The German Folksong Archive: Fiftieth Anniversary

Abstract

When the Association of German Folklore Societies (Verband deutscher Vereine fiir Volkskunde) held its first conference in the fall of 1905, the Germanist John Meier of Base1 suggested that a collection of German folksongs be compiled and published. This plan was agreed to by all present and was to be realized within the framework of a central research institute. However, it was not until financial difficulties could be overcome that the founding of the German Folksong Archive (Deutsches Volksliedarchiv) in Freiburg im Breisgau could take place on May 1, 1914.