George Ward, November 18th, 2024
Item
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Title
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George Ward, November 18th, 2024
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interviewee
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George Ward
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interviewer
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Justin Maroney
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Date
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2024-11-18
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Subject
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Adirondacks
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Cooperstown Graduate Program
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Cooperstown, New York
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Erie Canal
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Folklife
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Folklore
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Folk Music
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Lawrence Older
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Long Island
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Louis C. Jones
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New York Folklore Society
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Quakers
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Vic Kibler
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Description
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George Ward is an accomplished folklorist and musician with an extensive repertoire of Erie Canal folk songs. Mr. Ward was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1938, but was raised largely on Long Island. While at Union College in the early 1960s, George met Lawrence Older and developed a deep interest in folk music.
Mr. Ward and his wife, Vaughn, further developed their shared passion for folklore at the Cooperstown Graduate Program. A member of the 1969 class, Mr. Ward worked with a variety of tradition bearers, especially in folk music and agrarian practices. After graduation, Mr. Ward was an educator and performer of these traditions, and he is still actively giving musical performances today.
I interviewed Mr. Ward at his home in Rexford, New York. He had just recently performed a set of Erie Canal songs at a local museum. As such, his recent gig and future performances became a topic.
Mr. Ward kindly performed a song at the end of the recording, the musical aspects of which are impossible to fully convey in this format. Researchers are encouraged to consult the audio for further listening.
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Time Summary
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Track 1, 0:00 - Family
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Track 1, 8:44 - School
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Track 1, 14:00 - College
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Track 2, 2:54 - Cooperstown Graduate Program
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Track 2, 15:30 - Career
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Track 2, 22:42 - Erie Canal Folk Music
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Track 3, 0:00 - Musical Performance
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Creator
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Justin Maroney
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Publisher
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Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York at Oneonta
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Rights
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Cooperstown Graduate Association, Cooperstown, NY
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Language
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en-US
Ward_Photo_11-18-24.JPG