Folklife Sourcebook: A Directory of Folklife Resources in the United States

Federal Agencies

Beginning with the establishment of the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress in 1928, the federal government has provided long-range programmatic and financial support to the conservation and study of traditional culture in the United States. The Smithsonian Institution began its annual Festival of American Folklife in 1967 and today operates the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies. The National Endowment for the Arts established its Folk Arts Program in 1974. The American Folklife Center was established in 1976 with the passage of Public Law 94-201, the American Folklife Preservation Act. Other federal agencies including the Departments of Interior, Education, Agriculture, and The Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, have coordinated and funded important projects.

The agencies cited engage in a broad range of consultation and public programs and produce scholarly and informational publications relating to their programs and activities.

American Folklife Center
Address:
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4610 USA
Phone: 202-707-5510
Email: folklife@loc.gov
Comments: US national repository for international ethnographic collections. Programs in performance and education. Includes the Archive of Folk Culture collections available in the Folklife Reading Room. Selected collections available online.
Keywords: federal archive folk dance folklore folklife folksong dance music fieldwork education programs publications archives archival records photographs sound recordings audio film moving image video manuscripts photographs ephemera washington district of columbia sociolinguistics ethnology ethnography international collections

Folk and Traditional Arts Program
National Endowment for the Arts
Address:
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506 USA
Phone: 202-682-5400
Email: webmgr@arts.endow.gov
Comments: Information provided through Traditional Arts Program Network (TAPNet)
Keywords: federal grants

National Endowment for the Humanities
Address:
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506 USA
Phone: 800-NEH-1121
Email: info@neh.gov
Comments:
Keywords: federal grants

Smithsonian Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Heritage
Address:
Capital Gallery 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Suite 2001 MRC 520
Washington, DC 20024 USA
Phone: 202-633-6440
Email: folklife-info@si.edu
Comments: International programs. Naitonal Folklife Festival. The Center includes Smithsonian Folklife print publications and folkways records
Keywords: federal festival folkways records archive programs publications

Indian Arts and Crafts Board
Address:
U.S. Department of Interior
1849 C. Street, N.W.
MS 2058-MIB
Washington, DC. 20240 USA
Phone: 202-208-3773
Email: iacb@ios.doi.gov
Comments:
Keywords: federal native american american indian arts museums directories alaska