The English Folk Dance and Song Society websites use cookies.
You can read more about cookies and how we use them here.
Continued use of this site implies that you agree to our use of cookies.  

Archive

VWML_VWMLlibrarian_TomokoKinoshita.jpg
books

Library Conference 2022

‘Once more to the mouths of the people’: Ralph Vaughan Williams and Folk Song

Conference: Diversity in Folk

Booking is now open for the annual conference of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. This year’s event will concentrate on racial and ethnic diversity, both historically focused and in contemporary discourse.

Library opening update

The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library is now open, with appointments not needed.

Reassessing our Archives

At the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library we recognise that our library and archive collections contain items with racist language and/or attitudes, or which depict outdated practices. This is especially true of some of the primary sources held in our archive; such views were common at the time of the first folk revival, and continued to manifest themselves in the decades which followed. We retain such items as we believe that it would be wrong to falsify the historical record. We also believe that in order to bring about meaningful change in the present, we must learn from the wrongs of the past; historical writing and objects are important in this process. We value the input of all current and potential users into our process of reassessing our archives. If you would like to speak to VWML staff about any concerns you may have in using our collections, whether online or physically, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are working to flag on the Library catalogue any items of stock which include any discriminatory language, views or images. This is a lengthy process and while we engage in it you may still find examples which are unacceptable to modern readers. We are also undertaking an appraisal of our classification scheme and subject headings in an effort to eliminate any reflections of the colonial world in which they were created. We are serious in our commitment to highlighting the wrongs of history and to fostering intelligent debate and positive progress in the present.

Folk Song Subject Index

VWML is working with a team of volunteers to further populate our unique thematic index of folk song.