Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Encyclopedia of American Folklife. Edited by Simon J. Bronner. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe, 2006, 4 vols. 1377 p. $399.00. ISBN 10: 0-7656-8052-1; ISBN-13: 978-0-7656-8052-5.

If you want to get students into this somewhat esoteric topic, ask them to look up "Body Modification and Tattooing" or "Bodybuilders and Weight Lifters," both far beyond what would be the expected contents of customs, songs, stories and tales. The editor defines folklife "socially as tradition-centered communities, locations, or groups, and culturally as the skills, symbols, identities and customs that characterize such groups." The focus here is America as a nation and as a location so that national borders are crossed into Mexico and Canada, and the U.S. Territories of Guam, Somoa and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico are included. While Vol. 1 has a Table of Contents for all 4 vols, the others only cover their own contents. Each has the same "Topic Finder" covering all four. The signed articles have "See Also" references and brief bibliographies. While "Gay Communities" are discussed, no mention is made in the article on "Boy Scouts" to relate the controversy there. Also, the listing of "Holidays" features only Christian holidays, "Chinese Communities" and "Vietnamese Communities," Parades, Picnics, and Thanksgiving with no suggestion that Jewish or African Americans have a separate day that is considered a holiday. The font size makes the text less formidable, and this would encourage a reluctant reader to make the attempt. A few black and while photographs illustrate. Vol. 4 has the 78-page Bibliography and the general index. Research that traces the role of folklife as a strong influence on behavior today can be a compelling assignment that will make these even more useful.