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Folk songs, traditionally transmitted via the oral tradition with unknown authors, are often included in printed form in school music textbooks. This study will answer these questions: how has the use of folk songs in music textbooks changed over time in the United States? And, what types of songs have music publishers considered important in music education through the decades related to music from the United States and other countries? This study will focus on the folk song material found in eighteen fourth-grade textbooks published by two prominent companies. The paper progresses chronologically by publication date of the first edition of each textbook. The content analysis includes examining the series each textbook came from, the song material in general, and the folk songs. The conclusion discusses the trends and changes in the use of folk songs in music textbooks.