Wednesday, June 10, 2026
12:00 pm - 01:00 pm EDT
Thomas Jefferson Building - Whittall Pavilion (LJG45E)
10 1st Street SE, Washington, DC 20540

Join Greg Harris, President of Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as he presents a lecture titled “Is That Seat Taken?: Folklore, Community, and Connection in Baseball and Rock and Roll.”

Drawing on his background as a trained folklorist and his previous experience as head of the Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, Harris will discuss how attendees at signature community gatherings—such as sporting events, games and concerts—use stories and material culture to quickly establish connections with others. Greg Harris is a graduate of the Cooperstown Graduate Program and the University of Pennsylvania. Before his days in museums, he founded the Philadelphia Record Exchange.

This presentation is part of the American Folklife Center’s Benjamin A. Botkin Lecture Series and celebrates the Center’s 50th anniversary.

The program is free, but a ticket is required. Details on tickets, directions, ADA accommodations, and more are at the link!