In 1934, Helen Hartness Flanders accompanied by Phillips Barry visited a Mrs. Stankiewiez in Springfield, Vermont and collected ballads on a dictaphone recorder. Both collectors were very excited about this singer. The reason? She sang her ballads in Polish and one of the songs, "Dwie Siostry" turned out to be a version of Child #10 ("Twa Sisters"). I have a fun project related to this ballad and am asking for help.

I am going to Poland for Christmas. I would like to bring this ballad back to Poland as it was recorded here(thank you, Library of Congress) along with the text (thank you, Dick Swain). I would like to meet people like us and to describe this ballad's journey from Poland to Springfield, Vermont. I would also like to bring with me as many "Twa Sisters" versions--known to us here (on tape) as possible to play for folks there. Good friends like Judy Cook and Mary Lamarca have already volunteered to make tapes of their "sisters". No pun intended, ladies.

Here's how I could use help: I would welcome 1)any information or specific contacts of folk people in Warsaw. The people I am staying with are not folkies, but they are willing to arrange for me to meet people, and 2) tapes you might be willing to provide of the "two sisters".

This may or may not work. But the preparation sure is fun!