The Festival of American Folklife is interested in certain kinds of "gifts" the various immigrants brought with them, particularly those that fall under the rubric of folklore or folklife. At the Festival held in Washington during the summer of 1975, we invited a family from New York to share with us and the Festival visitors a tradition of nearly life size marionettes which had been in their family for five generations. The Manteo marionette show, presenting a part of the saga of Orlando (Roland), was an immense favorite with the crowds who came to see the "Old Ways in the New World" section of the Festival.

On a bitter cold Sunday, in January this year, in a church hall on Bleeker Street, a number of the Manteos met and shared with me their knowledge of and feelings about the marionettes and the part they have played in the life of the family. Michael Manteo, ·whom I will call Papa, introduced himself with these words: "I am Michael--they call me Papa--Manteo; I live after my father's name. I'll carry his name until as far as I can do it."