California Gold: Sidney Robertson and the WPA California Folk Music Project

California Gold is a book that explores the cultural snapshot of a diverse California during the 1930s at the height of the New Deal through the career of folk music collector Sidney Robertson and the musical culture of often-unheard voices. It highlights the ethnographic insights and accomplishments of a significant woman folk music collector who has received less attention.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2024
Publisher: University of California Press

California Gold provides a captivating cultural glimpse into the diverse state of California during the 1930s, at the peak of the New Deal era. This documentary draws upon the remarkable career of folk music collector Sidney Robertson and the musical traditions of often-overlooked voices. Robertson, an adventurous young woman armed only with a map, her notebooks, and the recording equipment of the time, embarked on a groundbreaking initiative known as the WPA California Folk Music Project. Her mission was to survey the rich musical traditions of various English-speaking and immigrant communities in Northern California.

In her book, California Gold, Catherine Hiebert Kerst delves into Robertson's unique and innovative approach to fieldwork. She explores the extensive ethnographic documentary materials that she generated alongside WPA project staff, capturing a diverse cross-section of the music that people actively performed in their communities. Kerst highlights some of the most notable songs, images, and ephemera from the collection, providing a vivid portrayal of the various musical traditions that California immigrant communities showcased during the New Deal era.

Furthermore, Kerst emphasizes the ethnographic insights and achievements of a remarkable woman folk music collector who has received less attention than she deserves. Sidney Robertson's dedication to preserving and documenting the musical heritage of California's diverse communities left an indelible mark on the field of folk music research. Her work not only sheds light on the cultural richness of the state but also contributes to our understanding of the broader social and political context of the New Deal era.

California Gold serves as a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of our communities. Through the lens of Sidney Robertson's remarkable journey and the captivating materials she collected, this documentary offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of California's past and the diverse voices that shaped its musical landscape.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520391314