NYFS 2001 Annual Conference Photos

2001
Annual Conference of the New York Folklore Society

September 28, 29 and 30, 2001
Fredonia
Chautauqua County, New York

The New York Folklore Society’s programs are made possible in part with public funds from the Folk Arts Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

New York Folklore Society
P.O. Box 764
Schenectady, NY 12301
518/346-7008
Fax 518/346-6617
nyfs@nyfolklore.org

CONFERENCE PHOTOS

	Left: The Lily Dale Museum, Lily Dale Assembly, Cassadega, New York. Above: Spiritualist Chapel, Lily Dale Assembly, Cassadega, New York. Below: Musicians who performed at the conference’s Friday night square dance included, from the left, Dan Berggren, Steve Warner, Kathy Peterson, carmen Gilman, Sterl VanArsdale, and Jim Kimball. Photos: Stanley Ransom

The Annual Fall Conference of the New York Folklore Society was held on September 28-30 in Fredonia. "Culture, Innovation, and Folklore on New York’s Niagara Frontier" looked specifically at the emergence of the Grange movement, the impact of the Chautauqua Institution, and the founding of the Spiritualist Church—all movements that have had a strong impact on our nation’s culture. Conference speakers included Carole Bailey, a historian of the Grange; Dr. Ross MacKenzie, Chautauqua historian; and Andy Baugnet, a photographer who has been documenting New York’s grange halls. Conference participants were able to tour the Spiritualist resort village of Lily Dale as well as participate in a medium service.

In typical fashion, NYFS’s annual fall conference included celebration and socializing. On Friday evening, the conference began with a dinner and square dance. Held at the Fredonia Grange #1, the dance featured local square dance musicians and callers. Board member Stanley Ransom remarked that he had never danced to so many hammered dulcimers all playing at one time. Saturday night festivities began with a wine-and-cheese reception at Woodbury Vineyards, followed by a gala concert featuring Dick and Carmen Gilman, Kelly Armor and Dave Sturtevant, and the Buffalo Concertina All-Star Orchestra. The evening provided a wonderful variety of musical styles and traditions, concluding with the rich sound of polkas played on at least a dozen concertinas.

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