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Steve Roud
Steve Roud
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Roud speaking about The Full English website at Clare College, Cambridge in March 2014

Steve Roud (/rd/; born 1949)[1] is the creator of the Roud Folk Song Index and an expert on folklore and superstition. He was formerly Local Studies Librarian for the London Borough of Croydon and Honorary Librarian of the Folklore Society.[2]

Life and career

[edit]

Roud Folk Song Index

[edit]

The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of over 240,000[3] references to nearly 25,000 songs collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world. It began in around 1970 as a personal project, listing the source singer (if known), their locality, the date of noting the song, the publisher (book or recorded source), plus other fields, and crucially assigning a number to each song, including all variants (now known as the 'Roud number'). The system initially used 3x5-inch filing cards in shoeboxes.[1][4] In 1993, Roud implemented his record system on a computer database, which he continues to expand and maintain and which is now hosted on the website of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.[5]

In the past few years the numbers have been widely accepted in academic circles.[1]

Writings

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Since 2000, Roud has written a range of volumes on folklore, calendar customs and folk music. A number of these have met with substantial acclaim; 2003's The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland was awarded the Folklore Society's prestigious Katharine Briggs Award for the outstanding folklore-related book of the year.[6] 2006's The English Year, which summarises the calendar customs of the British ritual year, was hailed by The Independent as "a rich and wonderful compendium."[7] The Lore of the Playground, Roud's 2010 exploration of the way children's games evolve and transmit through an oral tradition, was praised in publications including The Spectator and The Yorkshire Post, with The Sunday Times describing it as "a delightful compendium".[8]

Roud's later works on folk music, which build upon the deep research embodied in the Roud Index, have also met with strong reviews. The Daily Telegraph called 2012's The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (co-edited with music specialist Julia Bishop) "(a)n impressive and nourishing book, with an appeal far beyond the folk aficionado",[9] with similar praise coming from The Times,[10] Record Collector[11] and The Independent.[12] Writing in The Guardian, Kathryn Hughes described Folk Song in England (2017) as a "monumental history of the English folk song".[13]

Awards

[edit]

In 2004, Roud was the winner of the Folklore Society's Katharine Briggs Folklore Award for The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland.[6]

In 2009, Roud was one of five people to be awarded the Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. This award recognises "those who have made unique or outstanding contributions to the art or science of folk dance, music or song, and/or those who have given exceptional support in furthering the aims of the Society".[14]

In 2014, Roud was given the Walford Award by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals' Information Services Group. His 2012 book with Julia Bishop, The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, had won the Reference Award the previous year.[15]

Personal life

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Roud lives and works with his wife in Somersham, Cambridgeshire, England.[2]

Books

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  • (with Jacqueline Simpson) A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000. ISBN 019210019X.
  • (with Eddie Cass) Room, Room, Ladies and Gentlemen: an introduction to the English Mummers' play. London: English Folk Dance and Song Society/Folklore Society. 2002. ISBN 9780854181858.[16]
  • The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland. London: Penguin. 2003. ISBN 0141006730.[17]
  • A Pocket Guide to Superstitions of the British Isles. London: Penguin. 2004. ISBN 9780140515497. OCLC 59266481.[18]
  • The English Year: a month-by-month guide to the nation's customs and festivals, from May Day to Mischief Night. London: Penguin. 2006. ISBN 9780140515541.[19]
  • London Lore: the legends and traditions of the world's most vibrant city. London: Random House. 2008. ISBN 9781847945112.[20]
  • Monday's Child is Fair of Face: ... and other traditional beliefs about babies and motherhood. London: Random House. 2008. ISBN 9781905211524.
  • The Lore of the Playground : one hundred years of children's games, rhymes and traditions. London: Random House. 2010. ISBN 9781905211517.[21]
  • (with Julia Bishop) The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. London: Penguin Classics. 2012. ISBN 9780141194615.[22]
  • (with David Atkinson) Street ballads in nineteenth-century Britain, Ireland, and North America : the interface between print and oral traditions. London: Routledge. 2016. ISBN 978-1-315-61104-4. OCLC 950004851.[23]
  • Folksong in England. London: Faber. 2017. ISBN 9780571309719. OCLC 920720540.[24]
  • (with David Atkinson) Street Literature of the Long Nineteenth Century. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2017. ISBN 9781443894999.[25]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Steve Roud (born 1949) is a British folklorist, , and retired renowned for his extensive work on English-language traditional songs, , and superstitions. He is the creator of the , a comprehensive database cataloging nearly 25,000 folk songs with over 250,000 references drawn from oral traditions across the , including , Appalachia, and the Caribbean. This index, hosted by the , has become an indispensable resource for scholars, performers, and genealogists studying history. Roud grew up in during the folk revival, where his early interest in community singing and sparked a lifelong passion for . Self-taught as a historian without formal university training, he began his career as a librarian in , where he served as Local Studies Librarian for the London Borough of Croydon until his retirement. In 1970, he started compiling the Folk Song Index manually using index cards in shoeboxes, a project that evolved through digitization in the and expanded over more than 50 years into a global collaborative effort. He also held the position of Honorary Librarian for the Society for over 15 years, contributing to the preservation and study of British cultural traditions. Roud has authored and co-authored numerous influential books on folklore, including A Dictionary of English Folklore (2000, with Jacqueline Simpson), which provides detailed entries on over 1,250 folk customs, beliefs, and figures from British history; The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland (2006); The English Year: The British Calendar Customs and Ceremonies (2006); Folk Song in England (2017), a 700-page historical analysis of English folk song traditions; and London Lore: The Legends and Traditions of the World's Most Populous City (2001). As an editor, he compiled The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (2012), selecting widely performed traditional songs with historical context. His research emphasizes evidence-based approaches, drawing on archival sources to trace the social and cultural contexts of folk practices. In recognition of his contributions, Roud received the Gold Badge from the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 2009, an award honoring outstanding service to English traditional music and dance. More recently, on October 30, 2025, awarded him an honorary Doctor of the University degree for transforming scholarly and public understanding of folk songs through documentation and cataloging. Now a freelance researcher and Chair of the Traditional Song Forum, Roud continues to influence by making vast collections accessible online, through workshops, and recent public engagements such as the WIRED video series "Historian Answers Folklore Questions" (November 2025).

Early life and education

Family background

Steve Roud was born in 1949 in , . He was the last of four children in a left-leaning, lower-middle-class family during the post-war period. The family dynamics were shaped by strong socialist values and a commitment to community activities, particularly through their involvement in movement, which Roud joined in 1955 along with the rest of his family. This organization emphasized cooperation, internationalism, and the lives of working people, creating a home environment where discussions of and collective traditions were commonplace. Although his parents had no personal tradition of singing, the Woodcraft Folk's integration of folk dancing and communal songs as everyday pursuits sparked Roud's early curiosity about oral narratives and cultural customs. Growing up in , Roud was immersed in the local milieu of post-war recovery, where neighborhood interactions and family provided initial exposure to everyday traditions and oral histories. His mother's support for his budding interest in collecting and organizing records—providing index cards for his childhood filing system—further encouraged a methodical approach to exploring stories and songs from his surroundings. This environment laid the groundwork for his lifelong fascination with as a reflection of ordinary people's experiences.

Self-education and entry into librarianship

Roud attended a grammar school in south London but left at the age of 16 without any qualifications, having frittered away his education due to idleness and lack of focus. His family's left-leaning background and involvement in the Woodcraft Folk had sparked an early interest in stories, singing, and folk activities, but formal schooling did not hold his attention. Following school, Roud spent several years in the drifting through dead-end laboring jobs, a period he later described as "dossing around." Influenced by his , who was already working in a , he entered the service in the late , where he quickly discovered a passion for archival work and the organization of information. This entry into librarianship came without prior formal training, marking the beginning of his professional path in a field that aligned with his innate organizational tendencies. He later earned a degree in Library & Information Science at North London Polytechnic in his early thirties to formalize his qualifications. As a self-taught enthusiast, Roud built his knowledge of and through unrestricted access to resources, devouring collections, social histories, and related materials that fueled his growing expertise. His teenage habit of meticulously cataloging pop records on index cards—using shoeboxes provided by his mother—laid the groundwork for systematic research methods, which he expanded into . In his initial roles within , he honed practical skills in cataloging and research, transforming his informal learning into professional competence. This self-directed approach not only shaped his research habits but also compensated for the absence of early qualifications, enabling a career built on curiosity and hands-on experience.

Career

Local studies librarian

Steve Roud was appointed Local Studies Librarian for the London Borough of in the 1970s, a position he held until his retirement. His self-education in and laid the groundwork for this career in librarianship. In this role, Roud served as Head of the Local Studies Library and Archives, where his primary responsibilities included curating and preserving collections on history, local , and community traditions. He managed archival materials such as , photographs, and records of regional customs, ensuring their accessibility for researchers and the public while emphasizing the interplay between tangible history and oral traditions. Roud developed innovative indexing systems for these local materials, creating organized catalogs that facilitated efficient retrieval and analysis of diverse resources, a practice that anticipated his later contributions to broader documentation. These systems incorporated detailed classifications for folklore elements, such as songs and rituals tied to Croydon's communities, enhancing the library's utility as a hub for cultural preservation. To promote public engagement, Roud contributed to educational through lectures, workshops, and exhibits on regional and songs, drawing on the 's collections to illuminate South London's folk heritage for diverse audiences. His efforts included courses that connected library resources with community interests, fostering greater appreciation for traditional practices.

Honorary roles in folklore

Steve Roud served as Honorary Librarian of the Folklore Society for over fifteen years, where he managed the society's extensive archives, catalogued materials, and enhanced public access to folklore resources. In this volunteer capacity, he organized the library's collections, facilitated research for scholars and enthusiasts, and contributed to the preservation of historical documents on British folklore traditions. His tenure significantly strengthened the society's role as a hub for by improving archival organization and promoting wider scholarly engagement. Roud collaborated closely with the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), particularly on the of resources, including hosting the Roud Indexes on the (VWML) website to make vast collections of folk and broadsides accessible online. He also participated in EFDSS events, such as delivering online seminars on the of traditional , which supported educational outreach and resource sharing within the folk community. These efforts extended to joint projects like the Devon Tradition initiative, where he served as a catalogue consultant, advising on the and integration of the Baring-Gould folk into national preservation platforms. In advisory capacities, Roud provided consultations to academic bodies and preservation projects, including guidance on cataloguing for folklore archives associated with institutions like the EFDSS and regional libraries. He also contributed to the Folklore Society's committee work, rejoining later in his career to influence policy on research and scholarship. Through these roles, Roud bridged amateur and professional folklorists by editing society newsletters, organizing meetings that encouraged cross-level participation, and advocating for inclusive access to publications and events that democratized knowledge.

Roud Folk Song Index

The originated in the early 1970s when Steve Roud began compiling it as a personal project to systematically track variants of traditional folk songs, using 5x3-inch index cards stored in shoeboxes. This manual system was driven by the need to organize the diverse and often overlapping versions of songs encountered in oral traditions, broadsides, and recordings, allowing for better understanding of their evolution and distribution. Roud's approach addressed the challenges of folk song identification, where titles and could vary significantly across regions and time periods, by grouping related variants under a single entry. The index's methodology centers on assigning a unique sequential "Roud number" to each distinct , regardless of its variants, while cross-referencing thousands of sources such as printed broadsides, commercial recordings, field collections, and manuscripts dating back to the 1500s. For example, a like "The Gypsy Laddie" (Roud 1) aggregates over 500 references from different collectors and locations, enabling researchers to trace transmission patterns without duplicating entries for minor textual differences. Sources are drawn from English-language traditions worldwide, including the , , , and beyond, focusing on passed through rather than composed works. This rigorous, non-hierarchical cataloging avoids subjective judgments on authenticity, preserving all documented instances for scholarly analysis. In the 1980s, Roud began digitizing the index using a computer database, transitioning from physical cards to a searchable electronic format that expanded its accessibility and utility. Today, it is hosted by the of the English and Song Society, containing around 250,000 references to nearly 25,000 distinct songs, with ongoing contributions from researchers and collectors ensuring regular updates. Free online access has been available since the early 2000s via the library's website, making it a cornerstone resource for by facilitating global queries on song provenance, popularity, and cultural spread. The index has profoundly impacted scholarship by serving as a standard reference tool, enabling detailed analyses of song transmission across centuries and geographies, and supporting interdisciplinary work in , history, and . Post-2020 expansions have included integrations of audio recordings, enhanced location-based searches, and broader inclusion of international variants from non-Anglophone contexts where English-language songs have taken root, further enriching its digital framework through collaborative inputs. These developments have solidified its role as an evolving, open-access that democratizes access to traditional song heritage.

Writings

Non-fiction books

Steve Roud's non-fiction books represent a systematic exploration of British , emphasizing drawn from historical records, contemporary accounts, and fieldwork to demystify popular traditions without romanticizing their origins. His works, published primarily by Penguin and Faber, have influenced public understanding of by prioritizing verifiable sources over myth, contributing to a more grounded appreciation of cultural practices in and beyond. Roud's approach consistently avoids speculative narratives, instead cataloging entries with references to primary documents and surveys, which has earned his books recognition as authoritative references in folk studies. Co-authored with Jacqueline Simpson, A Dictionary of (2000, ) provides an alphabetical with over 1,250 entries on British folk customs, beliefs, characters, and rituals, drawing on historical sources to trace origins and evolutions without unsubstantiated claims of ancient pagan roots. The book covers topics from festivals and fairy lore to everyday superstitions, serving as a foundational resource for scholars and enthusiasts by emphasizing documented evidence over legend. The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and (2003), published by Penguin, compiles over 1,000 superstitions from across the , organized alphabetically for easy reference and spanning topics from black cats to finger-crossing. Roud traces many beliefs to their 18th- and 19th-century emergence rather than ancient pagan roots, using historical texts and collections to challenge assumptions of timeless antiquity, such as linking the unlucky number 13 to a 1697 publication rather than biblical events. The book's exhaustive yet accessible style, blending familiar and obscure entries like remedies for bed-wetting with roast mice, was praised for its illuminating debunking of romanticized , though some critics noted its occasionally dry catalog format. It has become a standard resource for understanding modern magical thinking as a response to everyday uncertainties. In The English Year (2006), also from Penguin, Roud examines England's calendar customs, festivals, and seasonal traditions month by month, covering events from to and drawing on medieval origins to Victorian innovations. His research highlights the persistence of community rituals like the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss while addressing their evolution amid societal changes, such as declining participation among youth, and debunks misconceptions about pagan versus Christian influences. Illustrated with photographs and presented in a chronological format, the book balances historical analysis with humor, making it an indispensable guide to the nation's ritual year, as described by reviewers who lauded its richness and essential status in any civilized library. This work underscores Roud's commitment to source-based inquiry, revealing how customs reflect broader social attitudes over time. London Lore: The Legends and Traditions of the World's Most Vibrant City (2001, with paperback editions in 2008 and 2010 by ) delves into urban specific to , encompassing local superstitions, ghost stories, annual customs, and place-based myths tied to streets and landmarks. Roud's empirical method involves sifting through historical and oral traditions to separate verifiable lore from embellished tales, emphasizing the city's deep-rooted yet evolving cultural fabric. The book has been appreciated for its enchanting yet critical survey of London's hidden traditions, reinforcing Roud's influence in making urban accessible and credible. The Lore of the Playground: One Hundred Years of Children's Games, Rhymes and Traditions (2010, Arrow Books) surveys playground culture through games, rhymes, and rituals like , British Bulldog, and counting-out verses such as "eeny, meeny, miny, mo," based on interviews with individuals aged 8 to 80 and an online survey capturing regional variations. Roud's source-driven analysis traces these elements from the late onward, highlighting their adaptability and the interplay between adult influences and child innovation without idealizing childhood innocence. Critics have commended its meticulous recording and comprehensive picture of evolving children's lore, positioning it as a key text for understanding informal cultural transmission. Roud's Folk Song in England (2017, Faber & Faber), co-authored with Julia Bishop for musical chapters, provides a historical overview of English folk song evolution from the to the present, incorporating examples from the to illustrate shifts in composition, performance, and collection. Employing a rigorous, evidence-based , Roud critiques notions of authenticity and romantic revivalism, showing how folk songs emerged from everyday social contexts rather than isolated rural purity. At over 700 pages, the monumental volume has been hailed as a landmark in scholarship, significantly shaping contemporary views on the genre's cultural role.

Edited collections

Steve Roud has made significant editorial contributions to collections of English folk songs and scholarly anthologies, drawing on his expertise in the to curate materials that highlight historical variants and printed sources. His most prominent work in this area is The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (2012), co-edited with musicologist Julia Bishop, which updates the 1959 Penguin edition by and . This collection features 151 songs, organized into ten thematic sections such as those addressing soldiers, love, and death, with an emphasis on broadside ballads from the 18th and 19th centuries. The selections prioritize diversity from archival and printed sources over songs popularized in modern performances, incorporating lesser-known discoveries alongside classics, each accompanied by , annotations on variants, historical contexts, and first printed appearances traced through the Roud Index. Roud's editorial approach underscores authenticity by focusing on textual origins and cultural evolution, often challenging romanticized notions of "ancient" traditions as later inventions, such as Victorian-era customs. This philosophy ensures a comprehensive representation of England's folk heritage, making the volume a key resource for singers, scholars, and enthusiasts seeking accessible yet rigorous editions. Beyond this, Roud has co-edited scholarly volumes for the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), including Proceedings of the EFDSS Folk Song Conference 2013, with David Atkinson, compiling papers on traditional song research and performance. He also co-edited Vaughan Williams and Folk: 150th Anniversary Essays (2023), a collection of essays exploring composer ' roles as folk song collector, editor, arranger, and composer, presented at an EFDSS conference. Additionally, Roud co-edited Cheap Print and Street Literature of the (2023, Open Book Publishers) with David Atkinson, a collection of essays examining the production, distribution, and cultural impact of inexpensive printed materials and street literature in Britain and during the . These works reflect Roud's commitment to collaborative scholarship, providing introductions and contextual notes that revive interest in archival materials and traditional songs through diverse, source-based perspectives.

Awards and recognition

Awards for publications

In 2004, Steve Roud received the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award from the Folklore Society for his book The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland. This prestigious prize, named after the renowned folklorist , honors the most distinguished non-fiction book on published in Britain or in the preceding year, selected by a panel of experts for its scholarly excellence, originality, and contribution to the field. The award was presented at the Folklore Society's annual conference, recognizing Roud's comprehensive compilation of over 1,000 superstitions drawn from historical and contemporary sources, which has been praised for its rigorous research and accessibility, solidifying his standing as a leading authority on British traditions. Roud was awarded the Walford Medal in 2014 by the Chartered Institute of Library and Professionals' (CILIP) , and Special Interest Group for his editorial work on The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, co-edited with Julia Bishop. The Walford Medal, established to celebrate outstanding resources that advance and librarianship, highlighted Roud's meticulous selection of 100 folk songs with expert annotations, , and musical notations, described by judges as an "academic but beautiful book" that bridges scholarly depth with public appeal. Presented during a CILIP event, this honor underscored Roud's impact on publishing, particularly in preserving and indexing materials for researchers and enthusiasts. Roud's co-edited volume Street Ballads in Nineteenth-Century Britain, , and : The Interface between Print and Oral Traditions (2014), with David Atkinson, was shortlisted as runner-up for the 2015 Katharine Briggs Award. This recognition affirmed the book's innovative exploration of broadside ballads as a dynamic interplay between printed media and oral , drawing on archival evidence to illuminate ; the shortlist was announced at the Folklore Society's conference, emphasizing its value to . Additionally, Roud's Folk Song in (2017) was longlisted for the 2018 Penderyn Book , a award for exceptional music-related non-fiction, celebrating its detailed of English folk song traditions from the medieval period to the present, which was revealed in 2018 alongside other nominees. These accolades highlight Roud's consistent excellence in , enhancing the accessibility and scholarly appreciation of traditional British cultural narratives.

Lifetime achievements

Steve Roud's lifetime contributions to folklore scholarship have been recognized through several prestigious honors that underscore his enduring impact on the documentation and preservation of traditional songs and customs. In 2009, he was awarded the Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), one of its highest accolades, for exceptional service to and over many years. This recognition highlighted his foundational work in indexing folk traditions, including the creation of the , which has become a cornerstone of global folklore research. In 2023, Roud was named an Honorary International Fellow of the American Folklore Society (AFS), acknowledging his international influence on folklore indexing practices and scholarly methodologies. This fellowship, often referred to as AFS Fellow status, celebrates his role in advancing accessible, comprehensive resources that bridge traditional and contemporary across borders. Further affirming his scholarly legacy, Roud received the Coote Lake Medal from The Folklore Society in 2024, awarded for outstanding research and scholarship in . The medal recognizes his meticulous compilation of vast folkloric data, which has transformed how researchers and enthusiasts engage with English-language traditions. Most recently, on October 30, 2025, The conferred upon him the of Doctor of the University, honoring his transformative contributions to folk song documentation and public access through innovative indexing and archival efforts. These accolades collectively reflect Roud's ongoing dedication to making heritage widely available and rigorously studied.

Personal life

Spouse and family

Steve Roud married his wife, Pam, in 1975, after which the couple relocated to . They share a filled with and filing cabinets stocked with research articles, reflecting their collaborative approach to home-based . Pam has supported Roud in managing their extensive personal collections, and she encouraged him to begin writing based on his accumulated materials. The couple has one daughter, Kate, to whom Roud has passed on informal knowledge of traditional singing. Their family life revolves around shared passions for books and archival work, with no other children documented in public sources. Roud is also a devoted grandfather.

Current residence

Steve Roud resides in Somersham, a village in , , where he has established a home environment dedicated to his folklore . This rural setting offers a peaceful backdrop that aligns with his lifelong commitment to scholarly pursuits outside formal academic institutions. His home functions as a comprehensive personal archive, filled with books and filing cabinets overflowing with articles, clippings, and notes on topics. Originally, his indexing system relied on shoeboxes and record cards to organize thousands of folk song references, a method that evolved into the digital but still draws on this physical foundation. Dedicated spaces, such as shelves for specialized collections like literature, underscore the home's role as a self-contained research hub. In retirement, Roud maintains an active routine from this base, continually updating the Roud Indexes with new entries—now exceeding 750,000 references (as of 2025)—and collaborating with institutions like the . The proximity to , where he has delivered talks to library groups, facilitates connections to academic networks in . His wife contributes to this domestic scholarly life, often commenting on the expansive collections that permeate their living space.

References

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