That’s right, Episode Two of the Folklife Today Podcast is ready for listening! Find it at this page on the Library’s website, or on iTunes, or with your usual podcatcher.
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This blog post provides more background for the stories and the audio in the podcast.
The first thing you’ll hear is George “Shortbuckle” Roark from Kentucky, and his recording of “Groundhog.” Find the original and the rest of the recordings he made for the Library of Congress at this link in the Lomax Kentucky collection.
The first story in the podcast, about the foods the “Pilgrims” ate at the event many Americans call the “first Thanksgiving” is based on this blog post from last year.
After that, you’ll hear fiddler Nancy Buckalew playing “Turkey in the Straw” in Chicago, in 1977. Ms. Buckalew was recorded as part of AFC’s Chicago Ethnic Arts Project. Find her audio interview and performances at this link, and a set of photos at this link.
The second segment, about festive foods and menus in the military, had a couple of components. One was based on the blog post on military holiday menus at this link, by Megan Harris of the Veterans History Project, whom we interview in the segment. It featured the VHP audio interview of Albert Allen, Jr., which you can find at this link. The other component drew mainly on the VHP video interview of Anna M. Ruiz, which you’ll find at this link.
The third segment, about ramp suppers in West Virginia, featured our intern Mackenzie Kwok, who also helped write the episode. It was based on a few interviews in our online presentation Tending the Commons, which you’ll find at this link. In particular, it drew on this interview with Crystal Meadows and this interview with Jenny Miller Bonds, both conducted by Mary Hufford, then an AFC staff member.
Finally, the show ends with the song “Turnip Greens” by Neal Morris of Timbo, Arkansas. Find the whole session at this link on the Association for Cultural Equity website. As an added bonus, it includes Morris’s commentary on the song! He explains that he heard the song from his grandfather but that “it’s been revised to fit the times that we live in.”
We’re tickled to bring you this second episode of the “Folklife Today” Podcast. We’d love to hear any comments you might have on it…you can drop them here on this blog post.
Thanks for listening!