In this Book

summary

New York and its folklore scholars hold an important place in the history of the discipline. In New York dialogue between folklore researchers in the academy and those working in the public arena has been highly productive. In this volume, the works of New York's academic and public folklorists are presented together.

Unlike some folklore anthologies, New York State Folklife Reader does not follow an organizational plan based on regions or genres. Because the New York Folklore Society has always tried to "give folklore back to the people," the editors decided to divide the edited volume into sections about life processes that all New York state residents share. The book begins with five essays on various aspects of folk cultural memory: personal, family, community, and historical processes of remembrance expressed through narrative, ritual, and other forms of folklore. Following these essays, subsequent sections explore aspects of life in New York through the lens of Play, Work, Resistance, and Food.

Both the New York Folklore Society and its journal were, as society cofounder Louis Jones explained, "intended to reach not just the professional folklorists but those of the general public who were interested in the oral traditions of the State." Written in an accessible and readable style, this volume offers a glimpse into New York State's rich cultural diversity.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. 2-5
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. v-viii
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. ix-xviii
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  1. Memory
  1. Dynamics of New York’s Folk Culture
  2. pp. 3-15
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  1. Oral Culture and History Today: Joanne Shenandoah and Jack W. Gladstone
  2. pp. 16-28
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  1. Cities within the City: Ben Botkin’s New York
  2. pp. 29-38
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  1. Ritual and Storytelling: A Passover Tale
  2. pp. 39-49
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  1. Comfort in Cloth: The Syracuse University Remembrance Quilt
  2. pp. 50-57
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  1. Here Was New York: Memorial Images of the Twin Towers
  2. pp. 58-64
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  1. Play
  1. “I Saw Mrs. Saray, Sitting on a Bombalerry”: Ralph Ellison Collects Children’s Folklore in Harlem
  2. pp. 67-85
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  1. Cultivating Courage through Play
  2. pp. 86-93
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  1. Emerging Traditions: Dance Performances of the Sudanese DiDinga in Syracuse
  2. pp. 94-105
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  1. Flyin’ High: Kite Flying from the Silk Road to Roosevelt Avenue
  2. pp. 106-114
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  1. Petanque in New York
  2. pp. 115-130
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  1. Work
  1. Mediating between Two Worlds: The Sonideros of Mexican Youth Dances
  2. pp. 133-144
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  1. In the Midst of a Monastery: Filming the Making of a Buddhist Sand Mandala
  2. pp. 145-153
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  1. Set in Stone: The Art of Stonework and Wall Building in Westchester County
  2. pp. 154-158
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  1. An Ethnography of the Saratoga Racetrack
  2. pp. 159-168
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  1. Stand Clear of the Closing Doors! Occupational Folklore of New York City Subway Workers
  2. pp. 169-178
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  1. Resistance
  1. Two Spirited People: Understanding Who We Are as Creation
  2. pp. 181-191
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  1. Camp Woodland: Progressive Education and Folklore in the Catskill Mountains of New York
  2. pp. 192-202
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  1. Employing Music in the Cause of Social Justice: Ruth Crawford Seeger and Zilphia Horton
  2. pp. 203-214
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  1. Burning Messages: Interpreting African American Fraternity Brands and Their Bearers
  2. pp. 215-224
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  1. Food
  1. Wild Game Cooking
  2. pp. 227-231
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  1. Foodways
  2. pp. 232-241
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  1. Free Market Flavor
  2. pp. 242-245
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  1. New York Folklore Archives
  2. pp. 246-247
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  1. A Calendar of New York Folk Festivals
  2. pp. 248-251
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  1. About the Contributors
  2. pp. 252-259
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 260-263
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