Passionate Folk Singer Helen Schneyer

For a time, Ms. Schneyer worked as a psychiatric social worker for agencies in Buffalo and Syracuse, N.Y., before returning to Washington in 1960.

She had a longtime psychotherapy practice in Kensington until 1986, when she retired to Plainfeld, Vt. She continued practicing there until becoming too ill last year.

While in Washington, her home became a focal point for the folk-life community, said Andy Wallace, a longtime friend and a Folklore Society founding member. "We met there, sang there and partied there," and out-of-town entertainers often would stop by, he said. "She was a very important person in the music community in Washington."

In addition to helping found the Folklore Society in 1964, she served on its board in a number of positions, including president. She also was on the board of the National Folk Festival Association (now the National Council for the Traditional Arts).

In 1976, Ms. Schneyer was invited by composer John Cage to participate in a world tour of his bicentennial composition, "Apartment House 1776." As part of that tour, she performed with symphony orchestras in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Europe and Japan.

A devoted collector of traditional folk songs, Ms. Schneyer conducted a considerable amount of fieldwork in her back yard, said her sister, Mona Masow of Madison, Wis. She would go to black churches in the Gum Springs neighborhood of Alexandria and learn African American spirituals from singers who knew them.

"She was just fascinated with traditional music, the kind that gets passed along from person to person," her sister said.

Ms. Schneyer released three solo recordings, "Ballads, Broadsides and Hymns" (1974) , "On the Hallelujah Line" (1981) and "Somber, Sacred & Silly" (1992). A fourth recording, "What a Singing There Will Be," scheduled for release in August, was recorded in a live concert in Maple Corners, Vt., when she was 82.

She also performed and recorded with her daughter, Ericka "Riki" Schneyer of Takoma Park, and with folk singer Jonathan Eberhart.

Her marriage to Solomon Schneyer ended in divorce.

In addition to her sister and daughter, survivors include a son, Joshua Schneyer of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a brother; and a granddaughter.