How did Pete Seeger help revive traditional folk songs in the United States?

Pete Seeger was a pivotal figure in the American folk music revival, working to sustain and popularize traditional songs through performance, songwriting, and activism.1

His efforts to revive folk traditions included:

• Field Collection: In his early career, Seeger traveled extensively, gathering country ballads, work songs, and hymns to preserve them.1
• Collaborative Groups: He co-founded the Almanac Singers in 1940 and later the Weavers in 1948. These groups brought traditional repertoire to broader audiences, achieving significant commercial success.12
• Mentorship: Seeger served as a mentor to influential younger artists, including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, helping to bridge the gap between traditional music and the 1960s folk revival.1
• Community Engagement: He championed the "hootenanny," an informal style of gathering that encouraged audience participation, and wrote or co-wrote enduring folk standards such as "If I Had a Hammer" and "Turn, Turn, Turn".1