More Than a Man: An Ethnomusicological Survey of the Folklore of John Henry and Resource Guide for “More Than a Man” by Shanyse Strickland

Author

• Clayton R. Heath, West Virginia UniversityFollow

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

DMA

College

College of Creative Arts

Department

School of Music

Committee Chair

Hakeem Bilal

Committee Co-Chair

Robert Sears

Committee Member

H. Keith Jackson

Committee Member

Jake Sandridge

Committee Member

Joshua Williamson

Abstract

“John Henry” exists as an enduring folk legend in the United States of America, representing the confluence of the Reconstruction Era, the economic utility of Appalachia and the Westward expansion of industry which left it behind. Though based on historical events, Henry’s fictional representation has diverted and evolved in music and other media from its inception in the oral tradition to the modern age. Through this progression, shared symbols have circulated, gathering embedded meanings and associating the folklore with specific communities. Henry’s representational identity has been signaled with the creation and distribution of each version of his story, both complicating and expanding his narrative. These representations of distinct communities and their metaphorical underpinnings are as diverse as the artistic styles of his canon, further obscuring the singular history of the man.

Utilizing ethnographic, historical, and sociological frameworks, this study presents an analytical survey of works within the canon and a review of investigatory literature, positioning their representational and ideological ties in relation to the historical record. While previous publications have chronicled the distribution and description of narratives found in this folklore, this study seeks to contextualize the canon’s recurrent symbols and identified themes with the aim of improved delineation between mythos and biography. Through analysis and interview, this study also seeks to highlight the programmatic elements, embedded meanings, and identity markers evident within Shanyse Strickland’s “More Than a Man: A Tribute to John Henry.” Contextualizing how Strickland both challenges and affirms narratives surrounding John Henry, this study seeks to contextualize depictions of the character to the man and explore the process of creating new representations of folklore, bringing informed perspective and expressive weight to performances of Strickland’s work and future additions to the canon.

Recommended Citation

Heath, Clayton R., "More Than a Man: An Ethnomusicological Survey of the Folklore of John Henry and Resource Guide for “More Than a Man” by Shanyse Strickland" (2026). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 13314.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/13314