Carrboro to honor folk artist Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten

This weekend the town of Carrboro will be celebrating one of its oldest and greatest heroes.

One of the major events of the 2013 Statewide Folklife Festival is the unveiling of the historical marker honoring local legend, Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten.

Cotten, a famous folk artist known for her unorthodox guitar playing was born in the area that is now Carrboro in 1895. She played a right-handed guitar with her left hand.

Cotten was working as a domestic servant in Washington, D.C. when she was discovered. She was 50 years old and a child of the family she was working for was her first audience.

“One of the kids happened to hear her take down one of the guitars and play in the kitchen,” said Glenn Hinson, a UNC professor of folklore and anthropology. “Absolute happenstance.”

She went on to win a Grammy award for best ethnic or folk recording in 1985 at the age of 90.

He said the historical marker erected to honor Cotten has multiple significances.

“There is kind of a second story there for her,” said Hinson. “On one hand there is a story of triumph. But on the other hand, it is a story of growing up in a profoundly segregated and racist community.”

Hinson said the marker serves as a reminder of the struggles of African Americans in the community.

“The significance is as much as a reminder to the way conditions have not changed as anything,” he said. “It’s been 120 years and the lives of a lot of people are fundamentally unchanged.”

Hinson also said the marker shows that someone in the Carrboro community cares about the history of Cotten.

“When you think about historical markers, what it takes to get a marker in this state, the thing is that it has to be a prominent person,” he said. “And there has to be someone in the community who ends up serving as the historical person’s advocate. Somebody became an advocate for Mrs. Cotten.”

That somebody was Art Menius.

Menius is the executive director of the Carrboro ArtsCenter and was the impetus for the installation of Cotten’s historical marker.

“She is one of the most famous musicians North Carolina has ever produced,” he said. “She is an iconic figure of the folk revival in North Carolina. A young lady who was born here in the county before there was even a Carrboro.”

Menius said it’s important because this will be the first historical marker in the town of Carrboro.

Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle also finds it fitting that Carrboro will honor Cotten this weekend.

“This is the first time this Folklife Festival is being held in Carrboro,” she said. “I think the fact that they are going to recognize her as a part of that is appropriate.”

The Folklife Festival is an all day event in Carrboro on Saturday with numerous types of activities going on. The unveiling of the Libba Cotten Historical Marker will take place at 3 p.m.

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