Veterans History Project

Interview a Veteran: Join the Nation’s Greatest Oral History Project 

Do you have veteran in your extended family?  How about a neighbor, colleague, or friend who has served in the military? I would like to invite you to contribute the personal experience of a veteran to the Veteran’s History Project for the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.  It is not only an important contribution you can make to honor veterans in your family or community but also you will be adding their voice to those of other veterans from all phases of the military for future generations to understand the human side of the lives of veterans.

Make History

Created by unanimous bipartisan congressional support, the Veteran’s History Project is now the largest oral history project in our nation’s history.  Today there are almost 80,000 stories of veterans recorded and deposited at the Library of Congress.  These accounts bring to life the experience of those who served in World War I right up to the time of current missions and conflicts.  Developed by folklorists and oral historians, the project invites your participation in this legendary effort.  You say, I am not trained to conduct an interview.  Well, you can learn to be a documentarian and also use this opportunity to get to know a family or community member better in a deeper lasting way.  Virtually everyone who has conducted an interview has come away with praise for the experience and appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who have served.  All too often, we find ourselves wishing we had asked earlier—so it is never too soon to start.

It is Easy to Do—Make a Difference

What do I have to do?  Well, it is simple thanks to the staff of the Veteran’s History Project.  Go to the VHS web site at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress where you can learn more about the project and download the interview forms that will guide your interview.  You may recall seeing the Ken Burns documentary, The War, a few years ago.  With the assistance of Ken Burns, the VHS has created a fine tutorial on how to complete a successful oral history of a veteran. Just go to: http://www.loc.gov/vets/

You will find it to be one of the most personally rewarding things you have ever done-- and you will contribute to this historic national tribute to our veterans.

C. Kurt Dewhurst

Director of Arts and Cultural Initiatives

University Outreach and Engagement

Director Emeritus and Curator of Folklife and Cultural Heritage

MSU Museum and Professor of English and Museum Studies

Michigan State University

FESTIVE AND GREAT!

The Michigan State University Museum shares a hearty thanks to all the artists, volunteers, sponsors and friends who helped make the Great Lakes Folk Festival a memorable celebration of culture, tradition and community. After a soggy start, we turned the weekend around weather-wise and ended on a really high note. Thanks to all the visitors who came -- and many who came back multiple times -- to enjoy the special mix of programs throughout the festival site. 

KEEP IT GREAT, DONATE!

Thank you also for the many congratulations, comments and ideas. There's tremendous pride at the MSU Museum every year in putting together this special mix of skilled artists from so many corners of the world who share their talents and connect with audiences in a way that truly resonates and endures.

This event belongs to all of us, and you can be a part of its continued success in important ways: please visit our web site, http://www.greatlakesfolkfest.net, and make a donation and/or take our visitor survey!

Traditions Showcases

Amongst the most popular features of the Great Lakes Folk Festival, according to both attendees and musicians, are the Tradition Showcases. Several times throughout each festival weekend, we assemble musicians from the various bands and—with the help of knowledgeable presenters—explore their backgrounds and influences, ask them to demonstrate a song or tune or two, and discuss how similar instruments might be played differently (or similarly) from one tradition to another.

This year's showcases feature instruments common to bands (fiddle, accordion, percussion) instruments that we don't see every day (begena and krar, kamanche, kanun, sitar) as well as a themed set (From Blues to Bluegrass) and one in which four random musicians are assembled to see what happens.

(Photo by Patrick T. Power

Friday, August 10, 7:45 P.M. • Abbot Stage
Accordion Traditions
Featuring Bua's Brían Ó hAirt (Irish Celtic), Joaquín Díaz (Merengue) and Leroy Thomas (Zydeco) Accordion Traditions will compare and contrast accordion styles from Ireland, the Dominican Republic and Louisiana.

Friday, August 10, 9:30 P.M. • Abbot Stage
The Roots of Bluegrass
Claire Lynch and her band demonstrate the musical roots of bluegrass in an informal discussion with Bob Blackman.

(Photo by Patrick T. Power

Saturday, August 11, 1:00 P.M. • Abbot Stage
Fiddle Traditions
Always one of the Great Lakes Folk Festival's favorites, Fiddle Traditions will compare and contrast fiddle styles as performed by Bua's Devin Shepherd (Celtic), David Bass (Old-time) and Bryan McDowell (Bluegrass), as well as the generational relationship of the three styles.

Saturday, August 11, 7:45 P.M. • Abbot Stage
String, Strang, Strung
Many people think of folk music as a guitar and banjo and fiddle. And while we certainly have plenty of those at the festival each year, many cultures have found unique ways with which to produce sounds and music... sometimes with but a string or two; sometimes with dozens of strings. In this showcase, we will feature the Indian Sitar (Hasu Patel), the Kamanche (Saeed Kamjoo), the Begena and Krar (Temesgen Hussein) and the Kanun (Ara Topouzian).

Sunday, August 12, Noon • Abbot Stage
Percussion Traditions
Guitars and fiddles and accordions often get most of the attention while those that keep the beat are kept (often literally) in the background. In this showcase, we will feature the Indian Tabla (Vishal Nagar), the Iranian Daf and Tumbak (Mehdi Darvishi), Merengue Tambora (Peter Barzey) and Guira (Raul Villa Rojas) and Zydeco Rubboard (Charles Fontenot).

Sunday, August 12, 3:00 P.M. • Abbot Stage
Airport Jam
It is not uncommon for musicians to cross paths in airports, and it's very uncommon for musicians to not want to play music together when they've got the chance. Leroy Thomas (Zydeco), Devin Shepherd (Irish Celtic) and Frank Lee (Old-Time) will each kick off a tune or two and the rest will follow.

(Photo by Patrick T. Power

 

GLFF's "Chicken Man!"

Have you seen this man? Thomas Seymour, the Chicken Man, has been an outstanding volunteer with our GLFF Bucket Brigade for 10 years now! He is a constant presence out on the streets and has collected as much as $5,000 throughout the festival weekend.

Thanks to Tom for his extraordinary commitment to the MSU Museum and the Great Lakes Folk Festival. The cash we collect helps maintain the high quality of programs at GLFF helps us finish the year strong. If you see him, be sure and say thanks and drop a couple bucks in the bucket! 

[Photo by MSU Museum's Pearl Yee -- and featured in our "GLFF Redux" photo exhibit now in our Community Gallery.]