Women in Folklore Oral History Project records, 1982-2002
A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University
Archives
Finding aid prepared by Katie Martin
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
American Folklore Society.
TitleWomen in Folklore Oral History Project records, 1982-2002
Collection No.
C652
Extent
0.8 cubic feet
(3 boxes)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The Women in Folklore (WIF) Oral History Project was a centennial initiative of the women’s section of the American Folklore
Society. The project aimed to capture the experience of women folklorists across the country. Mary Ellen Brown, Professor
of Folklore at IU, organized the project and donated the interviews in her possession to the IU Folklore Archives in 2000.
The project was physically housed at the Oral History Research Center, now part of the Indiana University Center for Documentary
Research and Practice, and coordinated by a graduate assistant in folklore. Interviewees include Edith Fowke, Eleanor Long,
Helen Creighton, Linda Degh, Shirley Arora, Thelma Jones, Eleanor Long, and Frances Cattermole-Tally. The collection contains
correspondence, project information, transcriptions, and audio recordings of interviews, primarily on cassette tapes.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Administrative History
The Women in Folklore (WIF) Oral History Project was a centennial initiative of the women’s section of the American Folklore
Society. Mary Ellen Brown, Professor of Folklore at Indiana University, organized the project and donated the interviews
in her possession to the IU Folklore Archives in 2000. The project aimed to capture the experience of women folklorists across
the country. The project was physically housed at the Oral History Research Center, now part of the Indiana University Center
for Documentary Research and Practice, and coordinated by a graduate assistant. An earlier, underfunded folklore oral history
initiative inspired the project, particularly an interview with folklorist Thelma James. The WIF project was briefly revived
in the early 2000s, but only two interviews were conducted (Shirley Arora and Frances Cattermole-Tally).
Arrangement
Collection is organized into one series and arranged alphabetically. Audio materials are listed with the transcription/biographical
data of the individuals interviewed, but they are housed separately for preservation purposes.
Scope and Content Note
The Women in Folklore Oral History Project records spans 1982 through 2002 and has one series. Interviewees include Edith
Fowke, Eleanor Long, Helen Creighton, Linda Degh, Shirley Arora, Thelma Jones, Eleanor Long, and Frances Cattermole-Tally.
The collection contains correspondence, project proposals, sample documentation, sample questionnaires, lists of interviewees,
and transcriptions/notes from interviews. The format of the audio materials in the collection is primarily audiocassette tapes.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries'
online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by
searching the catalog using these terms.
Related Material
Additional records such as newsletters, annual reports, bulletins, and publications may be accessed in the
Archives of Institutional Memory.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession: 2007/047
Usage Restrictions
Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information,
contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Women in Folklore Oral History Project records, Collection C652, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
Mary Ellen Brown, Professor of Folklore at Indiana University, organized the project and donated the interviews in her possession
to the IU Folklore Archives in 2000. The collection was transferred to the University Archives from the IU Department of Folklore
and Ethnomusicology in 2007.
Processing InformationProcessed by Katie Martin.
Completed in March 2017
Container List
Series:
Interviews and Project Information, 1982-2002
Box 1
Indiana University Oral History Research Center Newsletter, Spring 1986
Box 1
Women in Folklore (WIF),
Correspondence, 1982-1987
Edith Fowke,
Biographical Data, 1987
Photographs removed to Archives Photograph Collection
Box 3
Interview, Part I, Toronto, interviewed by Kenneth S. Goldstein, August 16, 1987
(audiocassette)
Interview, Part II, Toronto, interviewed by Kenneth S. Goldstein, August 16, 1987
(audiocassette)
Box 1
Eleanor Long Biographical Materials and Interview, 1986
Frances Cattermole-Tally,
Biographical Data, 2002
Box 3
American Folklore Society Women's Oral History Project, Frances Catermole-Tally Interview, October 11, 2002
(audio mini-disc)
Frances Tally Interview, Copy from MD original October 11, 2002
(audiocassette)
Box 1
Helen Creighton,
Biographical Data and Interview, 1987
Photographs removed to Archives Photograph Collection.
Box 3
Tape 1, September 16, 1987
(audiocassette)
Tape 2, September 16, 1987
(audiocassette)
Box 1
Thelma Jones,
Interview Notes, 1985
Box 3
Unidentified Thelma James tapes (no transcript) interviewed by Dick Reuss, 1985
(3 audiocassettes)
Box 1
Shirley Arora,
Interview with Shirley Arora Verification Sheets, 2002
Box 3
Shirley Arora tape II, side B, November 21, 2002
Box 1
Linda Degh,
Biographical Data, 1988
Interview, 1988
Box 3
#1 Linda Degh 10/4/88, 1988
(audiocassette)
#2 10/11/88 and 10/4/88 Degh/Brown, 1988
(audiocassette)
#3 10/18/88 and 10/11/88 Degh/Brown, 1988
(audiocassette)
#4 Linda Degh/M&B 10/18/88, 1988
(audiocassette)
Box 1
Project Forms, Undated
Box 2
Project Information, 1987 , 2000