Kahn, Ed

Scholar and folklorist, Ed Kahn was born in Indianapolis, Ind., on 5 July 1938. He attended Oberlin College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Folklore and Mythology from the University of California Los Angeles. He went on to receive a Ph.D. from UCLA in 1970. While Kahn was pursuing his doctorate, he also taught courses in folklore and folksong in UCLA's evening school program. An edited version of his dissertation, The Carter Family: A Reflection of Changes in Society, focusing on the chapters related to Mexican border radio, was later published in JEMF Quarterly #30 as: International Relations, Dr. Brinkley, and Hillbilly Music.

Ed Kahn devoted much of his life to the study of American folk songs, radio broadcasting, and early country music and recording history. He conducted extensive field research and wrote at length about both Merle Travis and the Carter Family. Kahn was was involved in the creation of the John Edwards Memorial Foundation (JEMF), along with Archie Green, D. K. Wilgus, Fred Hoeptner, and Eugene Earle. He was initially appointed Executive Secretary of the JEMF and was instrumental in starting the JEMF Quarterly newsletter.

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