Description: Folklife presentation, education, and research began at the Smithsonian Institution in 1967 with the first annual Festival of American Folklife held on the National Mall. To this day, the festival features performers, crafts people, and community groups from the United States and foreign countries. The festival was started by folklorist Ralph C. Rinzler (1934-1994). Originally
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="419" caption="S. Dillon Ripley (1913-2001), Smithsonian Secretary (1964-1984), Mrs. Mary Livingston Ripley (d. 1996) and their partners dance a waltz at the National Associates Program's Contributing Membership ball, 1984, by Unknown photographer, Photographic print, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 371 Box 4 Folder