The Festival of American Folklife is a living laboratory of American culture offering curricula appropriate to the study of man. The 1974 participants number 700 and represent 15 Indian tribes, nine participating organizations and unions, eight foreign nations and the State of Mississippi.

The Festival was prepared by more than 30 scholars, specialists and field researchers who have attempted to define who comprises America and, wherever possible, to establish connections with roots and traditions. In order to insure that the Festival is carefully planned in accordance with the current knowledge of scholars in the various fields of folklore,