes of other performances but three are listed as Hamer #5 (We can work it out, Mango Man), Hamer #6 (Mango Man) and Hamer #7 (Demo); and a 7-inch wide record (and cover) recorded in Spring 1983 at 33 1/3 rpm of The Lemon Sisters and The Rutabaga Brothers. Also included are a notebook of Mike Hamer's handwritten songs, loose pages of song lyrics and set lists, a list of interview answers from 1997 concerning someone who was hit by a car and had become quadriplegic, and postcards (ca. 1998-2007) sent to Mike. Donated by Joan Hamer.

November 20, 2020, (addition 2), 0.25 cubic feet; Addition consists of seven chapbooks of poetry by Marty Silverthorne (1988-2009), two by Hal J. Daniel III (1985, 1987), and two by Sam Silva (1989, 1990); eulogy summarizing Hamer's life; four Christmas postcards sent out by Hamer; advertising broadsides and cards for Tthe Lemon Sisters and The Rutabaga Brothers, and other bands playing at the Attic, the Rat, Peasant's Cafe, and Platinum Gallery in Greenville, N.C.; and newspaper clippings (1985, 1989, 1993). Also included are thirteen CDs of mostly central and eastern North Carolina folk/bluegrass/rootsy/rock groups like Duke Street Dogs, The Liberty Circus, and Honey Holler which may be transferred to the Music Library at ECU. Donated by Joan Hamer.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Joan Hamer

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Hamer, Michael J.
Corporate Names
East Carolina University--Faculty
Topical
English teachers--North Carolina--Greenville
Lyricists--North Carolina--Greenville

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Mike Hamer: Printed & handwritten lyrics, songs, & sheet music (1), undated
Box 1 Folder b Mike Hamer: Printed & handwritten lyrics, songs, & sheet music (2), undated
Box 1 Folder c Mike Hamer: Song Lyrics, undated
Box 1 Folder d Mike Hamer & Collaborators Older Songs 1, undated
Box 1 Folder e Mike Hame & Collaborators Older Songs 2, undated
Box 1 Folder f Mike Hamer & Collaborators New Songs 1, undated
Box 1 Folder g Mike Hamer & Collaborators New Songs 2, 2008-2012
Box 1 Folder h Mike Hamer Sheet Music/Covers, undated
Box 1 Folder i Mike Hamer: Music from website lyrics/covers, 2006
Box 1 Folder j Song Lists & Lyrics (1), undated
Box 2 Folder a Song Lists & Lyrics (2), undated
Box 2 Folder b Mike Hamer Setlists, undated
Box 2 Folder c Mike Hamer: Printed & handwritten lyrics, songs, & sheet music (3), undated
Box 2 Folder d Typed Poetry - Couplets & Lines, undated
Box 2 Folder e Poetry by Hal J. Daniel III and by Sam Silva, 1985-1990
Box 2 Folder f Poetry by Marty Silverthorne, 1989-2009
Box 2 Folder g Solstice & Equinox Poems by Amy Hannon, 2007-2012
Box 2 Folder h Mike Hamer Song Journal, undated
Box 2 Folder i Spiral Notebook of Lyrics, undated
Box 2 Folder j Mike Hamer Journal Date: Unknown "Cool Pen", undated
Box 2 Folder k Mike Hamer Journal Date: Unknown "Sue Brown", undated
Box 2 Folder l Notebook of Hamer's Lyrics & 1997 interview with someone who was in a wheelchair after being hit by a car, 1997
Box 3 Folder a Mike Hamer Trip Log Dec & Jane, 1986-87, 1986-1987
Box 3 Folder b Journal, Fall 1987 "lots of poems", 1987
Box 3 Folder c Winter 88-89 Journal: Some songs, "Miss You", 1988-1989
Box 3 Folder d 1989 Spiral Journal Aug-Oct, 1989
Box 3 Folder e Mike Hamer July 1990 Jounral, 1990
Box 3 Folder f Mike Hamer Journal Entries, 1991
Box 3 Folder g Mike Hamer 1992 Journal, 1992
Box 3 Folder h School Notebook, 1992
Box 3 Folder i Journal with notes and song lyrics, 1995
Box 4 Folder a Mike Hamer Oct. 1995 Journal, 1995
Box 4 Folder b Mike Hamer 1998 Spiral Journal, 1998
Box 4 Folder c Mike Hamer 2004 Journal, 2004
Box 4 Folder d Mike Hamer 2007 Journal, 2007
Box 4 Folder e Written Notes For Teaching English Course, 2009
Box 4 Folder f Spiral Journal of Songs Lyrics and Poems, 2007-2012
Box 5 Folder a Postcards, late 1990s-2010s, 1990-2010
Box 5 Folder b Mike Hamer and the Rhinoceroses & the Angelic Chorus Poster, undated
Box 5 Folder c Mike Wells Show Clippings, 1986
Box 5 Folder d Christmas Cards, Advertising, Ephemera, Biographical Sketch, Clippings, 1985-2006
Box 5 Folder e Lemons and Rutabagas Show Posters and Newspaper Clippings, undated
Box 5 Folder f Political Opinions and Articles, 2005
Box 5 Folder g Mike Hamer & Other Bands Posters and Newspaper Clippings, 1986
Box 5 Folder h Newspapers - The Daily Reflector May 21, 1989 & Wingspan Jan-March 1992 & April-June 1992, 1989-1992
Box 5 Folder i Mark Hamer Mountain and Sunset Watercolor Art, undated
Box 5 Folder j Mike Hamer Black Crow CD Art and Other Info, undated
Box 5 Folder k Kristina Olsen, undated
Box 5 Folder l Tom and Chris Kastle, undated
Box 5 Folder m Film (negatives): unidentified people, undated
Box 5 Folder n Photographs: unidentified people, undated
Box 5 Folder o Photograph, Handwritten Card, Lenton Devotion: Mike Hamer, undated
Box 5 Folder p Steve Myott, Mike Hamer, Amy Hazzard, 1984
Box 5 Folder q Debbie Vargas, undated
Box 5 Folder r Mike Davis, undated
Box 5 Folder s Bill Shepherd, undated
Box 5 Folder t John Worthington, undated
Box 5 Folder u Bob Tunnell, undated
Box 5 Folder v James Shue, undated
Box 5 Folder w Patrick Kehae, undated
Box 5 Folder x Webb Spilman, undated
Box 5 Folder y Photographs & Negatives: Lisa Brantley, undated
Box 5 Folder z Lemon Sisters, undated
Box 5 Folder za JW Raybura, undated
Box 5 Folder zb Mitch Bowen [?], undated
Box 5 Folder zc Mike Hamer Photos and Postcards, 1991
Box 5 Folder zd Mike Hamer Negatives, undated
Box 5 Folder ze Mike Hamer Faculty Evaluation, 1987
Box 5 Folder zf Listening to the Voices of Gaia by Mike Hamer and Nathaniel Mead, undated
Box 5 Folder zg Mike Hamer Proposals, 1998-2005
Box 5 Folder zh 20/20 Vision, undated
Box 5 Folder zi Mike Hamer Memorial Writings, 2017
Box 5 Folder zj Mike Hamer Stories, undated
Box 6 Folder a BMI Materials, 1992
Box 6 Folder b Mike Hamer writings on disability, 1985-1999
Box 6 Folder c In Spirit Materials and Letters, 1990
Box 6 Folder d Phytotherapy No. 115:9-11, undated
Box 6 Folder e Transcribed Interviews with G.T., Sandy Balwin (2/6/98), Dallas Little (10/31/97), & P.H. (11/14/97), 1997-1998
Box 6 Folder f "Meaningful Abilities: Spirituality, Disability, and Occupation" by Felicia Myott (5/6/98), 1998
Box 6 Folder g Drafts of "Disability and Spirituality", undated
Box 6 Folder h Fetzer Institute Grant Application, 1996
Box 6 Folder i Transcribed interviews with Silvia (4/8/96), Jane Elin, Lou Villiam (9/99), Mike Hamer (2/27/98), Nancy Badger (5/30/97) & Sandra Mills (6/3/97), 1996-1999
Box 6 Folder j Palaestra Fall 1989 Vol. 6 No. 1, 1989
Box 7 Item 1 "Lullabies for Troubled Times" Julie Beutel with Mike Hamer, undated
Box 7 Item 2 "Love Dust" Black Swamp Music - Mike Hamer, 2005
Box 7 Item 3 "In This Night" Bob Franke - Telephone Pole Music Publishing Company, 1991
Box 7 Item 4 "Duke Street Dogs" Bill Newton, Keith Guile, Michael Borstelmann, Robert Truesdale, 2012
Box 7 Item 5 "Liberty Circus" Malcolm Holcombe, Alan Kaufman, RB Morris, Al Maginnes, David Oleny, undated
Box 7 Item 6 "Daylight" Parmalee, 2002
Box 7 Item 7 "Ever what you want" Man Alive!, 2001
Box 7 Item 8 "Let It In" Ralph Roddenbery Band, 2005
Box 7 Item 9 "Polaris" Mike Ford, 1996
Box 7 Item 10 "Phoneicia Blind" Purlpe Schoolbus, 1995
Box 7 Item 11 "Baby Mine" Holly Holler, 2013
Box 7 Item 12 "Moma's Voice" Alice Zincone and Rick Lafleur, 2005
Box 7 Item 13 "everything is plaid" Robertson's Good Rare Wine, 1998
Box 7 Item 14 "Doctor Blade" Joe Bell & The Stinging Blades, undated
Box 7 Item 15 The Silos: Live at The Stovepipe Lounge, 2003
Box 8 Item 1 Ampex 456: Rollin' Wheel Blues (1" x 2500'), 1988
Box 8 Item 2 Ampex 456: Mike Hamer 9-20-97 (1/2" x 2500'), 1997
Box 8 Item 3 Ampex 456: Mike Hamer 9-20-97 #2 (1/2" x 2500'), 1997
Box 8 Item 4 Ampex 456: New Hamer (1/2" x 2500'), undated
Box 8 Item 5 Ampex 456: Hamer Master (1/2" x 2500'), undated
Box 8 Item 6 Ampex 456: Mike Hamer 3-30-96 (1/2" x 2500'), 1996
Box 8 Item 7 TASCAM RE-1013, undated
Box 8 Item 8 7-inch reel Soundcraft - Lesson 44, undated
Box 8 Item 9 7-inch reel Scotch - Mike Recorded Out Lady of Hope College Newburgh NY, undated
Box 8 Item 10 7-inch reel Scotch - Songs by various artists, undated
Box 8 Item 11 7-inch reel Maxell - Mike Hamer #5, undated
Box 8 Item 12 7-inch reel Maxell - Mike Hamer # 6 Mango Man, undated
Box 8 Item 13 7-inch reel Maxell - Hamer Demo #7, undated
Box 8 Item 14 Record - The Lemon Sisters and the Rutabaga Brothers, undated
Oversize Folder 1 Pictures: Mike Hamer & Wheelchair Dancing / Posters: Mike Hamer Benefit Ball and Band Poster