The Ballad Collectors of North America ─ How Gathering Folksongs Transformed Academic Thought and American Identity

Both biographical and topical, The Ballad Collectors of North America chronicles those individuals most influential in the gathering of North American folksongs and investigates the two leading schools of thought regarding the collection process, the leading proponents of those schools, and the projects shaped by them. Contributors also reflect on the role of technology—especially the phonograph—in the collection efforts and the impact of that technology. Ballad Collectors considers the larger role of ballads in the development of American identity, from the national appreciation of cowboy songs in popular culture to the use of Appalachian song forms in radio broadcasts to the role of dustbowl ballads in the urban folk revival.

Scott Spencer has published widely on the intersections of oral cultures, new technologies, and expression of cultural identity. He received a doctorate in ethnomusicology from New York University for his project on aspects of traditional Irish music in today's media age.