Kathy Shimberg, November 13, 2024

Item

Title: Kathy Shimberg, November 13, 2024
interviewee: Kathy Shimberg
interviewer: Joslyn Sperry
Date: 2024-11-13
Subject: Cooperstown
Folklife
Music
Fiddle
Cooperstown Graduate Program
Washington, D.C.
San Francisco
Description: Kathy Shimberg was born in 1937 in Washington D.C. Kathy’s life has been strongly influenced by her love of music, which led her into the study of folklife and folk music. Kathy is an accomplished musician on multiple instruments, including the piano, fiddle, banjo, and guitar.

Kathy talks about how her childhood influenced her as she learned music from some well-known musicians in the folk music community, but also how her experiences influenced her views on folk music.

I interviewed Kathy in my home in Cooperstown, New York. I have chosen to edit Kathy's speech slightly for the sake of easier reading. I have omitted a few words and added a few for clarity, but I have not changed the feel or the meaning of her words. As it is impossible to reproduce the subtleties of speech in writing, I encourage researchers to consult the audio recording.
Time Summary: TRACK 1, 2:10 – Family background

TRACK 1, 5:00 – Impactful musical experiences

TRACK 1, 11:30 – Relationship with Ruth Crawford Seeger

TRACK 1, 14:00 - Relationship with Elizabeth Cotton

TRACK 1, 18:00 – Musical interests

TRACK 1, 22:00 – Time in California

TRACK 1, 28:00 – Stories about Joel Shimberg

TRACK 2, 3:00 – Time at the Smithsonian

TRACK 2, 11:00 – Relationship with New York Folklore

TRACK 2, 16:00 – Fieldwork experiences

TRACK 2, 25:00 – CGP Thesis

TRACK 3, 00:00 – Contra-dancing
Creator: Joslyn Sperry
Publisher: Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York at Oneonta
Rights: Cooperstown Graduate Association, Cooperstown, NY

New York Folklore, Schenectady, NY
Language: en-US