Folksongs of Another America: Field Recordings from the Upper Midwest, 1937–1946
James Leary, UW-Madison professor of Folklore and of Scandinavian Studies, is a native of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and has been documenting the music and folk culture of Wisconsin for more than 40 years. His landmark multimedia publication, FOLKSONGS OF ANOTHER AMERICA, presents the remarkably diverse music of America’s Upper Midwest, captured in field recordings by collectors in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota for the Library of Congress from 1937 to 1946. The 456-page illustrated book, with five CDs of restored music and a documentary film on DVD, preserves the performances of more than 200 people, in more than 25 languages, reflecting their mostly immigrant, indigenous, rural, and working class roots.
Outcomes
These tunes and songs in more than twenty-five languages showcase a significant but overlooked part of the nation’s musical heritage, made by immigrant, Native American, rural, and working class performers in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. As the German radio network Deutschland RadioKultur commented, “This is an exceptional achievement that demonstrates for the first time the full worth and cultural wealth of the Upper Midwest for music listeners.” This project has saved, for the people of Wisconsin, and for music lovers all over the world, the *intangible* heritage of our region.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
Dennis Lloyd
Director, University of Wisconsin Press
- Department/Unit
- The University of Wisconsin Press
- School or College
- Graduate School