This is a special edition of the Missouri Folklore Society Journal (ISSN: 0731-2946), covering volumes 27 and 28 (2005-2006), specially devoted to Missouri folk songs and ballads. The volume covers the work of a number of well-known folk song collectors and performers, with numerous photographs, lyrics, and melody notations. The volume editors are Lyn Wolz (University of Kansas) and Elizabeth Freize (University of Kansas).

This is a collection of stories by master storyteller Loretta Washington covering her years growing up in the bootheal of Missouri, in a small town called Wardell. Many of her stories center around her grandmother Aint Tankie who was the matriarch of her family in Wardell.

"We drafted a call for papers, asking for a range of pieces that tell the story of public sector folklore in Missouri. The response was remarkable, and we ultimately worked with authors of the eight articles collected here. From the integration of traditional artists in public school residencies, to collaborations between a folklorist and a social worker who examine foodways, to the personal journeys of a traditional artist and a late-career folklorist, these articles illustrate the partnerships that are created among folklorists, teachers, and professionals throughout the state and...