Occupational Folklore at the Racetrack
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Spring–Summer 2003 Volume 29: 1–2 The Journal of New York Folklore Occupational Folklore at the Racetrack Exhibit: Black Homesteaders in the Adirondacks Upstate’s Dance Music Traditions B.A. Botkin’s City From the Director This spring saw the Armour, Mark Van Sluyters, Jeni Friedland, gress study, Collections in Crisis, and working completion of two and Jackie Hobbs. Also assisting in the de- with archival and digitization specialists, projects that have velopment and distribution of the curricu- NYFS decided to develop a digitization been in development lum guide was Tracy Racicot of BOCES/ project to help in the preservation and ac- for several years. Questar II. cessibility of audio folklore collections with- First, our series of Please see NYFS News, page 2 of this in the state. The collection of the Fiddlers’ radio documentaries issue, for details on the eleven documenta- Hall of Fame became a test case. Support on folklore and folk- ries, and contact the New York Folklore was received from the New York State life topics finally saw its completion and was Society for further information. Council on the Arts and the National En- released to be aired by public radio and in- The second project has a basis in an on- dowment for the Arts to accomplish this dependent radio stations throughout New going concern of the New York Folklore work. This spring, with the assistance of York and elsewhere. The series comprises Society. Since 1991, NYFS has been an ad- audio technician Jameson Bruhn, the Hall eleven radio documentaries highlighting folk vocate and champion for the safety and of Fame tapes were digitally copied onto arts within New York State. The documen- preservation of folklore archives through- audio compact disk. In addition, an archive taries describe the work of specific individ- out the state. This “archives project” began copy of each taped interview and recorded uals as well as the vibrant and diverse tradi- in 1991 as a survey and needs assessment fiddler was made on reel-to-reel analog tape. tions within New York State. Several indi- of folklore collections. At that time, several The New York Folklore Society would viduals lent their expertise to this major collections were identified as being of par- like to make this technology available to project, including radio producers Ginger ticular concern. Archivists were sent to sur- other collections within the state. If you Miles, Joyce Kryszak, Robert Brown; Lamar vey these collections and to make recom- have a collection, or individual tapes, which Bliss was executive producer. Dale Johnson mendations for their storage and long-term you would like to have rerecorded onto dig- served as project director and collaborated care. One of these collections was the col- ital CD, please contact us. with folklorists Mary Zwolinski, Beverly lection of the New York State Fiddlers’ Hall Butcher, Karen Canning, Jim Kimball, Jamie of Fame in Osceola, New York. Since 1976, Fall Conference Moreira, Varick Chittenden, and Nancy fiddlers had been recorded and interviewed The New York Folklore Society’s annual Solomon, as well as myself. Acknowledg- through the vision and efforts of the late meeting will be held October 24–26 in Sack- ment is also due to Rebecca Miller, who Alice Clemens. Herself a fiddler and a long- et’s Harbor, New York, on the shores of originally conceived this project, albeit in a time champion for the preservation of old- Lake Ontario. This year’s conference will be different form. time fiddling in New York State, Clemens a collaboration with Traditional Arts of Acting on the suggestion of Lamar Bliss, had initiated a documentation project with Upstate New York, and the theme will be we expanded the project further. We re- support from the New York State Council “Common Places, Uncommon Stories: Is- ceived assistance from the National Endow- on the Arts. Consulting folklorist Nancy sues and Examples of Cultural Landmark- ment for the Arts to develop a curriculum Groce had worked with the Hall of Fame ing and Cultural Conservation in Upstate guide to accompany the completed radio to develop a project to interview Hall of New York Communities.” As with all our documentaries and serve as a resource guide Famers. More than one hundred and fifty meetings, there will be provocative presen- for schools, especially for fourth-grade lan- tapes were recorded, creating an important tations, visits to significant North Country guage arts. The curriculum guide will receive audio collection showcasing New York’s sites, and plenty of opportunity for experi- widespread distribution within the school old-time fiddling styles. encing the local cuisine and musical fare. districts of New York State. Kathy Condon In 2000, the New York Folklore Society Details will follow by mail, or visit our web- has served as chief consultant for this received support from the New York Foun- site, www.nyfolklore.org, for updated infor- project and was assisted by folklorists Chris dation for the Arts to begin to explore the mation. Muia and Dale Johnson. Teacher-consult- issue of the audio digitization of folklore Ellen McHale, Ph.D. Executive Director, New York Folklore Society ants for the project included Linda Kelly materials. Responding to a Library of Con- [email protected] “Today, unchecked mass communication bullies and shouts humanity into passivity and silence. Artists everywhere are losing their local audiences… If we are to have a rich and varied musical future, we must encourage the development of as many local musics as possible.” —Alan Lomax, “Appeal for Cultural Equity,” Journal of Communication, Spring 1977 Contents Spring–Summer 2003 7 Features 7 An Ethnography of the Saratoga Racetrack by Ellen McHale 12 The Making of an Exhibition by Amy Godine 22 Zillah by Thea Kluge 24 Old-Time Dance Music 12 in Western New York by James Kimball 34 Cities within the City: B.A. Botkin’s New York by Michael L. Murray 39 Ruby Marcotte Remembers Departments and Columns 2 New York Folklore Society News 4 Upstate by Varick A. Chittenden 5 Downstate by Steve Zeitlin 20 Eye of the Camera 26 by Martha Cooper 21 Foodways by Lynn Case Ekfelt 32 On Air 33 Lawyer’s Sidebar by Paul Rapp 41 Archival Questions by Nancy Johnson The “backside” community at 42 Obituaries the Saratoga Racetrack has its own folkways and occupation- 43 Announcements al lore. See page 7. Photo- graph by Dorothy Ours, courtesy of the National 34 Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Spring Summer 2003, Volume 29: 1–2 1 New York Folklore Society News Forums Afield If your organization is interested in host- create in their everyday lives—their tradi- Every year the New York Folklore Soci- ing a forum, call the NYFS at 518 346-7008. tional art forms, unique community life, and ety holds forums on topics of interest to We also welcome suggestions for future the sense of order and aesthetics that per- the folklore field, professionals in related topics. vades both work and play. The series taps fields, and NYFS members. On April 9, the the cultural riches found in the folklife of a New York Folklore Society conducted a Breakfast at the Capitol state that, perhaps more than any other in forum entitled “What to Do with Those On March 18, 2003, the New York Folk- the Union, is the product of many cultures. NYFS NEWS Oral Histories,” hosted by the Center for lore Society initiated its first-ever folk arts Each documentary features one master Folklife, History and Cultural Programs at breakfast. “A Taste of New York” was a pro- of a traditional art form recorded on loca- the Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls. gram of Arts Day, an advocacy effort orga- tion. In their own words—the voices of The forum addressed issues of use for col- nized primarily by the Alliance of New York New York traditions—these tradition bear- lected narratives and oral histories beyond State Arts Organizations. Held at the New archival storage and access for researchers. York State Capitol, Legislative Office Build- Special guest was folklorist Greg Sharrow, ing, Arts Day brings arts administrators, art- director of education at the Vermont Folk- ists, and other arts professionals to Albany life Center. The Vermont Folklife Center has to advocate for support for the New York Fall–Winter 2002 · Volume 28: 3-4 found compelling uses for its collection of State Council on the Arts. This year, with Editors Karen Taussig-Lux ([email protected]) recorded narratives, including a series of the involvement and support of the folk arts and Sally Atwater ([email protected]) Photography Editor Martha Cooper children’s books and radio programming. community throughout the state, NYFS or- Design Mary Beth Malmsheimer Sharrow offered ideas and practical advice ganized a gala breakfast to bring together Printer Digital Page, Inc. Editorial Board Varick Chittenden, Amy Godine, about exhibitions, publications, and other legislators and the arts community. Kate Koperski, Cathy Ragland, Kay Turner, Dan products that can be developed from nar- This breakfast reception featured Italian Ward, Steve Zeitlin ratives, which otherwise have a tendency to specialties prepared by John and Cathy Lan- Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore gather dust. ci of Lanci’s Tavola Caldi. Featured were is published twice a year by the New York Folklore Society, Inc. The presentation was in conjunction with performances of Kuchipudi dance, a clas- 133 Jay Street the Crandall Library’s exhibition, Family sical Indian dance, by Kantham Chatlapalli P.O. Box 764 Schenectady, NY 12301 Stories, Family Sagas, an audiovisual instal- and Harika Chatlapalli of Hopewell Junc- New York Folklore Society, Inc. lation showcasing the remarkable histories tion, and Irish traditional dance music per- Executive Director Ellen McHale Director of Services Dale Johnson of six New England families who share a formed by Father Charlie Coen of Red Administrative Assistant Deborah Mustico powerful tradition of storytelling to pre- Hook and Danny Guerney of Rhinecliff.