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Posted by: Kerry Ward
This is the third blog post in a series marking the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II, and will feature an “Aviator Flight Log Book,” which will be available during the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover in September 2020. In the spring of 1940, Nazi Germany’s shadow was cast over much of Western Europe, but with world domination …
Posted in: Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project, World War II
Posted by: Stephen Winick
The American Folklife Center is very pleased to announce our Homegrown Concert Series for 2020, which we've nicknamed "Homegrown at Home." These concert videos, recorded at home by the artists, will be presented online each Wednesday at noon, initially on the AFC Facebook page and then permanently on the Library of Congress YouTube channel and website. The series kicks off on June 24 with a concert by the Riley Family Band, featuring GRAMMY-winning accordionist, fiddler, and singer Steve Riley of the leading Cajun band Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. For this special concert Steve is joined by his talented sons, Burke and Dolsy Riley. The series will then continue every Wednesday at noon through September, with concerts including music from far and wide: from the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, from the Catskills in upstate New York to the Louisiana bayous, and from Scotland to Sweden.
Posted in: AFC Events, Homegrown Concert Series
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
The following is a guest blog post by Andrew Huber, a liaison specialist for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP). It is the second in a series from VHP staff. Go here to read the first article. As job titles go, mine might be one of the least informative in all of the …
Posted in: Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: Lisa Taylor
The following is an update to the Veterans History Project’s (VHP) Coronavirus COVID-19 Impact Response. Though we understand it may be more challenging to do during the pandemic, the Veterans History Project still prefers that you conduct in-person interviews, when it is safe to do so. If you are unable to travel to be with, …
Posted in: Narratives, Oral History, Storytelling, Veterans History Project
Posted by: John Fenn
This post is the third in series about remote fieldwork in our current environment, and part of the American Folklife Center’s efforts to facilitate conversations about cultural documentation practices (Read the first post here and the second one here). Unlike the previous two posts, this one is a conversation with a guest. Thomas Grant Richardson …
Posted in: Fieldwork
Posted by: Stephen Winick
About a month ago we introduced the idea of taking the archive challenge from home. This blog will update you with some examples of our fans who have taken the challenge, with an eye toward inspiring you to take the challenge yourself.
Posted in: Archive Challenge
Posted by: Michelle Stefano
On January 29th, the AFC launched the Live! In the Archive concert series, where artists are invited to perform selections from the Center’s collections live in its reading room. The first artists featured in this new concert series were Lone Piñon. The video of their Live! In the Archive concert is embedded in this blog post, which also contains an interview with Jordan Wax and Tanya Nuñez of Lone Piñon.
Posted in: AFC Events, Archive Challenge, Concerts with Archive Challenge Content, Hispanic American History, Homegrown Concert Series, Homegrown Plus, Live in the Archive, Old Time Music
Posted by: Stephanie Hall
This post is part of a series of posts called Staff Finds During Difficult Times, in which staff members discuss collections and items that have been inspiring them while they are working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic or in other difficult circumstances. Find the whole series here! As I work from home and keep …
Posted in: Folklorists, Folksong, Games, Staff Finds During Difficult Times
Posted by: John Fenn
In this guest post one of our archivists, Valda Morris, discusses the work she’s been doing behind the scenes to process an important collection and help create a finding aid that will assist researchers in discovering the richness of the materials. The American Folklife Center is proud to announce the availability of an online finding …
Posted in: Archival Practice, Dance