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Cover of Vol. 24 New York Folklore

The Journal of New York Folklore was published 1975-1999. Back issues are still available.


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The New York Folklore Quarterly was published 1946-1974. Back issues are still available.

New York Folklore Society
P.O. Box 764
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NEW YORK FOLKLORE QUARTERLY
Vol. XVI, No. 1, Spring, 1960

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NUNDAWAGA SOCIETY FOR HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
Robert E. Moody

As he talked with Dr. Arthur C. Parker at the meeting of the Genesee Country Historical Federation in 1953, Jay D. Barnes became convinced that Yates County should do something to exploit its unusual good fortune in having within its boundaries both the birthplace of the Seneca Nation and the man—Dr. Parker—best fitted to interpret the Senecas to the modern world. As county historian, Mr. Barnes brought the matter before the Yates County Historical Society, and under its sponsorship, the Nundawaga Society was born.

The announced purpose of the new organization was “to gather accounts of the history and folklore of Indian and pioneer times and to interpret and dramatize by play and pageant the material thus gathered.” The name “Nundawaga” was taken because that was the true name of the Senecas and it was evident that the work of the Society would center around the interpretation of Seneca life and history.

Soon after its organizational meeting, the Society received its permanent charter from the New York State Board of Regents. It was decided to present a pageant in a beautiful sycamore grove just off New York State Route 245 between Middlesex and Naples near the traditional birthplace of the Seneca Nation.

Dr. Parker prepared the first pageant for the Society, Nundawao, The Coming of the Senecas. This told of two great Seneca traditions. The first of these was that the original Senecas were born from the earth in a cave in the great cleft, now called Clark’s Gully, in their sacred mountain, and founded their first village on the flats by West River. The village took the name of the sacred mountain, Nundawao, which looms above Nundawaga Grove where the pageants are presented. The second tradition was the story of the Great Serpent that nearly exterminated the Senecas on Bare Hill or Genundowa.
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NEW YORK FOLKLORE QUARTERLY, Vol. XVI, No. 1 Table of Contents.




NOTE: The New York Folklore Society Newsletter and New York Folklore Journal were replaced by Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore which debuted in December, 2000.

Membership in NYFS includes a subscription to Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore.

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