Good people, these are tremendously important collections. I am especially familiar with the Helene Stratman Thomas collection. (See the great book called: FOLK SONGS OUT OF WISCONSIN---An Illustrated Compendium Of Words And Music---edited by Harry B. Peters (Published by the State Historical Society Of Wisconsin). This entire lovely volume was created from the collecting work done by Helene S. Thomas and her partners on the Wisconsin land.

Several years ago, Judy Rose, recently retired from hosting the folk radio show called SIMPLY FOLK, did a wonderful series of broadcasts on Wisconsin Public Radio called A Wisconsin Patchwork. She divided the shows by music type:

1)intro. and Lumbering Songs

2)Wisconsin Compositions -- Wisc. Instrumental Ensembles

3) The Homeland---Religious Music

4) Work Songs---fiddle music

5) Wisc. Instrumental Music---Mixed Bag (humor)

6)Judy Rose's Favorites----1940 recording trials and tribulations

7) Helene Stratman Thomas As A Collector

This was simply radio at it's very best! The songs and the performances present a graphic piture of our meltingpot in action. You are now lucky enough to be living at a time when hearing this good collection is as easy as clicking your mouse. I've got JUDY ROSE's whole series on cassettes and these shows have given me untold hours of thorough transcendant pleasure while driving to gigs all over Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Now it seems that you have these performances too. Don't let the chance to hear these get away from you.

I'll get back to this thread with specific recommendations soon. Tonight I am, of necessity, into other things. ENJOY!!!

Art Thieme