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A Celebration of West Virginia Folk Music Traditions

Collage of folk musicians. Clockwise: James and Edden Hammons, Sarah Workman, Jack McElwain, Lum and Victoria Pack and Kate Toney.
Folk musicians: Kate Toney, James and Edden Hammons, Sarah Workman, Jack McElwain, and Lum and Victoria Pack. Photos provided by the West Virginia & Regional History Center.

Nov. 14 | Mountainlair Gluck Theatre | 6pm

The history of West Virginia’s rich folk music traditions is documented in collections held by the West Virginia & Regional History Center. Scholars will shine a light on the performers of the past who maintained these traditions and a musical performance will bring folk songs to life.

Speakers/Musicians:

  • Gloria Goodwin Raheja, professor emerita of anthropology, University of Minnesota
  • Chris Haddox, associate professor, design studies, West Virginia University
  • Lori Hostuttler, director, West Virginia & Regional History Center
  • Mary Linscheid, writer and musician

    • Visit the West Virginia & Regional History Center's website to view the West Virginia Folk Music Digital Collection which features more than a thousand historic field recordings of West Virginia folk music from the Louis Watson Chappell Archive. The recordings are from aluminum and lacquer discs made with a portable disc recorder. Performers were logged with a name, place of recording, and a list of pieces performed. This event and the West Virginia Folk Music digital collection are supported by the West Virginia Humanities Council.  

    WVRHC Folklife exhibit open now.
    The exhibit highlights West Virginia folklife and folklore with documents and artifacts from the collections of some of the state's most prolific folklorists, including Louis Watson Chappell, Patrick Gainer, and John Harrington Cox. The exhibit includes stories, songs, recipes, and remedies, and illustrates the stories behind Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster, and other cryptids that have recently risen in popularity as part of West Virginia folklore. For information regarding exhibit hours, visit the WVRHC website.