Folklife Today

Tells stories about the cultural traditions and folklore of diverse communities, combining brand-new interviews and narration with songs, stories, music, and oral history from the collections of the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center.

  • Audio Recording
    Reclaiming “Red Wing” with Wampanoag Singer-Songwriter Thea Hopkins This episode features singer-songwriter Thea Hopkins, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard, in discussion with staff members of the American Folklife Center. Hopkins adapted songs from the American Folklife Center archive several times. On the first occasion she sang a lullaby recorded by ethnomusicologist Willard Rhodes from a young girl named Margaret at the Haskell Residential School in 1943; the…
    • Contributor: Stephen Winick - Thea Hopkins - Lillian Short - Jennifer Cutting - Margaret - Mary Trotchie - Meg Nicholas
    • Date: 2024-11-26
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    Scary Stories for Halloween 2024 This episode looks at scary stories in the American Folklife Center archives, including ghost stories, witch tales, and other terrifying tales. Hosts Stephen Winick and John Fenn talk with AFC intern Hanna Salmon about scary stories in the new guide “Folktales and Oral Storytelling: Resources in the American Folklife Center Collections.” We then listen to and discuss a “Vanishing Hitchhiker” tale from Marty Weathers…
    • Contributor: J. D. Suggs - Marty Weathers - Stetson Kennedy - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Richard M. Dorson - Connie Regan-Blake - Bill Henry - Eartha M. M. White - Hanna Salmon
    • Date: 2024-10-29
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    Storytelling and Folktale Traditions in the American Folklife Center Archive This episode looks at storytelling and folktale traditions in the American Folklife Center archives, including “Jack Tales,” tall tales, animal tales, and other stories. Hosts Stephen Winick and John Fenn talk with AFC intern Hanna Salmon about the new guide “Folktales and Oral Storytelling: Resources in the American Folklife Center Collections.” We then listen to and discuss excerpts of tales from North Carolina storyteller…
    • Contributor: Evelio Andux - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Connie Regan-Blake - Carmen Agra Deedy - Tim Tingle - Ray Hicks - Evelia Andux - Hanna Salmon - Barbara Freeman
    • Date: 2024-09-30
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    Cormac Ó Haodha: Kluge Lomax Fellow from Cúil Aodha in the Múscraí gaeltacht of County Cork, Ireland. This episode looks at the work of Cormac Ó Haodha, who held the 2024 John B. Lovelace Fellowship for the study of the Alan Lomax collection, a position situated within the library’s Kluge Center. Cormac comes from Cúil Aodha in the Múscraí gaeltacht of County Cork, Ireland. He came the Library specifically to study recordings Alan Lomax made in January 1951, of singers local…
    • Contributor: Elizabeth Cronin - Diarmuid Ó Riordáin - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Máire Ní Cheocháin - Seán Eoin Ó Súilleabháin - Cormac Ó Haodha
    • Date: 2024-05-31
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    2023 Summer Interns: Reflections and Research Guides This episode looks back at the recent work of Joseph Z. Johnson and Deena Owens, interns who created research guides on African American Banjo Playing and on Sacred Harp singing for the American Folklife Center. The interns talked about their work and shared a few of their favorite field recordings from our collections.More information on the songs as well as photos of some the…
    • Contributor: 1942 Alabama Sacred Harp Singing Convention - Joseph Z. Johnson - Deena Owens - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Elizabeth Cotton - Dink Roberts - Stranger Home Baptist Church Singers
    • Date: 2023-10-31
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    The 2023 Homegrown Concert Series This episode looks back and ahead at the 2023 Homegrown Concert series, which is currently in progress. Hosts Stephen Winick and Michelle Stefano interview the series producer Theadocia Austen and folklife specialist Doug Peach. The participants talk about the series as a whole, and each picks one or two songs for us to hear. The episode contains songs from Jake Blount, (African American folk…
    • Contributor: Kristian Blak - Sharon Weiss - Theadocia Austen - Stephen Winick - Doug Peach - Ali Doğan Gönültaş Quartet - Charlie Pilzer - Christylez Bacon - Spaelimenninir - Jake Blount
    • Date: 2023-08-24
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    Asian Pacific American Heritage In this episode for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, John Fenn and Steve Winick invite guests to talk about Asian collections in the American Folklife Center. Allina Migoni talks about the earliest known recordings of Korean music, playing segments of a lecture by Robert Provine and a song sung by Ahn Jeong-Sik. Sara Ludewig discusses the Linda LaMacchia collection, including recordings made of Tibetan singers…
    • Contributor: Robert Provine - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Tenzin Choegyal - Allina Migoni - Sara Ludewig
    • Date: 2023-05-26
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    Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories In this episode for Women’s History Month, Allina Migoni and Michelle Stefano take a look through the collections of the American Folklife Center to find insights into how women have shaped those around them and passed down their cultural traditions, and to listen to reflections about their identities and lives. The episode honors women in the American Folklife Center archive, including homemaker and cook…
    • Contributor: Theadocia Austen - Christine Cartwright - Michelle Stefano - Kay Turner - David Nagashima - Allina Migoni - Iyo Nagashima - Mary Sheppard Burton - Donna Choate - Yoshiko Nagashima - Sarah Sohn - Miiko Toelken - Zenna Todd - Geraldine Niva Johnson
    • Date: 2023-03-31
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    Groundhog Day In this episode, John Fenn, Michelle Stefano, and Stephen Winick discuss Groundhog Day traditions. Drawing on the research of Don Yoder, they discuss the history and folklore of the holiday, including groundhog traditions among the Pennsylvania Dutch, groundhog songs, weather proverbs, and even cooking and eating groundhogs! Songs include two versions of “Groundhog,” one of “Fod,” and one of “Prowling Groundhog.” More information on…
    • Contributor: Sam Chatmon - Michelle Stefano - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - George “shortbuckle” Roarke - King Family String Band - Ernie Alston
    • Date: 2023-02-02
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    Scary Stories for Halloween 2022 In this episode, hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick introduce three scary stories for you to enjoy: a witch tale told by Appalachian singer and activist Aunt Molly Jackson, a ghost story told by blues musician and gravedigger John Jackson, and the story of Jack O Lantern told by folklorist Jack Santino. Steve and John also discuss a little of the history of Halloween,…
    • Contributor: John Jackson - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Aunt Molly Jackson - Jack Santino
    • Date: 2022-10-27
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    Caught My Eye, Caught My Ear, Staff Edition, Including Tributes to Tony Barrand and Mick Moloney In this episode, hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick talk with Jennifer Cutting about items that caught their eyes and ears. Cutting discusses commercial recordings of tunes collected by Cecil Sharp, and Winick tells stories of the recording sessions, which Sharp personally supervised and described in his diaries. Cutting discusses her friend, the late Tony Barrand, an important collector of morris dances. John Fenn…
    • Contributor: Michael Flatley - Victor Military Band - Tommy Maguire - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Cecil Sharp - Prince’s Band - Jennifer Cutting - Liz Carroll - Victor Band
    • Date: 2022-09-20
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    Caught My Eye: Intern Edition! In this episode, hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick interview American Folklife Center interns Bryan Jenkins and Elisa Alfonso. Jenkins discusses AFC’s Web Cultures Web Archive, and interviews AFC reference librarian Allina Migoni about it. Alfonso discusses several versions of the Latin American children’s song “Señora Santana,” and speaks of its association with the 1960s Cuban children’s exodus that later became known as Operación…
    • Contributor: Bryan Jenkins - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Adelpha Pollato - Allina Migoni - Elisa Alfonso - Ramona Ramirez - Olga Acevedo - Lottie Espinosa
    • Date: 2022-09-12
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    Ukrainian Traditions at the American Folklife Center In this episode, hosts John Fenn and Michelle Stefano, with guest Thea Austen, explore Ukrainian materials in the American Folklife Center Archive. Interview segments include a discussion of Ukrainian embroidery and dance, between Geraldine Johnson and Taissa Decyk; and a discussion of a Ukrainian family bandura band who immigrated to the United States as refugees in the late 1940s, between Stephen Winick and Julian…
    • Contributor: Theadocia Austen - Kalin Kirilov - Taissa Decyk - Michelle Stefano - John Fenn - Julian Kytasty - Stephen Winick - Andrei Pidkivka - Solomia Gorokhivska - Geraldine Niva Johnson
    • Date: 2022-07-08
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    A Tribute to Irish American Women In this episode, hosts Stephen Winick and John Fenn, with guests Betsy Peterson, Jennifer Cutting, and Melanie Zeck, explore songs and music from Irish American women in the American Folklife Center archive. Performances include Maggie Hammons Parker singing “Ireland’s Green Shore,” Hattie Scott Gould playing “The Irish Washerwoman” on the fiddle, May Mulcahy playing “Nori from Gibberland” and “Put Your Little Foot Right There”…
    • Contributor: Hattie Scott Gould - Tommy Maguire - Gary Ward Stanton - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Melanie Zeck - Betsy Peterson - Eileen Gannon - Jennifer Cutting - Paula Johnson - Maggie Hammons Parker - Liz Carroll - May Mulcahy - Carrie Grover
    • Date: 2022-03-28
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    Songs of Spring In this episode, hosts Stephen Winick and John Fenn, with guest Theadocia Austen, talk about songs of springtime, from agricultural and pastoral songs about farms and flowers to love ballads…and one dance tune. They also play the songs, including Pearl Nye’s version of “Early in the Spring,” the Copper Family’s rendition of “When Spring Comes On,” Baptiste Pierre’s version of the Haitian song “Fleurs,…
    • Contributor: Thea Austen - Pearl Nye - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Baptiste Pierre - Jim Copper - Warde Ford - Bob Copper - Chicago Zither Club - Rubén Cobos
    • Date: 2022-02-28
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    La Llorona: Looking at a Ghost Story for Día de Muertos and Halloween This episode examines the story of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman of Mexican and Latin American ghostlore. Hosts Stephen Winick and John Fenn discuss Winick’s research into the legend for the Folklife Today blog, and interview three guests. Camille Acosta, who wrote a thesis about the Llorona legend, talks about her research and the meanings the story has for kids and adults. Allina Migoni,…
    • Contributor: Mamselle Ruiz - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Trio Aurora - Camille Acosta - Allina Migoni - Juan Dies - Navigaciones Pedro Manuel - Sones De Mexico Ensemble
    • Date: 2021-10-27
  • Audio Recording
    The 2021 Homegrown at Home Concert Series This episode looks back at the 2021 Homegrown at Home Concert series. Hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick interview the series producer Theadocia Austen and folklife interns Kennedi Johnson and Camille Acosta. The participants talk about the series as a whole, and each picks one or two songs for us to hear. The episode contains songs from Neli Andreeva (Bulgarian traditional song), Brother Arnold…
    • Contributor: Mamselle Ruiz - Theadocia Austen - Samite Mulongo - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Radiance Choir - Hubby Jenkins - Martin Carthy - Camille Acosta - Neli Andreeva - Brother Arnold Hadd - Kennedi Johnson - Harbanger
    • Date: 2021-09-28
  • Audio Recording
    Summer Songs Part 2 This episode continues our look at songs about summer, from the amorous adventures of young lovers to the backbreaking work done by convicts in the sun. Hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick, along with guest Jennifer Cutting, present their favorite summer songs. Songs include the English “Sweet Primroses;” the Trinidadian “One Fine Summer’s Morning” and “June Come, You No Marry;” the Tuvan “In Summer…
    • Contributor: John Fenn - Stephen Winick - James Griffin - Kara-Kys Namzatovna Munzuk - Jennifer Cutting - Colin Davis - Mrs. Francisco Etcheverry - Matias Etcheverry - Cephus Louis
    • Date: 2021-09-15
  • Audio Recording
    Summer Songs Part 1 This episode looks at songs about summer, from the amorous adventures of young lovers to the backbreaking work done by convicts in the sun. Hosts John Fenn and Stephen Winick, along with guests Nicki Saylor and Jennifer Cutting, present their favorite summer songs. Songs include the Finnish “Kesa Ilta,” the Tuvan “Let The Sun Shine On My Verdant Summer,” the African American work song…
    • Contributor: John Fenn - Jalmar and Mamie Nukala - Stephen Winick - Kara-Kys Namzatovna Munzuk - Clyde Hill - Jennifer Cutting - In the Willows - Aleksandr Laptan - Bascom Lamar Lunsford - Mose Bellaire - Nicole Saylor
    • Date: 2021-08-09
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    Hidden Folklorists: Langston Hughes, with guests Langston Collin Wilkins and Sophie Abramowitz This episode looks at a “Hidden Folklorist” renowned as a poet and playwright: Langston Hughes. It includes interviews with folklorist Langston Collin Wilkins and Hughes scholar Sophie Abramowitz. Wilkins and Abramowitz show us how Langston Hughes’s folklore work was grounded in song collecting and vernacular expression, and committed to the visionary futurity of Black folkloric creativity. We also explore Hughes’s connections to the American…
    • Contributor: Mississippi John Hurt - Sophie Abramowitz - Buena Flint - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Langston Collin Wilkins
    • Date: 2021-06-30
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    Hidden Folklorists: Becky Elzy, Alberta Bradford and E.A. McIlhenny, with guest Joshua Clegg Caffery This episode looks at three “Hidden Folklorists” from Louisiana with special guest Joshua Clegg Caffery from the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. The Hidden Folklorists are Becky Elzy and Alberta Bradford, two spiritual singers who had been born in slavery, but who years later sang over a hundred spirituals for collectors; and E.A. McIlhenny, the head of the Tabasco…
    • Contributor: Joshua Clegg Caffery - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Alan Lomax - Becky Elzy - Jimmy Peters and Group - Alberta Bradford
    • Date: 2021-05-28
  • Audio Recording
    “Colorado Morton’s Ride” This episode Presents the poem “Colorado Morton’s Ride,” also known as “Colorado Morton’s Last Ride.” It’s a ten-minute narrative poem recited by Fred Soule at the Farm Security Administration (FSA) camp in Visalia, California on September 2, 1941. The poem was recorded on an instantaneous disc by Charles Todd and Robert Sonkin, two fieldworkers collecting folksongs for the Library of Congress. It was written…
    • Contributor: Fred Soule - John Fenn - Stephen Winick
    • Date: 2021-04-30
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    Folklife and Poetry This episode looks at folk poetry, with discussions of four poetry-themed collections in the American Folklife Center. Guest Anne Holmes of the Library of Congress Literary Initiatives Division discusses “Living Nations, Living Words,” the signature project of the Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Harjo, the first Native American Poet Laureate, has curated a collection of poetry by Native American poets, which includes recordings of the…
    • Contributor: Michelle Stefano - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Meezie Hermansen - M.L. Smoker - Anne Holmes - Fred Soule - Marjan Naderi - Kerry Ward
    • Date: 2021-04-30
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    The Green Book and African American Travel with Candacy Taylor This episode presents an interview with Candacy Taylor, whose latest project is documenting sites associated with the Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Taylor discusses the dangers inherent in travel for Black people during an era where racial discrimination was legal and open racism was common. She fills us in on the origins of the…
    • Contributor: Candacy Taylor - John Fenn - Stephen Winick - Jerry Markowitz - Nelson Malden - Sampson Pittman - Enid Pinkney - Calvin Frazier - Leah Chase
    • Date: 2021-02-25
  • Audio Recording
    Sea Shanties This episode presents an introduction to sea shanties, including a discussion of the word “shanty” or “chantey;” a discussion of the roots of shanties; the history of shanties; the subtypes of short-haul shanties, halyard shanties, and capstan shanties; the importance of the African American and Afro-Caribbean communities to shanties; and the prevalence of women singing shanties. The episode presents six shanties, “Pay Me My…
    • Contributor: Georgia Sea Island Singers - James A. Gumbs - Mike Bosworth - John A. Lomax - Louisa Carty - Alex Barr - Alberta Harrigan - Leighton McKenzie - John Davis - Leighton Robinson ... Georgia Sea Island Singers - James A. Gumbs - Mike Bosworth - John A. Lomax - Louisa Carty - Alex Barr - Alberta Harrigan - Leighton McKenzie - John Davis - Leighton Robinson - Claudette Hazel - Charles J. Finger - Ship’s Company Chanteymen - John Fenn - Edith Richardson - Alan Lomax - Miss Finger - Richard Maitland - Dallas Valley - Edith Lloyd - Arthur Brodeur - Estelle Reid - Stephen Winick - Evans Hughes - Eugenie Carter - Florence Brooks - Myron Peterson
    • Date: 2021-01-29