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The renowned civil rights activist, “songtalker,” playwright, composer, and cultural historian began her work with the Smithsonian in 1969.
To celebrate Ella Jenkins on her hundredth birthday in August, we asked a group of musicians how Ella has inspired them.
Roland Freeman was tremendously accomplished—as a photographer, documentarian, author, organizer, exhibition producer and curator, folklorist, educator, and quilt collector.
Chris Strachwitz passed on May 5, 2023, but he is still with us in the millions of lives he touched through his work.
Folklife Magazine explores how culture shapes our lives. We publish stories about music, food, craft, language, celebrations, activism, and the individuals and communities who sustain these traditions.