West Virginia Folklife Program Receives Henry Reed Fund Award →

The American Folklife Center’s Henry Reed Fund was established in 2004 in honor of old-time fiddler Henry Reed with an initial gift from founding AFC director and fiddler Alan Jabbour. The fund provides small awards to support activities directly involving folk artists, especially when the activities reflect, draw upon, or strengthen the archival collections of the AFC. This year, Henry Reed Funds were awarded to two projects:

Emily Hilliard, State Folklorist at the West Virginia Humanities Council, was awarded funds for “West Virginia Folklife Presents Ballad Singer Phyllis Marks,” a public programming and documentation project highlighting the career and contributions of the respected octogenarian West Virginia traditional ballad singer Phyllis Marks.

via the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress

West Virginia State Folklorist Emily Hilliard on the Front Porch →

This week, Rick and Laurie are speaking with state folklorist Emily Hilliard from the West Virginia Humanities Council.

They discuss the definition of folklore, the importance and process of collecting it, and the benefits it can provide to the state.

Listen via West Virginia Public Broadcasting

"Never Whack": Lil' Farm's George O'Neal Featured on Scene on Radio Podcast →

Emily's first radio piece on Carborro, NC farmer George O'Neal is featured in the Episode 16 of the Scene on Radio Podcast, from John Biewen at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Also included in this episode is a piece by fellow folklorist Joseph Decosimo, on rogue neighborhood chickens.

Listen via Scene on Radio

Charleston Gazette-Mail Features West Virginia Folklife Program →

"A new folklorist soon will begin cataloging traditions and customs from around the Mountain State.

The West Virginia Humanities Council recently hired Emily Hilliard, a folklorist and former marketing coordinator for the Smithsonian Institution’s record label, to conduct a statewide survey of folk activity. She’ll also preserve and promote community-based traditions in the Mountain State."

Read the full story in the Charleston Gazette Mail.