Louisiana Folklore Society

The Louisiana Folklore Society was founded in 1956 with the mission to preserve Louisiana's folklore heritage of stories, songs, traditions, and artifacts, while cultivating and promoting art and literature throughout the state. It incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1962 and by the 1970s and 1980s had refocused toward the study, documentation, and accurate representation of the traditional cultures of Louisiana. During this time the society's leadership included several noted scholars in the folklore field including Francis De Caro, Rosan A. Jordan, Nicolas Spitzer, George F. Reinecke, and Barry Ancelet. In 1989 the society was granted 501(C)(3) status and the organizational mission was expanded to promote education, understanding, and appreciation of folklore in local, national, and international contexts by gathering and disseminating information about folkore, folklife, and folk cultures throughout Louisiana and the United States. The primary activities of the society include publication of an academic journal, hosting annual meetings, and participating in community projects with other cultural organizations.