A compilation of America's premier folk artists and a celebration of their excellence and devotion to their crafts.
This fascinating two volume biographical dictionary by Alan Govenar chronicles the lives of America's most significant folk artists--people dedicated to working in time-honored art forms including, music, dance, crafts, and spoken word traditions. This artistry has often been learned informally by word of mouth or by example. An overview of the first 20 years of the National Heritage Fellowship Program presented by the National Endowment for the Arts to recognize excellence of individual artists and the ongoing ingenuity of different cultural styles, these volumes include an education guide and interactive multimedia.

With over 200 entries of one to two pages, the book covers practitioners of Ghanian American drumming, Puerto Rican carnival mask making, Shaker hymn singing, Czech American egg decorating, knotted bedspread making, and more. Also included are an extensive bibliography, discography, and filmography of available recordings, publications, films, and videos, and a resource list.
- A-Z encyclopedia of biographies of every National Heritage Fellowship recipient of the past 20 years

- Many photographs documenting the artists practicing their crafts

- An appendix listing the recipients of the Bess Lomax Hawes Award, created in 2000 to recognize artists whose contributions have greatly benefited their artistic tradition

- A selected bibliography, discography, webography, and filmography of available print, recordings, films, and videos compiled from materials at the National Endowment for the Arts, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution, among others