ABSTRACT
In order to make some sense of the larger processes that Folkways has been subjected to and to better describe the place that Folkways occupies in the history of recording, it is best to take a step or two back from the details of its operation. As the scope of Folkways' history is examined, it becomes clear that the position that Folkways holds in relation to the rest of the recording industry is not what would be considered “typical” of a small, independent recording company. In fact, it becomes quite obvious that the defining features of Folkways are to be found in the foundations of production that Folkways was built on. Many of these issues have been touched on earlier in the book, but it will serve the history well to highlight these issues on their own. There are a number of answers to the question of “How did Folkways survive?” Brief discussion of some of the key elements will help to conclude this particular examination of Folkways, and, with some good fortune, will form the starting point for other works investigating other aspects of Folkways' history.
