FOLKLIFE CENTER NEWS WINTER 2003 • VOLUME XXV, NUMBER 1

American Folklife Center • The Library of Congress BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONLINE INFORMATION RESOURCES Congressional Appointees Kay Kaufman Shelemay, Chair, The American Folklife Center’s Massachusetts Web site provides full texts of Mickey Hart, California many publications, information Dennis Holub, South Dakota about AFC projects, multimedia William L. Kinney Jr., South Carolina presentations of selected collec­ Judith McCulloh, Illinois tions, links to Web resources on Marlene Myerson, New Mexico ethnography, and announcements Presidential Appointees of upcoming events. The address Thomas Bowman, for the home page is http://www. The American Folklife Center loc.gov/folklife/ An index of the was created in 1976 by the U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs site contents is available at http:// Congress to “preserve and present www.loc.gov/folklife/afcindex.html American folklife” through pro­ Fran Mainella grams of research, documentation, Director, National Park Service The Web site for The Veter­ archival preservation, reference ser­ Sonya E. Medina ans History Project provides an vice, live performance, exhibition, Deputy Director of Projects overview of the project, an online publication, and training. The Office of the First Lady “kit” for participants recording oral Center incorporates the Archive of The White House histories of veterans, and a brief Folk Culture, which was established Aurene Martin pre-sentation of some examples of in the Music Division of the Library Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs video- and audio-recordings of vet­ of Congress in 1928 and is now one Department of the Interior erans’ stories. The address is of the largest collections of ethno­ Librarian Appointees http://www. loc.gov/folklife/vets Jane Beck, Vice-chair, Vermont graphic material from the United The Folkline Information Ser­ Norma Cantú, Texas States and around the world. vice Kojo Nnamdi, District of Columbia is now a cooperative an­ Tom Rankin, North Carolina nouncement program of the Ex Officio Members American Folklore Society and the James H. Billington, Librarian of American Folklife Center. It is Congress available only on the American www. Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Folklore Society’s server: STAFF afsnet.org. Smithsonian Institution The service provides Administration Dana Gioia, Chairman, timely information on the field of Peggy A. Bulger, Director National Endowment for the Arts folklore and folklife, including Doris Craig, Administrative Assistant Bruce Cole, Chairman, National training and professional oppor­ John Lewis, Assistant to the Director Endowment for the Humanities tunities, and news items of nation­ Michael Taft, Head, Archive of Folk Culture Jack Santino, President, al interest. Acquisitions and Programs American Folklore Society David A. Taylor, Coordinator Ellen Koskoff, President, Processing and Cataloging Society for Ethnomusicology Rosemary Graham, Processing Technician Peggy A. Bulger, Director, EDITOR’S NOTES Todd Harvey, Processing Technician American Folklife Center Catherine Hiebert Kerst, Archivist Judy Ng, Processing Technician New Archive Head Appointed Marcia Segal, Processing Technician Nora Yeh, Archivist, Coordinator The American Folklife Center Publications FOLKLIFE CENTER NEWS and the Archive of Folk Culture Editor James Hardin, James Hardin, Editor have undergone significant Public Events David A. Taylor, Editorial Advisor changes over the past several Theadocia Austen, Coordinator Andrew Wallace, Coordinator Sheryle Shears, Designer years, and not the least of these Reference Peggy Pixley, Production is the reinstatement of the posi­ Jennifer A. Cutting, Folklife Specialist tion of head of the Folk Archive. Judith A. Gray, Folklife Specialist, The position dates to 1928, when Coordinator Folklife Center News publishes ar­ the Archive of American Folk- Stephanie A. Hall, Automation Specialist ticles on the programs and activ­ Song was established in the Ann Hoog, Folklife Specialist ities of the American Folklife Cen­ Music Division. During the Digital Conversion ter, as well as other articles on John Barton, Specialist traditional expressive culture. It is 1990s the Center suffered a Myron Briggs, Specialist available free of charge from the (Continued on page 15) Reference Service Library of Congress, American Tel: 202 707–5510 Folklife Center, 101 Independence Cover: Three members of the Celli­ Fax: 202 707–2076 Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. E-mail: [email protected] 20540–4610. Folklife Center News cion Traditional Zuni Dancers, a Veterans History Project does not publish announcements group that performed traditional Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, Director music and dance from Zuni Pueblo, Timothy Roberts, Administrative Officer from other institutions or reviews of books from publishers other New Mexico, in the Librar y’s Peter T. Bartis, Program Officer Coolidge Auditorium, November Sarah Rouse, Program Officer than the Library of Congress. Timothy Schurtter, Program Officer Readers who would like to com­ 13, 2002, the final concer t in the Eileen Simon, Archivist ment on Center activities or Folklife Center’s series “Home­ Virginia Sorkin, Program Officer newsletter articles may address grown 2002: The Music of America.” Taru Spiegel, Program Officer their remarks to the editor. Photo by James Hardin

2 Folklife Center News Of Those Who Served: The Veterans History Project Collection at the Library of Congress

Veterans History Project processing technicians (left to right) Sandra Savage, Judy Ng, and Rachael Mears examine materials submitted by World War II veteran Clifton Davis, from Paris, Ohio. Photo by James Hardin

By Amanda M. Brown Indeed, no. Few today (and Korean, Vietnam, and Persian perhaps not many in 1918) can Gulf wars to share their recollec­ Eighty-four years have passed imagine celebrating one’s immi­ tions of wartime experiences. since Frank Woodruff Buckles nent return to the front lines or James H. Billington, the Librari­ served with the First Fort Riley to the gruesome realities of an of Congress, has stressed that [Kansas] Casual Detachment in trench warfare. However, one “the American story can be told France and Germany, yet the can gain a better understanding through a thousand different World War I veteran speaks of the multidimensional and voices, a thousand different pic­ lucidly of his experiences as a changing character of twenti- tures, a thousand different medic in the Army. Of his time in eth-century warfare by investi­ memories.” Even a casual study France, Buckles recalls listening gating the personal narratives of of the collections already donat­ to boisterous French soldiers those who served in the military ed to the project reveals an sing the French national anthem and in homefront efforts during amazing diversity of experi­ “La Marseillaise” in local wine wartime. ences that spans eight decades shops. Buckles explains in an The Veterans History Project, and chronicles thousands of interview, “I inquired, what is under the umbrella of the Amer­ lives forever changed by their the occasion? They were going ican Folklife Center, is provid­ participation in those wars. back to the front. Can you imag­ ing an opportunity for veterans Therein lies the heart of the ine that?” of the two world wars and of the Veterans History Project, for no Winter 2003 3 two of the more than four thou­ oir, or interview. Two hundred she and others experienced in sand personal testimonies that sixty-nine candid snapshots, America’s longest twentieth- have already been donated to most of which are uncaptioned, century war. the project are identical. Some comprise the bulk of Sobbe’s A quarter century earlier, veterans share their stories collection. Vietnamese villages, Helen C. Hurst served in a simi­ with friends and family through Army operations, and social lar capacity in a war far different carefully crafted memoirs; gatherings are among the sub­ from Vietnam. Compelled by others give interviews to nieces jects captured in the photo­ pleas for help from the Red and nephews, grandchildren, graphs. From casual shots of Cross and encouraged by the and students of younger genera­ overseas living quarters to patriotic fervor of a nation in the tions, who have no personal prints depicting brief, happy- throes of a heroic world war, remembrances of those times go-lucky interludes of leave at Hurst joined tens of thousands and events. Still others dust off home, Sobbe’s collection pre­ of other young people in the war their attic trunks and revisit sents a fascinating picture of his effort and served her country in their own war years (or those of life in Vietnam in all its tedium, the Army Nurse Corps. After deceased family members) intensity, hilarity, and horror. training in Sebring, Florida, the through personal correspon­ In contrast to Sobbe’s visual Indiana native was shipped to dence and photographs, com­ display, Vietnam veteran Rhona North Africa and then to Italy. In piling the mementos first col­ Marie Knox Prescott offered a an emotional interview, Hurst lected when they were young sobering narrative account of tells of traveling in convoy with and sometimes held in sacred her service in the Army Nurse Army G.I.s through the African silence for decades. Corps. In her interview, Prescott desert shortly after the Allies recalls encountering Vietnam in had soundly defeated the Desert onnie Sobbe chose to its lush, green beauty for the Fox, Nazi General Erwin Rom- record his story of Viet­ first time; she then explains how mel. nam through the lens of a that first impression of a para- Hurst continues her narrative camera, rather than in dise-like world faded once she with memories of spending the Rthe more traditional diary, mem­ alighted from the helicopter holidays in charge of a hospital and went ward on the island of Sardinia. to work. Defying orders from her com­ “When we manding officer that restricted were busy,” decorations in her hospital unit, Prescott Hurst procured a “Christmas tearfully tree,” recruited her healthier recounts, we patients to set it up in a promi­ had to nent place in the ward, and “somehow crowned the top with a bedpan block out “star.” For Hurst, this act of the smells kindness and Christmas cheer and the merely reflected the spirit that sounds she believes accompanies ser­ because the vice in the armed forces. “I smells were thought, ‘Well, this is my coun­ of dirty, try. I’ve got a duty.’ So I joined.” putrefied She became one of sixteen mil­ flesh and lion men and women who blood . . . the answered the call to military sounds were service in World War II. of people Many World War II veterans crying and found themselves serving their screaming country again five years later in and pray­ what would become known as ing . . . the the “forgotten war.” Col. Joseph sounds were Gurfein, a West Point graduate chaotic. The and career Army officer, served smells were in the Korean War and fastidi­ astound­ ously saved photographs, ration ing.” Pres- cards, letters, telegrams, and cott’s grip­ news clippings, which his wife ping account Marion compiled in a scrapbook effectively titled simply “Korea ’50–’51.” captures the Mrs. Gurfein included in the A page from Colonel Gurfein’s scrapbook, with newspaper emotional scrapbook literature and photo­ clippings, a photograph, and Colonel Gurfein’s Silver Star. and physi- graphs of Colonel Gurfein’s par­ Veterans History Project Collection cal turmoil ticipation in the Inchon inva- 4 Folklife Center News sion, North river that runs Korean propa­ into the sea. ganda against My emotions the United oscillated Nations, copies between fear of Gurfein’s and pride.” military Many Persian orders, and a Gulf War vet­ Western Union erans who telegram sent have partici­ by Marion in pated in the response to the Veterans His­ announcement tory Project of her hus- reflect upon band’s return their respec­ from Korea: tive roles in “Living for that war while January 25 contemplating Love you the current deeply Mar­ unrest in the i on.” Middle East Other Kore­ and the possi­ an veterans, bility of future however, share service there. their memories One is left by reflecting, with a sense of in writing, on awe at the elo­ the profound quence with impact that the which each of brief war had these collec­ on their lives tions speaks. and those of In a formal their families. interview Their stories between a are found in World War II memoirs with veteran and his titles such as granddaugh­ “Memories of a ter. In the let­ Non-Hero Dur­ Amanda Brown sor ts through the pages of a scrapbook compiled by Marion ters of an eight- ing the Korean Gurfein, the wife of Col. Joseph Gurfein, a veteran of World War II, the Kore­ een-year-old War” and “A an War, and the Vietnam War. The individual pages have been housed in boy writing to G.I. Machine mylar sleeves for preser vation. Photo by James Hardin his mother Gunner: From from the the Seminary to Korea’s Front an “evasion chart” that was dis­ trenches of World War I. In the Line: 1951–1952” and “Korea: tributed to those serving in the stark black-and-white photo­ Frozen Hell on Earth, A Platoon Persian Gulf. The waterproof, graphs of Korea in wintertime. Sergeant’s Diary, Korean War flame-resistant map of areas of In the descriptions of the Saudi 1951–1952.” Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Arabian desert’s suffocating Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the heat. Veterans’ voices are being nly eleven years re­ United Arab Emirates features heard and their stories are moved from war in the crucial desert-survival mate­ emerging at the prompting of Middle East and now rial such as celestial-naviga- student interviewers, in the on the verge of another, tion charts, lists and pictures of pages of diaries and logbooks, in OPersian Gulf War veterans like edible and inedible plants the texts of their own writing. Air Force Maj. James Jeffrey indigenous to the region, and Webb and Navy Boatswain’s helpful secondary uses for the Amanda Brown, a recent graduate Mate Third Class Laura E. map. of Southwestern University in Dwyer speak passionately about For Laura E. Dwyer, deploy­ Georgetown, Texas, is a former their time spent in the Middle ment to the Persian Gulf evoked Library of Congress Junior Fellow East. Webb’s collection includes mixed emotions. Aboard the who has had a temporary appoint­ an audio interview and accom­ USS Cape Cod, a photograph of ment at the Veterans History Pro­ panying transcript, a photo­ which she donated with her col­ ject. Rachel Mears, processing graph of himself in that timeless lection, Dwyer “felt part of the technician at the Veterans History military pose in uniform in front force that was going to war, Project, also contributed to this of his aircraft, and a map called bound for it, destined for it like a article. Winter 2003 5 Their Spirits Have Found a Home: New Collection Documents Jewish Life in Eastern Europe

Engagement par ty for Sol Milshtein and his American fiancee, Rose, Luboml, Poland, 1937. Aaron Ziegelman is seated lower left. Photo by Lillian Ziegelman Chanales

By David A. Taylor City, the executive director of According to Fred Wasser­ the foundation. man, associate curator at The On October 30, 2002, at a cere­ “The Jews of Luboml had Jewish Museum in New York mony in his office, Librarian of dreamed of coming to America, City (and curator of the exhibi­ Congress James H. Billington a place they referred to as the tion Remembering Luboml: Images announced the acquisition of the golden land,” said Aaron of a Jewish Community), the mate­ Aaron Ziegelman Foundation Ziegelman. “Even though they rials in the Ziegelman collection Collection. The collection in­ never reached our shores, their came from approximately one cludes over two thousand rare spirits have now found a home hundred families scattered over photographs, photographic neg­ at the Library of Congress.” three continents. Typical of Jews atives, motion pictures, letters, Ziegelman said he and his wife who left many little towns in maps, oral histories, and other were overwhelmed by the sym­ Poland between 1918 and the materials that richly document bolism. “When I saw the official mid-1920s to seek better lives for everyday life in the Jewish com­ [instrument of gift] document themselves, these people emi­ munity of Luboml, Poland, prior signed by a boy from Luboml grated from Luboml to the Unit­ to its obliteration during World and Dr. Billington, who signed ed States, Canada, and Latin War II. The collection was donat­ on behalf of the United States of American; others settled in ed to the Library by its creator, America, so many emotions Palestine before the state of Aaron Ziegelman, of New York enveloped me,” he said. Israel was created in 1948. 6 Folklife Center News man and his wife Marjorie; the honorable Premyslaw Grudzin­ ski, ambassador of the Republic of Poland; Jill Vexler and Fred Wasserman, director and cura­ tor, respectively, of the exhibi­ tion Remembering Luboml: Images of a Jewish Community; Eileen Douglas and Ron Steinman, pro­ ducers of the film Luboml: My Heart Remembers; Peggy A. Bul­ ger, director of the American Folklife Center; Michael Grun­ berger, head of the Library’s Hebraic Section; and David Tay­ lor, coordinator of acquisitions for the American Folklife Cen­ ter. During the ceremony, James Billington commended Aaron Ziegelman and his associates for having “kept alive a memory that others sought to destroy.” That evening, the new, fifty- six-minute-long documentary film Luboml: My Heart Remem­ In the office of the Librarian of Congress, Aaran Ziegleman and his wife Mar­ bers was screened in the jorie present a copy of the book Luboml: The Memorial Book of a Vanished Library’s Mary Pickford The­ Shtetl to Librarian James H. Billington (left). Photo by Paul Hogroian ater. After the screening, Aaron Ziegelman, whose foundation The materials in the Ziegel­ gists, and historians in the col­ supported the film’s produc­ man collection provide a unique lection, preservation, and analy­ tion, offered comments, and the and detailed view of the tradi­ sis of information about Jewish film’s producers, Eileen Doug­ tions and other aspects of Jewish life in Luboml, obtained from las and Ron Steinman, talked life in the market town or shtetl survivors and other sources. about the creation of the film. of Luboml (Libivne in Yiddish). The creation of this documen­ Peggy Bulger praised Ziegel­ Luboml, established in the four­ tary collection led, in turn, to the man and his colleagues for the teenth century, had one of the development of a major travel­ outstanding work they have oldest Jewish communities in ing exhibition, Remembering done on the Luboml project. She Poland, and is representative of Luboml: Images of a Jewish Com­ quoted New York congressman other Eastern European shtetls. munity; a book, Luboml: The Jerrold Nadler, who described Located two hundred miles Memorial Book of a Vanished their work as “a project of pas­ southeast of Warsaw, it is now Shtetl; and the documentary sion and nobility, a project dedi­ part of Ukraine. Materials in the film, Luboml: My Heart Remem­ cated to the preservation of a collection document, for exam­ bers. world lost to us. It was a world of ple, local schools, businesses, According to Michael Grun­ happiness and light. A world of recreational activities, religious berger, head of the Library of families and children, of com­ life, holidays, and weddings. Congress’s Hebraic Section, the munity and spirituality. It was Ziegelman collection “adds a the world of the Polish town of aron Ziegelman was remarkable dimension to the Luboml.” born in Luboml in 1928. already rich Judaic collections The Aaron Ziegelman Foun­ When he was ten years in the Library of Congress. The dation Collection will reside at old, he left Luboml collection is about how Jews the Archive of Folk Culture. “We Awith his mother and sister and lived before the Second World are thrilled that Aaron Ziegel­ came to the United States, set­ War, not how they died; it man has donated this wonderful tling in New York City. Ziegel­ depicts Libivners not as victims collection to the Library,” said man attended college and but as human beings fully Peggy Bulger. “It is an incredi­ became a successful real estate engaged in the business of liv­ bly rich collection that will per­ entrepreneur. Desiring to enrich ing; and it serves as a window mit researchers to better under­ his memories of the vibrant looking out onto a vanished stand myriad aspects of a Jewish community of his childhood, world, providing us with a clear community’s culture as they and also to share the story of view of a time and place that is existed before World War II.” Luboml’s Jewish community, no more.” Ziegelman organized a research Among those attending the Gail Fineberg, editor of the Library project in 1994 that would acquisition ceremony on Sep­ of Congress Gazette, contributed engage archivists, anthropolo- tember 30 were Aaron Ziegel­ to this article. Winter 2003 7 Folklorists Attend International Conference on Traditional Culture

Michael Taft and Peggy Bulger at the WIPO conference in Geneva, Switzerland, December 2002. Photo by Bur t Feintuch

By Michael Taft as in the case of a particular at the same time containing arrangement of a ballad; by a aspects of “public domain” For more than twenty years the group, as in the case of special­ material in its everyday per­ international community has ized knowledge of a medical formance. For these reasons, the been concerned with defending treatment held by a family or intellectual property rights traditional cultural expressions clan; or by a culture as a whole, related to folklore present prob­ against commercial exploitation as in the case of a myth. It is usu­ lems that cannot be easily solved or inappropriate use. How can ally impossible to pinpoint the by current patent and copyright indigenous cultures and tradi­ origins of traditional forms of legislation. The World Intellec­ tional communities maintain expression—nor can there be tual Property Organization control over their own tradi­ any expiration date on the own­ (WIPO)—like the United Na­ tions and, if they desire, profit ership of folklore. tions Educational, Scientific, from the commercialization of In effect, traditional expres­ and Cultural Organization their culture? Folklore is not like sive culture is perpetually under (UNESCO), the World Trade other forms of “property.” It the custodianship of one or more Organization, and the Conven­ may be owned by an individual, members of a community, while tion on Biological Diversity—is

8 Folklife Center News an international organization Ethnographers have been ◆ Supplying technical assis­ that has been struggling with involved in these issues since tance to governments that wish these issues for many years. the Model Provisions policy was to establish or change their pres­ WIPO is a special agency of created, but the present Inter­ ent intellectual property rights the United Nations “dedicated governmental Committee has legislation. to promoting the use and protec­ few folklorists or ethnomusicol­ ◆ Creating an “intellectual tion of works of the human spir­ ogists among its delegates. In property tool kit” to provide it” (http://www.wipo.org/ 2002, however, the United States practical information on intel­ about-wipo/en/). In the early began including folklorists on lectual property aspects of doc­ 1980s, in coordination with its official delegation to the umenting traditional knowledge. UNESCO, WIPO formulated the meetings in Geneva, Switzer­ ◆ Acting to include representa­ “Model Provisions for National land. Peggy Bulger, director of tion of more local and indige­ Laws on the Protection of the American Folklife Center, nous communities in the work­ Expressions of Folklore Against and Michael Taft, head of the ings of the Intergovernmental Illicit Exploitation and Other Archive of Folk Culture, are part Committee. Prejudicial Actions,” but these of the U.S. delegation, and have provisions were never meant to been adding their special These initiatives have been be anything more than guide­ knowledge of folklore to a team extensively discussed at the lines for nations who wished to that is otherwise made up of Intergovernmental Committee formulate their own laws pro­ copyright and patent lawyers, meetings with the result that tecting folklore. Two years ago, geneticists, and federal bureau­ four “possible tasks” have been WIPO revisited this issue when crats. In their role as specialists, proposed by the WIPO secretari­ it formed the Intergovernmental Bulger and Taft have been able ate as means to protect tradi­ Committee on Intellectual Prop­ to supply case studies on the use tional knowledge and folklore: erty and Genetic Resources, Tra­ and misuse of traditions, and ditional Knowledge and Folk­ have also had input on the word­ Possible Task 1: Enhanced lore. The purpose of this ing of U.S. positions. As virtual­ legal-technical assistance for committee is to find common ly the only folklorists attached the establishment, strengthen­ ground among its 179 member to any national delegation, Bul­ ing, and effective implementa­ nations on how to define and ger and Taft have also been in a tion of existing systems and assure the intellectual property position to advise the secretari­ measures for the legal protec­ rights associated with tradition­ ate of WIPO on the finer points tion of expressions of folklore at al cultural expression. of professional ethics among the national level. This task The committee has divided folklorists, explain archival would be carried out by WIPO cultural expression into the policies on collections of tradi­ and by member states and three categories outlined in its tional materials, and supply organizations. title: genetic resources, tradi­ WIPO with bibliographical ref­ tional knowledge, and folklore. erences on folklore and intellec­ Possible Task 2: Updating the Genetic resources refer to plant tual property issues. Model Provisions. This task and animal matter used in tradi­ The Intergovernmental Com­ would revisit the Model Provi­ tional medicine, agriculture, or mittee has set itself a number of sions and see how they might manufacturing, and is probably initiatives, including: continue to apply as a super­ the area of greatest concern for structure for international legis­ the committee, since the whole ◆ Compiling definitions of tra­ lation. question of industrial owner­ ditional knowledge and folklore ship of genetic material is a cur­ supplied by member countries. Possible Task 3: Extraterritorial rent economic-political battle­ ◆ Surveying member countries protection. This task gets at the ground. The other categories are on their existing laws protecting heart of international legislation less contentious but no less diffi­ the property rights of indige­ with the aim being a cross-bor- cult to deal with as intellectual nous cultures and traditional der sui generis system of regula­ property. Traditional knowl­ communities. tions that would go beyond edge includes folk medical prac­ ◆ Establishing guidelines for international patent and copy­ tices and treatments, methods of laws that are specific to the right laws. work, and other areas often problems inherent in protecting associated with the term folklife. traditional knowledge and folk­ Possible Task 4: Practical case Folklore refers to song, narra­ lore; so called sui generis legis­ study on the relationship be­ tive, music, dance, and other lation that applies laws over and tween customary laws and pro­ forms of artistic expression. In above the usual patent and tocols and the formal intellectu­ the context of WIPO, the forms copyright protection given to al property system. This task of expression that most especial­ other kinds of art. would sharpen the understand­ ly need intellectual property ◆ Establishing databases and ing of how traditional knowl­ protection are traditional medi­ bibliographic sources of infor­ edge and folklore might be cine, song and music, designs, mation on traditional knowl­ accommodated in national leg­ and trademarks. edge and folklore. islation. Winter 2003 9 There was general agreement The American Folklife Center Having other folklorists at the among member states on possi­ will remain involved with this session, even if sitting as repre­ ble tasks 1 and 4. Possible tasks 2 important work, which will con­ sentatives of NGOs and not and 3, however, were more con­ tinue through at least two more national delegations, is an tentious, with the United States meetings of the Intergovern­ important step in the involve­ and several other industrialized mental Committee. But its ment of our discipline in these states objecting to any sui gener­ involvement goes further. matters. The NGOs and inter­ is international law for tradi­ Peggy Bulger, Michael Taft, and governmental organizations tional knowledge and folklore; David Taylor have participated that attend these WIPO sessions these two tasks have been held in a number of other national have the same right to make pre­ over for further debate. and international fora on intel­ sentations as do government In the meantime, possible lectual property, including the representatives, although they tasks 1 and 4 have already been 2002 annual meeting of the do not have a vote. They are, implemented. At the most recent American Folklore Society however, often freer to express meeting in Geneva (December (AFS). In addition, largely controversial opinions than are 9–17, 2002), New Zealand, Nige­ through the urging of Peggy their national counterparts, and ria, Panama, Russia, and Tunisia Bulger, as past president of the more often than not, act as the provided case studies of how American Folklore Society conscience of the Intergovern­ they protect their indigenous (AFS), that group was represent­ mental Committee. folklore. Of special interest was a ed as a nongovernmental organ­ Future meetings promise to report by the Secretariat of the ization at the most recent WIPO include more representation Pacific Community, Protection of session. Burt Feintuch and Tim­ from indigenous groups, who Traditional Knowledge and Expres­ othy Lloyd sat as official Non- have been especially encour­ sions of Culture. Aided by the Governmental Organization aged to attend by the WIPO sec­ WIPO secretariat, this consor­ (NGO) representatives, and pre­ retariat. Whether future meet­ tium of small nations in the Pacif­ sented the position paper of the ings will also resolve the ic has drafted cross-border sui AFS. It should also be noted that question of international, sui generis regulations for the pro­ Valdimar Hafstein of Iceland, a generis legislation is another tection of folklore, which may Ph.D. student in folklore at question. But it is safe to say that well be the first concrete steps Berkeley, represented the the American Folklife Center towards achieving possible task Société Internationale d’Eth- will continue to make its contri­ 3, while also being an example of nologie et de Folklore at the bution to the process, both with­ possible tasks 1 and 4. most recent session. in and without WIPO.

Parsons Fund Award Available for 2003

The Gerald E. and Corinne L. Parsons Fund for Ethnography was created in 1994 to make the collec­ tions of primary ethnographic materials housed anywhere at the Library of Congress, and especially the collections in the Archive of Folk Culture, available to the needs and uses of those in the private sector. Research projects using the collections may, for example, lead to publications in media of all types, underwrite new works of art or academic research, or contribute to theoretical development of archival science. For further information, see the American Folklife Center Web site (www.loc.gov/ folklife), and select Internships and Awards; or call the Folklife Reading Room 202 707–5510.

This year, the American Folklife Center is pleased to offer an award (or awards) of up to $1,500. This award is made possible through generous donations from Peggy Parsons and Judith Gray.

Applicants should submit a two- to three-page narrative describing their proposed project and its potential products and audiences, and should provide a budget and time frame. Applications should include a resume or statement of previous experience and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are qualified to speak about the applicant’s professional work.

Applicants are urged to use email ([email protected]) or Fax 202 707–2076 (regular mail delivery to the Library Congress is slow). Applications may also be mailed to the chair of the Parsons Fund Committee: Ann Hoog, 532 9th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications are due at the Library of Congress by April 21, and the Parsons Fund Committee will announce an award by May 5.

10 Folklife Center News Save Our Sounds Project Featured on the History Channel

Grateful Dead musician Mickey Hart at the Library of Congress program celebrating the His­ tory Channel broadcast of a documentary on the Save Our Sounds project. Hart is a mem­ ber of the American Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees and head of the Leadership Com­ mittee for the Save Our Sounds project. The Gibson guitar company donated seventy guitars, signed by celebrities, for an eBay auction. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the Save Our Sounds project. Photo by David A. Taylor

By James Hardin and identify and preserve audio the Librarian of Congress James Michael Taft treasures by migrating them to H. Billington in cooperation digital files (see Michael Taft, with the Center for Arts and Cul­ The day-to-day work of librari­ “Saves Our Sounds Audio- ture and the History Channel, to ans and archivists is not the preservation Project Receives preview the film and honor the usual stuff of TV drama or docu­ Major Support,” Folklife Center project. “No sound recording mentary. But on December 26, News, summer 2002). lasts forever,” said Dr. Billing- 2002, the History Channel Of the nationwide broadcast ton. “It is our goal to preserve broadcast “Save Our History: Folklife Center director Peggy eight thousand of our most his­ Save Our Sounds,” a one-hour Bulger said, “The Save Our toric recordings as digital files, film documenting the extraordi­ Sounds program brought our so that future listeners will be nary efforts being undertaken at message to a viewing public we able to hear the testimonies of the Library’s American Folklife have never reached before. We former slaves, the first record­ Center and the Smithsonian are determined to get the word ing of Woody Guthrie’s “This Institution’s Center for Folklife out to as many people as possi­ Land Is Your Land,” the epic and Cultural Heritage to pre­ ble concerning the need to pre­ tales of Zuni elders, religious serve America’s recorded sound serve our aural legacy. The His­ services from Appalachia, man- heritage. Ethnomusicologists, tory Channel is a perfect partner on-the-street reactions to the archivists, recording engineers, for this effort.” attack on Pearl Harbor, the bal­ and folklorists played them­ On December 3, a reception lads and songs of our finest tra­ selves in this engaging portrait was held in the Great Hall of the ditional singers among many of the two-year-old project to Library of Congress, hosted by other sound documents.” Winter 2003 11 Speaking for the History or CDs, will last forever, and foundation. The Ralph J. Glea­ Channel, Libby H. O’Connell, many are already in an ad­ son Award was established in vice-president, Historical Alli­ vanced stage of deterioration. 1986 to recognize outstanding ances, explained that the Histo­ Temperature, air quality, hu­ contributions to culture in mem­ ry Channel’s Save Our History midity, and sunlight affect all ory of the pioneering jazz and series began in 1998, with a com­ recordings and eventually pop music journalist Ralph J. mitment to bring the past alive degrade the sounds they con­ Gleason (1917–1975). for the American people with a tain. Acidic containers and series of ten documentary films. over-playing on antiquated he Zuni Storytelling Col­ She called the Save Our Sounds machinery have added to lection consists of 222 project a “natural for us,” and the deterioration of many of audio recordings that was further motivated to pro­ our most valuable record­ document the oral tradi­ ceed with the idea when she ings. Ttion and history of the Zuni tribe received a phone call support­ The goal of the Save Our in the American Southwest. The ing the project from musi­ Sounds Project is to make sure Zuni people laid the foundation cian and American Folklife that we retain the sounds from for the Zuni Storytelling Collec­ Center board member Mickey our most historic and endan­ tion in 1965 when they sought Hart. gered sound recordings and that and received funding from the “Sound is ephemeral, and it these sounds will always be Office of Economic Opportunity disappears fast,” said Richard available. The Save Our Sounds to record their oral literature. Kurin, director of the Center for Project is currently digitizing Nineteen community elders Folklife and Cultural Heritage eight thousand sound record- were selected by the project to at the Smithsonian Institution. ings—only a small portion of all relate traditional Zuni folktales “We have no idea what people the recordings in the two institu­ in the tribal language for the living before the late 1800s tions. Yet the importance of this purpose of documentation. A sounded like.” The Save Our project goes beyond the saving generation now deceased, these Sounds Project originated with a of a selection of sound record­ respected tribal members con­ challenge grant, administered ings. Save Our Sounds will help tributed over eight hundred sto­ by the National Park Service and the Library of Congress to set the ries, more than four hundred the National Trust for Historic standards that other institutions hours of recorded cultural/lin- Preservation, through “Save will follow for the digital preser­ guistic documentation, and America’s Treasures,” a special vation of sound. approximately eight telapna:we, project of the White House Grateful Dead drummer a traditional form of Zuni folk­ under the Clinton administra­ Mickey Hart is the head of the tale. tion. Leadership Committee for the The collection remained in Save Our Sounds Project, a the possession of the Pueblo or over a century now, we group of supporters that in­ until 1990, when the tribe real­ have used recordings to cludes Joan Baez, Ry Cooder, ized that the original master document the sounds of David Cosby, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve reels, an irreplaceable cultural great events and great Miller, Bernice Johnson Reagon, resource, were old, brittle, and Fperformances; the sounds found Carlos Santana, Pete Seeger, in danger of becoming unstable in nature, in the workplace, and Michael Tilson Thomas, and and unusable. Working in con­ on the playground; the sounds other notable musicians who cert with Andrew Wiget of the of ordinary people telling their have benefitted from the art New Mexico Heritage Center, stories, singing their songs, and and work of their predeces­ the Zuni Tribal Council deter­ explaining their traditions. sors. “When an artist starts mined that the recordings Starting in late 1880s (the Edison off he bases his knowledge on should be transferred to the wax-cylinder recording ma­ what goes before him,” said American Folklife Center so that chine was invented in 1877), we Hart. these important cultural re­ have been preserving these Hart announced that the sources could be preserved. The sounds: first on cylinder, then American Folklife Center has transaction was given the bless­ on disk, wire, tape, and now as been awarded a $10,000 Ralph J. ing of the Zuni Tribe in the digital files. Today the Library Gleason Award from the Rex form of a Council Resolution of Congress and the Smithson- Foundation for its work in pre­ (M70–90–L094), and the Ameri­ ian Institution contain the serving the oral tradition and can Folklife Center received the largest and most significant col­ history of the Zuni tribe in the master tapes for the Zuni Collec­ lections of recorded sound in the American Southwest. The tion in 1996. Through the Save United States, and they have the award was presented to Center Our Sounds program, the Folk- joint responsibility of preserv­ director Peggy Bulger at the life Center will process, docu­ ing and making accessible this December 3 reception. The Rex ment, and digitize the collec­ rich cultural storehouse. Foundation is a nonprofit chari­ tion for research use. The Center This responsibility requires table organization established will then store the Zuni Col­ more than safe storage of the in 1983 by friends and members lection master reels in a con­ recordings. None of these of the Grateful Dead. Mickey trolled environment to ensure recordings, whether cylinders Hart is a board member of the their longevity. 12 Folklife Center News Michael Taft Named Head of Archive of Folk Culture

Michael Taft has been to the committee on named to the position “Genetic Resources, of head of the Archive Traditional Knowl­ of Folk Culture at the edge, and Folklore” American Folklife of the World Intel­ Center, the eighth in a lectual Property Or­ line of distinguished ganization, which folklorists to hold the meets semiannually position since it was in Geneva, Switzer­ first created in the land. Library of Congress Before coming to in 1928. Previous the Library, Taft heads (holding dif­ served as university ferent titles) include archivist and head of Robert W. Gordon Special Collections, (1928–32), John A. University of North­ Lomax (who held the ern British Colum­ position of honorary bia; archivist for the curator from 1933 Vermont Folklife until the end of his Center, Middlebury, life in 1948), Alan Vermont; and sound Lomax (1937–42), and image librarian Benjamin Botkin and archivist, South­ (1942–45), Duncan ern Folklife Collec­ Emrich (1945–56), tion, Manuscripts Rae Korson (1956– Department, Wil­ 69), Alan Jabbour son Special Col­ (1969–74), and Joseph lections Library, C. Hickerson (1974 University of North until the position was Carolina, Chapel discontinued in 1990 Hill. In addition, as part of a Center Taft has been adjunct reorganization). The professor of anthro­ Folk Archive, which pology and archae­ now holds more than ology, University of 3 million items of Saskatchewan; ethnographic materi­ Laura Bolton senior al, is one of the great research fellow, centers for the study Archives of Tradi­ of folk music and Michael Taft in one of the storage areas of the Archive of Folk tional Music, Indi­ other forms of folk- Culture. Photo by James Hardin ana University; lore. research associate, Of the new appointment, work “to keep the Archive of Department of Speech and American Folklife Center direc­ Folk Culture relevant and acces­ Drama, Mount St. Vincent Uni­ tor Peggy Bulger said: “We are sible to its wide community of versity, Halifax; visiting scholar, very pleased to have Dr. Taft in users.” The Beaton Institute, University this position, with his outstand­ A native of New York City, College of Cape Breton, Sydney, ing scholarly credentials, his Michael Taft holds a Ph.D. in Nova Scotia; and visiting associ­ far-ranging archival expertise, folklore from Memorial Univer­ ate professor of English, Univer­ and his extensive administra­ sity of Newfoundland and an sity of Regina, Saskatchewan. tive experience. With the signifi­ M.A. in library and information Michael Taft is the author of cant growth of the Archive of science from the University of many works of scholarship and Folk Culture in the past several Alberta. Since 2001, he has been reference, including The Bard of years, Dr. Taft will be heading a folklife specialist at the Ameri­ Edam: Walter Farewell, Home­ up one of the largest and most can Folklife Center and project steader Poet (1992); The Centenni­ important ethnographic ar­ director for the Center’s “Save al Index: One Hundred Years of the chives in the world.” Michael Our Sounds” audio preserva­ Journal of American Folklore, edi­ Taft said he was honored to fill tion program. He is also a mem­ tor and compiler, with Bruce this position and that he will ber of the official U.S. delegation Jackson and Harvey S. Axlerod

Winter 2003 13 (1988); Blues Lyric Poetry: A Con­ and reference. He is a longtime gy for librarians and archivists cordance (1984); Blues Lyric Poet­ member of the American Folk­ working with folklore materi­ ry: An Anthology (1983); Discov­ lore Society and the Folklore als. This project has since been ering Saskatchewan Folklore: Studies Association of Canada, adopted by the American Folk- Three Case Studies (1983); and and serves as indexer for the life Center and the American Tall Tales of British Columbia Journal of American Folklore. In Folklore Society, and Taft is a (1983). He is also the author of 1996 Michael Taft began work on member of the Ethnographic numerous articles and reviews an ethnographic thesaurus in Thesaurus Working Group, an on folksong, narrative, drama, order to help define terminolo­ oversight committee.

New Edition of Folklife and Fieldwork Published

Folklife and Fieldwork: A Lay- man’s Introduction to Field Tech­ niques, originally prepared in 1979 by folklife specialist Peter Bartis, and revised in 1990, has once again been revised and updated (2002) and is available free of charge from the Ameri­ can Folklife Center. The popular thirty-eight page pamphlet includes a definition of folklife, a list of traditional activities and expressions that are frequently the subject of folk- life research, and step-by-step recommendations for planning and executing a fieldwork proj­ ect. There are sections on making audio and video recordings, and on taking still photographs. A final section offers advice on what to do with documentary materials, from preparing them for deposit in an archive to using them for public events and pub­ lications. The pamphlet also includes sample forms to use for making field notes and securing permission from people who have been documented to use their performances in publica­ tions and for public programs. There are also sample audio- recording, video-recording, and photography logs. Copies of Folklife and Field­ work are available to individu­ als, or for use in workshops and classrooms (up to 50 copies). Special requests for more than 50 copies will be considered. Please contact Doris Craig at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, 101 Inde­ pendence Avenue, SE, Washing­ ton, DC, 20540–4610. Dcra@loc. gov, (202) 707–1736. 14 Folklife Center News EDITOR’S NOTES from page 2 corners of the world, recording Spring Public Events songs and stories that otherwise number of budget cuts and was would have disappeared. Her April 10: Illustrated lecture by in danger of losing its funding career as an ethnographer began John Michael Vlach in celebra­ altogether, but its board of in 1941, under the sponsorship tion of his new book Barns. trustees worked hard to assert of the Library of Congress, when James Madison Hall, Madison the importance of America’s she and her husband, Basil Building, 6:00 p.m. grassroots cultural heritage, Yurchenco, traveled to Mexico. and the Center is now enjoying She spent the next five years April 21: Illustrated lecture on the full support of both Con­ recording ancient pre-Hispanic the rural North Carolina com­ gress and the Library. music among fourteen remote munity Sodom Laurel, by pho­ The Veterans History Project mountain and desert tribes of tographer Rob Amberg, with and the Save Our Sounds audio Mexico and Guatemala. She con­ storyteller Sheila Kay Adams. preservation project have tinued her work in other Span- Mumford Room, Madison resulted in national publicity for ish-speaking countries, particu­ Building, 6:00 p.m. the documentary work of the larly Spain, Puerto Rico, Center and the collections in the Columbia, Ecuador, and Moroc­ April 23: Concert by Joe Der­ Archive. Special arrangements co, among the Sephardic Jews rane, Irish button accordion with the National Council for resident there since expulsion player from Randolph, Mas­ the Traditional Arts and the from Spain in 1492. Her memoirs sachusetts, with John McCann International Storytelling Foun­ also include experiences else­ and Bridget Fitzgerald. Nep­ dation have led to large acquisi­ where in the world, particularly tune Plaza, Jefferson Building, tions. In addition, the Center behind the Iron Curtain, both 12 noon. continues to receive or negotiate before and after the demise of for important documentary the Soviet empire, where she For further information, includ­ materials in private collections. observed first hand the dire ing notices of other spring and In this issue, for example, David consequences of Soviet-style summer events, see the Ameri­ Taylor describes a new collec­ repression and the manipula­ can Folklife Center’s Web site at tion documenting the Jewish tion of culture. www.loc.gov/folklife/events. village of Luboml, Poland, which was destroyed at the time of the Second World War. New partners and new project proposals present themselves regularly, and the Archive col­ lections have increased by about 25 percent over the past several years. Thus, it is significant, both symbolically and in practi­ cal terms, that a new head has Henrietta Yurchen­ been named to take charge of all co at a reception the complex activities of acqui­ following her talk at sition, processing, preservation, the Library of Con­ and reference. Michael Taft is gress April 22, eminently qualified for this 1993, with then Uni­ position, and a short biography versity of Maryland of his career and activities graduate student appears in this issue. Sergio Navarrete Pellicer. For his Henrietta Yurchenco master’s thesis in Autobiography Published ethnomusicology, Navarrete worked on Guatemalan rit­ Over the years, Henrietta ual dramas, using Yurchenco has donated ethno­ Yurchenco’s record­ graphic documentation repre­ ings in the Archive senting a lifetime of fieldwork to of Folk Culture as a the American Folklife Center. major source. He She has recently published her also compiled an own life story, Around the World index to her Mexi­ in 80 Years: A Memoir—A Musical can and Guate­ Odyssey (Point Richmond, Cali­ malan recordings fornia: MRI Press, 2003). that has assisted Now eighty-seven, Henrietta other researchers. Yurchenco spent sixty years Photograph by tracking down people in remote David A. Taylor Winter 2003 15 Northwest view of Luboml’s Great Synagogue, with shtiblkh (prayer houses) at right, 1930. Collection Polish Academy of Sciences. The American Folklife Center has received a new collection documenting Jewish life in Eastern Europe before the Second World War. Story on page 6.

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Archive of Folk Culture Seventy-fifth Anniversary 1928–2003

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