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Article
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Historical Background

For Teachers 9th - 10th
What is American roots music? The term "American roots music" may not be a familiar one, and requires some explanation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the term "folk music" was used by scholars to describe music made by whites of...
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Website
Other

Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
The consummate resource for extensive information about folk singer Woody Guthrie. Includes a great biography with photos and quotes plus publications, special projects, and events.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets

For Students 9th - 10th
Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.
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Primary
Contemplator

Popular Songs in American History: Rosalie, the Prairie Flower

For Students 9th - 10th
This page presents the lyrics to a famous folk song of the nineteenth century.
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Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: Seeger, Pete

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Pennsylvania provides a brief biography of American folk icon, Pete Seeger. The biography focuses on Seeger's political stance as well as his music, since the two are so often intertwined. Article is by Richard Taskin,...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Etta Baker

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Etta Baker, an American folk musician who influenced the folk music revival of the 1950s and '60s with her mastery of East Coast Piedmont blues, a unique fingerpicking style of...