Jill Linzee and Charlie Seemann Receive 2023 Benjamin A. Botkin Prize

Each year the Public Programs Section of the American Folklore Society joins with the AFS Executive Board to award the Benjamin A. Botkin Prize of $1,000 to an individual for significant lifetime achievement in public folklore. The 2023 recipients of the Benjamin A. Botkin Prize are Jill Linzee and Charlie Seemann. This prize is given in recognition of the work of Benjamin Botkin 1901 to 1975. Eminent New Deal Era folklorist, National Folklore Editor of the Federal Writers Project, advocate for the public responsibilities of folklorists, author and compiler who have many publications on American folklore for general audiences, and head of the Archive of American Folk Song at the Library of Congress from 1942 to 1945, Botkin has had a major impact on the field of public folklore and on the public understanding of folklore. 

This year, the committee, chaired by Marsha MacDowell, looked at a slate of nominees and presented the award to two individuals: Jill Linzee and Charlie Seemann. “Both individuals had robust portfolios of decades of work in special niches in our society and it was just a delight to be able to award these two individuals,” said MacDowell during the presentation. 

The following messages from our colleagues were written to be read in-person in Portland, Oregon at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Folklore Society. The statements were read by Marsha MacDowell and Jens Lund upon the announcement of the awards.

Jill Linzee (Retired Executive Director of Northwest Heritage Resources): “I’m very sorry not to be with you all in person. My first reaction after receiving the news that I was selected for a Botkin Prize this year was one of shock and disbelief. It’s an extraordinary honor to be in the company of Archie Green, Bess Hawes, and the other Botkin prize winners who have made such important contributions to our field. And there are many other dedicated public folklorists who are very deserving of this award. So I’d like to take this moment to recognize all of you, my friends and colleagues. I have always valued the caring and compassion that each of you bring to your work. It is, I believe, the underlying motivation for doing this work. You bring a depth of cultural understanding, and appreciation, valuable public service, but also hope, light and love to this world. I applaud all of you. I also want to recognize the many cultural tradition bearers, with whom I’ve had the good fortune to work over the past 40 years, for that experience has been its own reward. I sincerely thank you all for this great honor.”

Charlie Seemann (Retired Executive Director, Western Folklife Center): “Dear colleagues, wow, what a wonderful surprise! I got notification of receiving the Botkin Award on my birthday. The best birthday present ever. There is nothing like getting such a nice attaboy from dear and respected colleagues. I regret not being able to join you in Portland, but I’m dealing with some mobility issues that make traveling right now difficult. But I’m definitely with you in spirit. I am honored beyond words to be the recipient of this prize and humbled to be in the company of all the illustrious previous recipients. I hope to join you next year. And a huge thank you to all of you.”