This year the Festival of American Folklife will begin a new theme presentation entitled Working Americans. The presentation of working peoples' skills, crafts, and lore began in 1971 and continued in 1972 when the presentation was known as the Union Workers Exhibit, featuring ten member unions of the AFL-CIO.

Working Americans differs from these earlier efforts in numerous ways, most substantially in the consideration of how working people serve human needs and how their skills and expressions have shaped a major national festival to celebrate the nation's 200th birthday.

Looking back to 1876, when America celebrated her 100th birthday with a huge international fair in the city of Philadelphia, we can gain a perspective of the Smithsonian Institution's involvement. Two great exhibit halls--the Industrial Hall and the Machine Hall--were a major attraction in Philadelphia. These halls presented exciting exhibits which were intended to represent "the flower and first fruition of the seed planted by patriotism."