Sidney Robertson Cowell's Folksongs of the American West

Sidney Robertson Cowell was an American folk researcher and assistant to Charles Seeger, chief of the Music Unit, Special Skills Division (KL), in the Resettlement Administration in Washington, DC (LoC). She also served as the main activists leading the effort to collect folksongs from the many immigrant groups to the US. In 1938 she received an endorsement from the Music Division of the Library of Congress along with 200 acetate discs. The understanding was that this collection from California would be part of the Library's Archives of American Folksongs. This was a huge endeavor and effort. It would have been a monumental task for anyone. However it being the 1930's and her being a woman made this enterprise more tremendous. Hindered by social norms and an archaic idea of women's role in society it is a marvel that she collected more than 35 hours of folksongs, in 12 languages from 185 musicians!

Her work is considered to be the first ethnographic study of migrants living in the United State. She was paving the way for future research and for women in general.

She gave a voice to the people that left their homelands to find the "American Dream". Her inclusion of their stories, intruments and traditions to the American Archives is tantamount to bringing these people into the folds of American culture. For these people who were able to lend their histories to the nation this had to have been supremely uplifting and encouraging. They were all Americans now, their history is our history.

Take a listen to the folk songs she collected from immigrants from Armenia, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Nova Scotia.

Bedros Haroutunian playing kamanche, portrait, photograph

This is Bedros Haroutunian, from Armenia, performing Armenian and Armeno-Turkish music on the kamanche.

This is Bedros Haroutunian , and Armenian immigrant playing another Armenian/ Turkish instrument called the qanun.

Thodur Einarsson and John Olafson, group portrait, photograph

This is John Olafson, an Icelandic immigrant singing about saying goodbye to his sweetheart .

John Soininen, half-length portrait, photograph

This is John Soininen, he is a Finnish immigrant singing a drinking song.

Mr. Franks playing an English guitar, Manuel Lemos and Alberto Mendes playing violas d'arame, group portrait, photograph

Portuguese Americans, Mr. Franks, Manuel Lemos and Alberto Mendes playing violas d'arame. Mr. Franks plays an English guitar.

Peurto Rican performer, Aurora Calderon, sings the national song of Peurto Rico in Oakland, California.

Lottie Espinosa playing the guitar, half-length portrait, photograph

Ms. Lottie Espinosa, of Pacific Grove, California sings a spanish love song "my sweetheart".

Mary A. McDonald, seated, facing left, portrait, photograph

Mary A. McDonald performing Gaelic songs from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Library of Congress. "Sidney Robertson Cowell, Ethnographer and Folk Music Collector". California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell. Accessed 12/1/2019. https://www.loc.gov/collections/sidney-robertson-cowell-northern-california-folk-music/articles-and-essays/sidney-robertson-cowell-ethnographer-and-folk-music-collector/

All music and photos are courtesy of the Library of Congress Digital Collection " California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell". Accessed 12/1/2019. https://www.loc.gov/collections/sidney-robertson-cowell-northern-california-folk-music/