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Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

Grid of six black-and-white photographs of a crowded outdoor event.

These Photos Visualize the Legacy of Peter Spencer, Founder of America’s First Independent Black Church

Six elder Black women pose on a grassy hillside, each holding an enlarged black-and-white photo of a schoolhouse, protestors with signs, and a class photo.

The Mothers Who Marched for Equality in Hillsboro, Ohio

A vibrant parade on the National Mall with participants in colorful costumes, carrying flags and banners, in front of the United States Capitol building. Text is overlaid on the image that reads: Culture Of, By, and For the People

Smithsonian Folklife Festival Goes National for the United States’ 250th Anniversary

In the courtyard of a wooden home with tiled roof and carved doorways, strings of orange persimmons hang from a bamboo pole hung along an eave.

Our Director Reflects on “Culture of Everyday Life” and K-Culture after Visiting South Korea

Three men, two holding acoustic guitars, pose in front of a festival tent.

A Life in Folklore: Frank Proschan’s Community Work and New Internship Endowment

Two people in grass skirts stand on the shore, facing the ocean under an overcast sky.

Shared Experiences Through the Ongoing Virtual Mother Tongue Film Festival

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How I Visit with Houma Relatives in the Smithsonian’s Archival Collections

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The Millville Rose: Artifacts of Whimsy and Art in Industry

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The History Behind Argentina’s Unofficial Anthem for the 2022 World Cup

Grid of four old film stills, each showing the same young man: holding up a camera to his eye, smirking, smoking a cigarette, and posing with an older woman.

How a Filmmaker Discovered a Powerful Message in a Box of Old Home Movies

Suffragists stand holding a banner quoting Susan B. Anthony: "No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her sex."

The Lasting Legacy of Suffragists at the Lorton Women’s Workhouse

Two civilians look at a poster featuring the face of Martin Luther King Jr., his head depicted beneath the words 'Nonviolence... Our Most Potent Weapon.'

MLK's Unswerving Commitment to Nonviolent Activism

A young girl poses outside a building, wearing a dark coat, layers of skirts, and a kerchief over her hair, holding a broom in one hand and a kettle in the other. Black-and-white photo.

The Swedish Witch Trials Teach Us How to Confront Dark Heritage

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