New York Folklore Society's Voices

"While upholding the quality and authenticity of folk art has been an issue since the 1920s, it was the communist government that institutionalized a quality-control body to regulate the folk art industry."—from "Authenticity and Kitsch: A Hungarian-American Embroider Revisits the Folk Art of her Native Land" by Eniko Farkas, in this VOICES.

In Voices we present in words and images the traditions practiced by the people and communities of New York State. We want to hear from you! Send us family stories, interviews, recipes, reminiscences, anecdotes, songs, how-to columns, and more. We are also looking for photographs and sketches of people, places, objects, and community events to publish.

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

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

Fall/Winter 1999

Manhattan Cowgirl Rosetta Garfield "Cowgirl and Manhattan executive, Rosetta "Cookie" Garfield was born on a Maryland farm, where her father taught her to ride horses. . .
Authenticity and Kitsch: A Hungarian-American Embroiderer Revisits the Folk Art of her Native Land Eniko Farkas I have a long-term interest in kitsch in the context of art history and in the issues of what is so-called "good taste" and who decides what is good art. . .
Tales from the ’Hood The stories ... are from interviews through the West Side Neighborhood Oral Narrative Project...The Princepessa Elena Society was an important neighborhood social club and community service organization...

From Our Readers

Dear Mr. Berggren,
I am writing in response to your article in the New York Folklore Newsletter [Spring/Summer 1999]. You state that you traveled "from Grand Central to the railroad station in North Creek where Teddy Roosevelt took the oath of office after McKinley was shot." We have been trying to dispel this misinformation for years, but it continues to be perpetuated. Even those involved in the restoration of the train station realize that although Roosevelt began his journey there, he was not inaugurated there. Authoritative sources concur. In his autobiography the former President wrote: "That evening (September 14, 1901) I took the oath of office in the house of Ansley Wilcox, at Buffalo." There are scores of newspaper and eyewitness accounts that also support this.
Ann Marie Linnabery, Chief of Interpretation, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo, NY

Dear Ms. Linnabery,
Thank you for your letter setting the record straight. A major distinction between history and folklore is documented facts vs. orally transmitted stories. Having grown up with the Roosevelt hunting-trip-to-presidency story, I made an assumption about its truthfulness and shouldn’t have. I appreciate your calling my attention to the facts. You can be sure that when telling this story in the future, I’ll put the North Creek railroad station and the Wilcox house in proper perspective.
Daniel W. Berggren, NYFS Board