Collaborative research reconsidered (Folklore studies)

While investigating the relationship between John Lomax and Henry Truvillio n, Mullen recorded extensive interviews with Truvillions son, Reverend Jess e Truvillion; these interviews developed beyond his original focus to inclu de the latters life history. Though the two developed a collaborative relat ionship that was not possible for John Lomax and Henry Truvillion in the 19 40s, the joint experience was nevertheless influenced by differences in rac e, profession, and perspective. With the planned publication of the origina l research findings, many of these issues were explicitly articulated, as r esponses by other scholars highlighted some of the challenges of ethnograph ic research. In this essay Mullen presents additional details about his own ideological perspectives and editorial decisions; he also addresses the di fficulties that arise from evaluating different kinds of discourse in terms of similar scholarly frames.