The Joseph R. Murphy Audiovisual Recordings and Papers primarily consist of the recordings (unedited U-matic tapes, as well as other audiovisual formats) and project files for the 1986 "Doc and Merle" documentary film project on Doc Watson and his son, Merle Watson. Recordings on other subjects, such as the Mount Paran Baptist Church in Deep Gap, North Carolina and the 1992 Campaign for Appalachian, are also included. User copies for the majority of the recordings are available. Joseph R. Murphy was a professor of education at Appalachian State University, where he taught video and film production and media literacy. Between 1980 and 1985, Murphy directed a documentary film project with Kevin Balling titled "Doc and Merle," about Arthel "Doc" Watson and his son, Merle Watson, musicians from Deep Gap, North Carolina. The documentary is a mixture of music, informal interviews, old photographs, and rare film footage. Musicians Jack Williams, Clint Howard, and Fred Price also perform. The film was dedicated to the memory of Merle Watson who died in a tractor accident on October 23, 1985 while the documentary was being filmed.
