I'd like to know how HHF became interested in the pursuit of old songs and ballads in the first place. She could have been playing Bridge and drinking tea with the others ladies of her time and class. Instead, whe was wandering all over Vermont (and parts of New York) recording the songs of old geezers on their farms and in their woodlots. She even had sufficient funds to publish much of what she collected. Amazing woman!

Most of the songs we know from her collection have been learned from her books. This is partly because, when we were living in Vermont, Horace Beck was the keeper of the gate that guarded her collection at Middlebury. We went there once, hoping to listen to some of the material. Had a pleasant visit with Horace and his wife, and were told that access to the collection was restricted, sorry. So much for that. That was many years ago, of course, and thing may have changed in the interim. I certainly hope so. Margaret MacArthur could tell us how things stand at the present moment. Are you a lurker, Margaret?

Sandy