Folk music, as defined by Britannica, is a type of traditional and generally rural music that originally was passed down through families and other small social groups. Because its definition varies through the opinions of differing social classes, it acts as a culmination of genres. To some, folk music is the song of a cultural identity, while others view it as a spiritual expression. Despite these variations, folk music is united by its simple instrumentation and strong oral tradition. In the 1960s, Folkways Records played a pivotal role in preserving and popularizing this art form, bringing its rich heritage to new audiences and fueling the folk revival that defined a generation.
Founded in 1948 by Polish radio engineer Moses Asch and his assistant, Marian Distler, Folkways Records was dedicated to documenting sounds and songs from all walks of life. With over 2,000 published recordings from 1949 to 1987, Folkways became one of the most impactful music labels in history. Tracks such as “This Land is Our Land,” by Woody Guthrie and and Elizabeth Cotten’s “Freight Train” inspired young artists of the 1960s such as Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, paving the way for the resurgence of folk music.
Towards the end of his life, Moses Asch searched for an inheritor of Folkways Records, ultimately deciding on the artistic director of the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler. Under the requirement that each of the label’s recordings remained in print forever, so that people could always have access to these oral traditions, Rinzler agreed. Asch died before the completion of the deal, but his family eventually donated the label to the Smithsonian Institute in 1987.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as it is now called, is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., composed of a culmination of almost two dozen other publishers and collections including Asch’s label. It has a strong digital presence on social media platforms, websites, and in the press as a cohort of the National Museum of the United States. Dedicated to heritage preservation and highlighting cultural diversity from all across the world, it upholds these practices through the development of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Music Pathways, and Global Sound Initiative, education programs for teachers, students, and listeners of all ages.
Through my research on the timeline and impacts of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, it’s clear that this organization continues to meet vital community needs. With an extensive collection of over 5,000 albums and nearly 60,000 songs, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has cemented its role as a guardian of diverse musical traditions. Its vast archive not only preserves the timeless nature of oral traditions but also ensures their accessibility to future generations.
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