Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities was established to maintain a continuing study of the cultural resources of the Commonwealth. During 1987 the council, in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Folklife Programs, conducted fieldwork to identify and locate traditional folk artists from Massachusetts to participate in the 22nd annual Festival of American Folklife, held on the grounds of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., July 1988. In documenting interviews in the areas of traditional narrative, occupational folklife, foodways, and traditional music, folklorists created interview tapes.

Files contain preliminary and final field reports, notes, interview report forms, photologs, tape logs (see related series below), and contact sheets of photographs/slides of the interviewees. Information includes name of interviewer; name, age, and ethnic background of interview subject; and narrative describing the folklore tradition related to the folkway treated in the interview and photographs. Massachusetts folklife audiocassettes were created in conjunction with this series.

Finding Aid

Related catalog records:
AFS Folklore Collection database

Arrangement:
Arranged alphabetically by interviewer’s name.

Conditions Governing Access:
Photographs:There are copyright restrictions applying to the reproduction of these materials; Smithsonian Institution. Office of Folklife Programs.

Related Collections
Massachusetts folklife audiocassette files were created in conjunction with this series. AF10/871X