Please don't overlook the roll women have played in passing the traditional song on to the next generation. As has already been pointed out, women sang lulabyes and sang while doing housework and outside work as well, and for the pre-airwave media the music was an important entertainment. If you could somehow search the Smithsonian recordings they include many field recordings of female singers who were often fairly well known in their community for their songs. Emma Dusenberry of Mena, Arkansas was one of the singers recorded by the Smithsonian. A couple of other Arkansas singers are Almeda Riddle, who achieved some fame in the 60's as a ballad singer when she performed at Newport and other folk festivals. She recorded at least three lps and maybe more, and Ollie Gilbert. Ollie, Aunt Ollie, as she was know around Stone County, Arkansas did not receive the recognition awarded to Almeda, but she was well known locally for her vast repertoire. She is included on vol. 7 of Rounder's series of Southern Mountain music. Some contemporary women who are continuing the ballad tradition are Margaret Nelson of Chicago, Judy Cook of Northern Virginia, Molly Andrews of Northern Virginia, Carol Ponder of North Carolina, and Shelia Adams Taylor of North Carolina. Add Sara Grey, who is now living in Scotland, I believe. Shelia sings a lot of songs which were handed down through her family and would be an excellent person to interview about the role of women in music in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains.

A.