Trying to raise Carolyn Hester to the status of 'first folk diva' seems a bit unfair to Barbara Dane.

Barbara Dane had a full LP out in the public arena in 1957. Hester may have recorded that same year, but she had nothing released until 1961, therefore not able to really 'influence' that many people. She was also a featured player at the first Newport Folk Festival in 1959, the year that Joan Baez was only a suprise guest.