[2] The book was written primarily by Scarborough with assistance from Ola Lee Gulledge, a pianist and former professor at Oklahoma Baptist University.

[6] A review of the book in Poetry praised Scarborough for her blend of entertainment and scholarship and for highlighting the beauty of African American folk songs.

[7] The Journal of American Folklore was critical of some of the book's claims, especially relating to the origins of various songs, but wrote positively of her selections.

[8] Robert E. Park noted that On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs was unique for being an entirely secular collection, with no religious songs, and praised her "intimate and chatty" prose.

Ed Cray described it as "the product of innocent happier days" and criticized Scarborough's categorization and commentary as mostly uncritical, although he recommended it as a "quaint period piece.