The abolition movement had similarly used the oral narratives of escaped slaves, such as those collected by William Still in his Underground Railroad Records, to draw support for their cause.
Botkin's landmark work, Lay My Burden Down (1945) was the first American book to treat oral testimonies as historical evidence,[1] and it was another thirty years before this became accepted practice.
Botkin also worked with Quaker activist Rachel Davis DuBois to develop public programs to improve race and ethnic relations by incorporating cultural practices and materials into neighborhood events, such as festivals and block parties.
David Hufford's, an American folklorist, work on folk and alternative medicine highlights how understanding these traditions can improve medical practice, especially by acknowledging the cultural contexts in which patients live.
Folklorists have contributed to historic preservation efforts and helped to protect architectural landmarks and cultural elements such as traditions and landscapes.