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Scorpio Lagna

Hawes BessLomax

Remembering (Nov 27, 2009)

January 21, 1921 · Austin, Texas
12views
Moon Sign
Gemini
Sun Sign
Capricorn
Ascendant
Scorpio
Nakshatra
Mrigashira
Birth Star
Entertain/MusicWritersLeadership RolesHumanities+Social SciencesAnthropologyAdministratorResearcherTeacher
Biography

Who is Hawes BessLomax?

American folk musician, folklorist, and researcher. In the early 1940s she moved to New York City, where she was active on the folk scene. In 1942, she married singer, Baldwin "Butch" Hawes. Woody Guthrie taught her mandolin. She became well-known for her technique of teaching guitar to large groups of people simultaneously. In the 1950s she moved to California, where she taught guitar, banjo, mandolin and folk singing. In 1968 she became Associate Professor of Anthropology at San Fernando Valley State College. Her husband died in 1971. In 1975, she accepted a position in administration at the Smithsonian Institution, where she was instrumental in organizing the 1976 Bicentennial Festival of Traditional Folk Arts on the National Mall. In 1977, she was named first director of the Folk and Traditional Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts, and created the National Heritage Fellowships, which recognize traditional artists and performers. She retired in 1992. Bess Lomax Hawes was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts awarded in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. An NEA traditional arts award is named in her honor. Her memoir, Sing It Pretty, was published in 2008. She died on 27 November 2009, aged 88, following a stroke in Portland, Oregon. Link to Wikipedia biography
Latest Info

Latest Updates

Update at: Mar 25, 2026

Overview

Bess Lomax Hawes (born January 21, 1916, in Austin, Texas; died November 22, 2009) was an American folklorist and singer who helped preserve and promote traditional American folk music.

News and Media

There is no current news or active media presence. Historical coverage centers on retrospectives and obituaries published after her passing in 2009.

Social Media

No official social media accounts are associated with Bess Lomax Hawes. Public engagement occurred before the rise of modern social platforms.

Career and Projects

  • Prominent figure in the American folklorist movement, contributing to the documentation and preservation of traditional folk songs and practices.
  • Part of the Lomax family network of collectors and scholars, influencing public folklore programs and education.
  • Played a role in shaping mid- to late-20th century folklife initiatives, including efforts linked to major public institutions and festivals.

Legacy and Notable Works

Her work emphasized field recordings, oral histories, and the dissemination of folk knowledge. She contributed to scholarly journals and public folklore initiatives, mentoring younger folklorists and helping to establish pathways for national folklore festivals and collections. Her influence persists in how American folklife is collected and presented in museums, libraries, and public programs.

Further Reading

Wikipedia entry: Bess Lomax Hawes

Which Raj Yogas are in Hawes BessLomax's birth chart?

1 FOUND

Hawes BessLomax's chart shows 1 Raj Yoga, including Budhaditya Yoga-Weak.

Planetary Combinations

Which dasha periods did Hawes BessLomax live through?

VIMSHOTTARI

Vimshottari dasha periods recorded for Hawes BessLomax, in order.

PREVIOUSJul 22, 2026 - Aug 9, 2026
Moon / Moon / Mars

What do Hawes BessLomax's numerology numbers say?

Hawes BessLomax's core numbers are Life Path 8, Destiny 8, Soul Urge 1, Personality 7, Kabbalah Number 4, Birth 3.

Life Path
8

Chaldean Life Path 8 is Saturnian—authority, ambition, and material mastery. It indicates leadership with discipline, ethics, and long-term planning.

Destiny
8

Chaldean Destiny 8 indicates executive expression and authority. It supports business, finance, leadership, and achievement through discipline.

Soul Urge
1

Chaldean Soul 1 desires independence and self-respect. It seeks inner strength, autonomy, and the freedom to lead from within.

Personality
7

Chaldean Personality 7 appears thoughtful, private, and analytical. Others often see depth, intelligence, and spiritual interest.

Kabbalah Number
4

Kabbalah Number 4 reflects an inner spiritual code of structure and stability. It supports discipline, grounded effort, and dependable progress.

Birth
3

Unlock Birth Number 3 in Vedic astrology: explore personality traits, strengths, challenges, career potential, love compatibility, and life guidance via numerology.

Life Events & Planetary Transits

Key events mapped against the active Dasha and planetary transits at the time.

1942
Relationship
Marriage 1942
1993
Career
Prize 1993 (National Medal of Arts)
2009
Death
Death by Disease 27 November 2009 (stroke)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this profile's Vedic astrology, birth chart, and numerology — answered by our astrologers.

How does Hawes BessLomax's life path number 8 shape her personality and legacy?

Hawes BessLomax carries a Life Path number 8, which in numerology signifies authority, ambition, and the drive to build lasting institutions. This powerful number aligns perfectly with her roles as an administrator, researcher, and cultural advocate. People on the 8 path are natural leaders who leave enduring marks on society, and BessLomax's distinguished career in folk music preservation and her National Medal of Arts honor reflect exactly that commanding, results-driven energy.

Is Hawes BessLomax a true Aquarius, and how does that sun sign reflect her life's work?

Yes, Hawes BessLomax was born on January 21, 1921, making her an Aquarius in the Western tropical zodiac. Aquarius is the sign of humanitarians, innovators, and community builders, qualities that shine through her lifelong dedication to folk music, cultural anthropology, and social sciences. Aquarians are driven to preserve collective wisdom and challenge conventions, which explains BessLomax's passion for championing American folk traditions and her influential work in arts administration.

What does Hawes BessLomax's birth chart suggest about her approach to love and marriage?

Hawes BessLomax's chart features a Scorpio ascendant, which brings intensity and deep emotional loyalty to relationships. Her personality traits include a strong orientation toward love marriages, suggesting she followed her heart rather than convention. With her Aquarian sun adding independence and her Gemini moon bringing intellectual connection, BessLomax likely sought a partner who was both a mental companion and a soulmate, consistent with her marriage in 1942.

Why has Hawes BessLomax achieved such remarkable success as a musician, researcher, and arts administrator, astrologically speaking?

Hawes BessLomax's chart reveals several factors behind her distinguished career. Her Scorpio ascendant gives penetrating focus and resilience, while her Aquarian sun drives innovation in collective cultural work. The presence of Budhaditya Yoga, even in a weaker form, links Mercury and the Sun, enhancing intelligence and communication, ideal for a singer, guitarist, writer, and researcher. Her Life Path and Destiny number 8 further reinforce her natural aptitude for leadership and institutional impact.

Which Vedic moon sign does Hawes BessLomax belong to, and what does it reveal about her inner world?

Hawes BessLomax's Janma Rashi, or Vedic moon sign, is Gemini, known as Mithuna in Sanskrit. A Gemini moon bestows a quick, curious, and adaptable mind, traits that served BessLomax well as a researcher, teacher, and anthropologist who moved fluidly between singing, writing, and administration. Gemini moon individuals are natural communicators who thrive when connecting people and ideas, a fitting description for someone who devoted her life to preserving and sharing folk cultural heritage.

What deeper life purpose or spiritual calling does Hawes BessLomax's astrological chart point toward?

Hawes BessLomax's chart points to a life purpose rooted in service, preservation, and cultural healing. Her Scorpio ascendant calls her to transform society through deep, investigative work, while her Aquarian sun orients that mission toward collective humanity. The combination of Gemini moon's communicative gifts and a strong 8 destiny number suggests her spiritual path was to act as a bridge between generations, ensuring that the voices of ordinary people, captured through folk music, would never be forgotten.

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