The New Jersey Folklore Society
| Iveta Pirgova |
|
The
NJFS is the only statewide membership organization devoted to the study
and promotion of traditional culture in New Jersey. It was founded in
1945 to promote the collection and study of folklore and traditional culture
in the Garden State. It started as an association of academic folklorists
and amateur aficionados with a common interest. Today, the membership
brings together those who work in universities, those who work in museums,
arts agencies, and folklife centers, and those who practice, preserve,
and document traditional culture in their own communities.
The Board of the NJFS is as diverse as the population of the state. Currently, the Board includes the following individuals
- Jim Albertson, singer, musician, and storyteller
- Luis Caluña, dancer and choreographer, Inti-Raymi
- Eleanor Levy, folklorist, Northwest Jersey Folklife Project
- Ameurfina Nazario, musician, Alay Filipino Performing Arts Group
- Iveta Todorova-Pirgova, NJFS President, folklorist, Down Jersey Folklife Center
- Nancy Watterson, folklorist, Princeton University
- William Westerman, folklorist, Drake House Museum, Historical Society of Plainfield
- Marilyn White, folklorist, Kean University
- Stephen Winick, folklorist, Delaware Valley Folklife Center
Projects and Programs
Past
activities of the Society have included publication of the journal, New
Jersey Folklife, and a quarterly newsletter that informs members
and other readers about cultural happenings and research findings in the
state. The Society has published articles on a wide range of topics, from
vernacular icehouses to New Jersey Quaker culture, to studies of the rock
music community of Asbury Park, to an in-depth issue on Pinelands culture.
The New Jersey Folklore Society is planning an exciting series of new
programs,
including a conference to be held at Princeton University in November.
At that meeting, the membership will chart a new course for the Society
and reach out to new members.
Resources
Membership:
Membership
is $15/year for individuals and $10 for students and low-income members.
Library and organizational memberships are also available. For more information,
write to the NJFS at the address above, or contact one of the Board members.
Available Upon Request:
- Consultation and Technical Assistance
- Presentations and Lectures on Folklore and Folklife Topics
- Cosponsorship of Folklife Programs
Funders
The New Jersey Folklore Society has been supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and the New Jersey Council on the Humanities.
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