Dr. Ellen McHale, November 24, 2025
Item
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Title
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Dr. Ellen McHale, November 24, 2025
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interviewee
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Dr. Ellen McHale
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interviewer
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Olivia Neumann
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Date
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2025-11-24
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Subject
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American Folklore Society
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Archie Green Fellowship
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Capoeira
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Devesh Chandra
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Dr. Harold Thompson
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Folk art
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Folklorist
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Herencia Cultural Mexicana
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Louis C. Jones
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Local Learning
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National Endowment for the Arts
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New York Folklore Society
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Saratoga Racetrack
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Schoharie River Center
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Veena Chandra
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Description
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Dr. Ellen McHale lives in Charleston, New York and is the current Executive Director of the New York Folklore Society (NYF) on Jay Street in Schenectady, New York. She has a bachelor’s degree in music and American Studies from Wesleyan University, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ellen’s relationship with NYF began when she participated in its annual conferences and meetings. She was later invited to be the membership coordinator for the organization, until she became the board president from 1990 to 1994. After briefly stepping away, Ellen returned and became the executive director of NYF in 1999, after the first director, John Suter, departed from the organization. In this role, Ellen is a spokesperson, overseeing an expansive, statewide network of folk artists and folk cultural specialists. She is an editor of a scholarly journal for the organization, “Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore.” She also conducts numerous projects for the organization, including a partnership with Local Learning, a national organization that teaches folk artists through educational programming. As of February 2025, Ellen has been a part of NYF for 26 years.
In the interview, Ellen discusses a wide range of topics from the history of NYF, the evolution of folklore studies, community partnerships, and educational initiatives. She also shares her career journey and recent work at NYF, discussing a range of cultural and educational programs. She details her research and achievements, including receiving the Archie Green Fellowship from the Library of Congress in 2012, conducting fieldwork with Saratoga racetrack workers, and her interest in environmental research. The interview highlights Ellen’s experience as executive director and her efforts to support the maintenance and cultivation of New York State’s diverse folklore traditions.
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Time Summary
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Track 1, 05:26 - Career
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Track 1, 13:58 - New York Folklore History
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Track 1, 32:02 - Partnerships
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Track 1, 44:44 - Education
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Track 1, 55:26 - Projects and fieldwork
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Track 1, 01:07:30 - Advice
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Creator
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Olivia Neumann
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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
