Effsee, that opens up a wide variety of ideas. The first name that came to mind was Cyril Tawney, who seemed like one of the nicest folk performers a person could ever come across. He wrote very approachable songs like "Grey Funnel Line, and he was a great performer in front of children.
Cisco Houston is another "Man With a Guitar" to study, along with Ed McCurdy and Oscar Brand.
Priscilla Herdman and Deb Cowan are two women with wonderful voices who choose the best of songs from songwriters and traditional sources.
-Joe-