IU Folklore Institute, 1987
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleIU Folklore Institute, 1987
Project No.
ohrc070
Interviews
41 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The project deals with the beginning, the building, and the growth
of the Indiana University (IU) Folklore Institute into an internationally
recognized program. The interviewees are mostly students and/or faculty of the
folklore program from the 1940s to the 1980s. They discuss those who most
influenced and impacted the institute, namely Stith Thompson and Richard M.
Dorson. They share their memories and experiences of the time they spent, or
continue to spend, in the IU Folklore Institute.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains forty-one interviews conducted over four years. The interviews range from thirty minutes to approximately
three hours. All interviews consist of audio tapes and typed transcripts.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Abrahams, Roger D.
April 30,
1986
Call Number
87-018
Physical Description
32 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 30 minutes; index;
Boston Globe article on folklore
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Roger Abrahams, born in June of 1933, speaks of his early life
and education. He discusses how he became interested in folklore in college,
but did not pursue it until later. He talks about how anthropology became
intertwined in his application of folklore . Abrahams discusses the
interrelations between folklorists and why they are sometimes misunderstood. He
recalls the institutionalization of folklore as well as his own teaching
experiences.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin
-
-
Personal Names
- Bauman, Richard
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Leach, MacEdward
-
-
-
Subjects
- anthropology
- education
- institutionalizing folklore
- teaching
Interviewee
Baughman, Ernest
April 11, 1987
Call Number
87-031
Physical Description
68 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours 57 minutes; no
index; reading list
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ernest "Ernie" Baughman, born in 1916, discusses how he was
first introduced to folklore by a grade school teacher with a knack for
storytelling. It was reintroduced to him while in college as an English major,
but he did not pursue the area until later. While teaching, Baughman began to
use folklore to spark the interest of his students. Through a fellow teacher,
he learned of the courses offered at Indiana University and ended up remaining
there for six years (four as a tutor and student, two as an instructor while
writing a dissertation). He discusses the growth of the folklore program at
Indiana University and those who were instrumental in it, including Stith
Thompson and Richard Dorson. He also discusses his enjoyment of the job he
worked after Indiana University and the area he lives in.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Hoosier Folklore
Bulletin
- Hoosier Folklore Society
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Jansen, William Hugh
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
- New Mexico
-
-
Subjects
- American folklore studies
- dissertation
- education
- traditional beliefs
Interviewee
Bauman, Richard
February 25,
1987
Call Number
87-030
Physical Description
38 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 11 minutes; index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Richard Bauman, born on October 28, 1940, discusses the need he
had for something more as an English major at the University of Michigan. His
backbround in folklore gained from a childhood summer camp and his parents, led
to his decision to pursue this interest at Indiana University. Bauman talks
about the many courses he took, his teachers and classmates, and how this area
of study led him to an interest in Anthropology and American history which he
then studied at the University of Pennsylvania). He discusses the folklore
program at Indiana University as it was when he attended, its beginnings, and
the changes that have since occurred. He compares the program to that of other
universities and discusses those who had the greatest influence, including
Richard Dorson and Stith Thompson.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of Michigan
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin
-
-
Occupation Names
- Folklore Institute chairperson
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Leach, MacEdward
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- anthropology
- folklore program
- international reputation
Interviewee
Ben-Amos, Dan
September 28,
1985
Call Number
87-005
Physical Description
63 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour, 48 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dan Ben-Amos, born in Israel on September 3, 1934, came to the
United States in order to study for a master's degree. He chose Indiana
University at the suggestion of a professor. Unsatisfied with the courses in
his chosen area of study, he inadvertently fell into folklore. Ben-Amos recalls
many of his classmates from whom he learned a great deal, as well as professors
and those who influenced the program. He refers to Indiana University as the
mecca of folklore for reasons such as its international connections and its
focus and resources in the field. He speaks a great deal about working with
Richard Dorson and all that he did forming the program, both positively and
negatively.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of California, Los Angeles
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- departmental changes
- departmental conflicts
- folklore discipline
- international reputation
Interviewee
Boggs, Ralph Steele
February 20,
1987
Call Number
87-029
Physical Description
64 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours 45 minutes; index;
correspondences of interviewee
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ralph Steele Boggs, born on November 17, 1901, discusses his
interest in folklore. His interest in linguistics in college introduced him to
folklore by way of Professor Archer Taylor who convinced him to do his
dissertation in this area. Through Taylor and the dissertation, he became
acquainted with Stith Thompson. This friendship brought Boggs in contact with
Indiana University, where he helped to develop the first folklore institute,
using the same methods he had developed in the past developing folklore
institutes at other institutions. He discusses what made the folklore program
so strong at Indiana University, including its international appeal, and the
zest of both Stith Thompson and Richard Dorson that helped make the program
strong. Boggs talks about his dislike of the artificiality that is often
connected with folklore. He also discusses some terms in folklore, particularly
the definition of folklore itself.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
-
Personal Names
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- academic program founding
- fakelore
- folklore definitions
- international reputation
- teaching
Interviewee
Brown, Mary Ellen
July 7,
1987
Call Number
87-036
Physical Description
33 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 33 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Mary Ellen Brown, born on January 6, 1939, talks about being
introduced to folklore while studying theater in college. The interest she felt
for this area of study brought her to the University of Pennsylvania, where
folklore was offered in the English Department. Through a twist of events,
Brown had the opportunity to take courses at Indiana University as well. She
talks about the conflict that was apparent between the program heads of the two
Universities. She talks about teaching at Indiana University. She discusses the
beginnings of the folklore program and those who had great influence upon it
including Stith Thompson and Richard Dorson. Brown talks particularly about
Dorson, his positive and negative influence on folklore, and the strained
relationship she had with him.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Leach, MacEdward
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- departmental conflicts
- international reputation
Interviewee
Brunvand, Jan Harold
September 19,
1986
Call Number
87-022
Physical Description
61 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 54 minutes; no
index; biographical data of interviewee
Interviewer
Domowitz, Susan
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Jan Harold Brunvand, born on March 23, 1933 to Norwegian
immigrants, discusses being introduced to folklore in college through courses
with Richard Dorson at the University of Michigan. He got a Fulbright
Scholarship in Norway, where he studied folklore, then went to Indiana
University for graduate work in English. Ironically, Dorson had also come to
Indiana and convinced Brunvand to go into folklore. Brunvand discusses his
classmates and the great relationships they formed, his professors and what he
learned from them, and getting a job afterwards. He talks about Dorson's role
in his life and various publications both have had. He discusses both the
positive and negative aspects of the program and how it has changed over
time.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- United States Army
- University of Michigan
- Utah State University
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
-
Subjects
-
American
Folklore
- education
- folk music
- folklore jobs
- folklore program strengths
- folklore program weaknesses
- teaching
- textbooks
Interviewee
Clarke, Ken
March 24,
1986
Call Number
87-015
Physical Description
65 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 57 minutes; no
index; photo of first summer institute, institute programs, photocopy of
section from
American civilizations,
dissertation announcement
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ken Clarke, born on January 6, 1917, developed an interest in
linguistics while in college. Later, while teaching, he discovered from the
department head that folklore courses were offered at Indiana University, and
decided to pursue it. The program was just beginning at this time and Clarke
recalls his classmates, courses, and professors, as well as the first summer
institute. He talks about the relationship between the students and theirs with
Stith Thompson. He discusses his own friendship with Thompson and all that he
contributed to the program. He also discusses Richard Dorson, his different
approach to folklore, his contributions to the program, and their strained
relationship.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Castner, Richard
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Noy, Dov
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- dissertation
- education
- folklore program founding
Interviewee
deCaro, Frank
October, 24,
1986
Call Number
87-025
Physical Description
79 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 47 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Frank deCaro, born in 1943, was in college during the 'folksong
revival' and became interested in folklore. He recalls his fellow graduate
students during his time at Indiana University, how much he learned from them,
the raport they had and continue to have, and the tension that was sometimes
evident between students and faculty. deCaro speaks a great deal about Richard
Dorson, his great power base and control in the folklore department, his
contributions to the program, and the struggles many had with him. deCaro talks
about the strengths of the Indiana University folklore program and what really
makes it the best, including its international reputation and its openness. He
also talks about the time period during which he was at Indiana University and
what was happening then.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Folklore Student Association
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara
-
-
Subjects
- folklore program strengths
- student community
- student-faculty relations
Interviewee
Dolby-Stahl, Sandy
May 28,
1987
Call Number
87-032
Physical Description
91 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Sandy Dolby-Stahl, born on November 26, 1946, discusses how she
became interested in folklore through reading a book by Indiana University
professors, and her subsequent decision to study there as a graduate student.
She recalls the courses she took, her fellow students, and the great community
within the folklore department. She talks a great deal about Richard Dorson,
her relationship with him and his with others, his great works, and the
contributions and influence he had on the program. She also discusses Stith
Thompson's influence. Dolby-Stahl discusses the many strengths of Indiana
University's folklore program and what makes it the best including its
international reputation and broad spectrum.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- departmental community
- folklore discipline
- folklore program influences
- folklore program strengths
- international reputation
Interviewee
Dundes, Alan
September 26,
1985;
March 18, 1986
Call Number
87-003
Physical Description
56 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours 38 minutes; index
(only for transcription of third tape)
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Alan Dundes discusses wanting to study great literature after
his master's degree which brought him to the Indiana University Folklore
Institute. He recalls the professors he had as well as his fellow students. He
discusses the strengths of the program, including its international reputation,
and its wonderful library; as well as its weaknesses such as its lack of
theoretical study. He compares this program to that of other universities both
past and present, and discusses the rivalry between Indiana University and the
University of Pennsylvania. Dundes discusses his interest in the
psychoanalytical aspect of folklore, which was not an easily accepted topic. He
talks about getting a job in this field and the one's he's held. He speaks a
great deal about Richard Dorson, the kind of man he was, the relationship they
had, and the contributions he made to the folklore program and to the field in
general.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Bidney, David
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Subjects
- dissertation
- folklore jobs
- folklore library
- folklore program founding
- folklore program rivalry
- folklore program strengths
- folklore program weaknesses
- folklore students
- international reputation
- psychoanalytic theory
- teaching
Interviewee
Flowers, Helen Leneva
February, 15,
1987
Call Number
87-028
Physical Description
17 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 33 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Helen Leneva Flowers, born around 1910, went to Indiana
university to study for a Ph.D. in English. At that time, she believes she was
the only black student in the graduate program and she was not allowed to live
in the dormitories. She became interested in folklore after taking a folklore
course from Stith Thompson. She recalls Thompson as a professor, and vaguely
remembers the summer institutes. Flowers talks about using folklore in her
children's literature courses.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- English literature
- folklore program founding
Interviewee
Georges, Robert A.
September 25,
1985;
March 12, 1986
Call Number
87-002
Physical Description
80 pages; 3 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 160 minutes; partial
index; thesis presentation flyer for interviewee
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Robert A. Georges discusses his time at the Indiana University
Folklore Institute as a graduate student in the 1960s. He talks about his
decision to attend Indiana University even though his background was in English
literature. Professor Georges describes his first meeting with Stith Thompson.
He discusses his impressions of Richard Dorson, then director and driving force
behind the institute. Georges describes the atmosphere and attitudes of the
folklore graduate students of the time as one of awakening and discovery, which
he feels helped contribute to the evolution of folklorists from collectors and
indexers to comparative analysts and interpreters. He speaks of his work with
Richard Dorson on the
Journal of American
Folklore
and how it ran on a day to day basis. Georges speaks of the
quality and reputation of the IU Folklore Institute and compares it to other
American and European graduate programs. He also evaluates the future of the
study of folklore.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
-
Folklore Forum
-
Journal of American
Folklore
-
Midwest
Folklore
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Ben-Amos, Daniel
- Brunvand, Jan Harold
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Ives, Edward D. "Sandy"
- Köngäs Maranda, Elli K.
- Leach, MacEdward
- Lord, Albert Bates
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Sebeok, Thomas Albert
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
-
Subjects
- academic journal administration
- American folklore studies
- cultural relativism
- Greek mythology
- English literature
- folk narrative
- folklore archives
- folklore curriculum
- folklore library
- folklore theories
- folksong revival
- graduate school funding
- historic-geographic method
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
- nineteen sixties
- psychoanalytic method
- public sector folklore
- storytelling
- structural method
Interviewee
Glassie, Henry H.
October 16,
1986;
October 17, 1986
Call Number
87-023
Physical Description
115 pages; 5 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 3 hours 45 minutes; index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Henry Glassie speaks of his early life and early exposure to
folklore which led to a passion for and a life-long goal of working in the
field. He talks about college experiences, getting into the field and working
his way up, and people that influenced him. Glassie talks a great deal about
Richard Dorson, their relationship, and Dorson's relationships others, as well
as his personality, his guidance, his ideology of folklore and changes he went
through. Glassie discusses the time he began to study at Indiana University,
what the students did, what they believed, and what changes occurred.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Abrahams, Roger D.
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Emerich, Duncan B.
- Goldstein, Kenneth S.
- Kniffen, Fred
- Oring, Elliott
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- American studies
- education
- folk architecture
- folklore department pig roast
- folksong
- student life
- student protests
Interviewee
Halpert, Herbert
October 18,
1985
Call Number
87-006
Physical Description
43 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Herbert Halpert, professor emeritus from the Folklore Department
at Memorial University of Newfoundland, speaks of his development as a
folklorist and his time at the Indiana University Folklore Institute. Professor
Halpert's first experiences with folklore involved singing and collecting
folksongs for the Works Progress Administration. He also collected other genres
of folklore as well, specifically from the Pineys in New Jersey, from whom he
collected both songs and narratives. He came to Indiana University to study
under Stith Thompson, who was just getting the Folklore Institute underway.
Halpert discusses his relationship with Thompson and his impressions of his
impact on the field of folklore and the development of the Institute. Prof.
Halpert also comments on his relationship with Richard Dorson. He also touches
upon his career path, which finally led him to the Memorial University of
Newfoundland in Canada.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
-
Hoosier Folklore
Bulletin
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Works Progress Administration
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Barnicle, Mary Elizabeth
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Herzog, George
- James, Thelma
- Jansen, William Hugh
- Lomax, Alan
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Place Names
- New Jersey
- Newfoundland, Canada
-
-
Subjects
- American folk narrative
- Child ballads
- contextual method
- cultural anthropology
- Dr. Faustus
- fieldwork
- folksong
- Native American folk narrative
- Pineys
- sea shanties
Interviewee
Hand, Wayland D.
March 12,
1986
Call Number
87-014
Physical Description
58 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 120 minutes; index;
subject list for
Encyclopedia of American Popular
Beliefs and Superstitions
; two sample articles from
Encyclopedia of American Popular Beliefs and
Superstitions
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Wayland Hand discusses his experiences with the Indiana
University Folklore Institute. He outlines his educational background and his
work with mentor Archer Taylor. He discusses his early involvement with Stith
Thompson and his experiences attending and teaching at the IU Folklore Summer
Institute for several years. He also outlines the development of other folklore
groups at the time. Hand discusses the offer from Herman B Wells for the
directorship of the Folklore Institute after Thompson retired, which he
ultimately turned down. Hand reminisces about Stith Thompson, Richard Dorson
and other Indiana University alumni he has known through the years. He also
describes both Thompson's and Dorson's contributions to the success of the IU
program. Hand tells several anecdotes related to the Institute and other
experiences in folklore. Finally Hand compares the IU program to other folklore
programs in the United States and outlines IU's strengths and weaknesses.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- California Folklore Society
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- New York Folklore Society
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Ashton, John W.
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Halpert, Herbert
- James, Thelma
- Krohn, Kaarle
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
- Voegelin, Erminie B.
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Subjects
- analytical folklore
- fieldwork
- folklore textbook development
-
Folktales of the
World
-
MLA Folklore
Bibliography
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
- proverbs study
Interviewee
Hickerson, Joseph C.
October 23,
1986
Call Number
87-024
Physical Description
50 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 116 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Joseph C. Hickerson, an archivist at the Library of Congress,
discusses his connection to the Indiana University Folklore Institute. He first
discusses his educational background, especially at Oberlin College where he
was heavily involved in the folksong revival. His interest in folksongs led him
to the folklore program at IU, which Richard Dorson has just taken over.
Hickerson discusses his experiences with and impressions of Dorson and Stith
Thompson. He discusses the influence of the folksong revival on the field of
folklore. Hickerson describes the classes he took and the extra-curricular
activities he participated in while he was as student at IU. Finally he
discusses his position at the Library of Congress as an archivist. He also
talks about his general impressions of the IU folklore program today in
comparison with other American folklore programs.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Blue Yodel
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
- Indiana University Folksong Club
- Library of Congress
-
Midwest
Folklore
- Oberlin College
- WFIU
-
-
Occupation Names
- archivist
- folk singer
- folklorist
-
-
Personal Names
- Ashton, John W.
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Oinas, Felix J.
- List, George
- Lomax, Alan
- Mintz, Jerome R.
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Seeger, Pete
- Stekert, Ellen J.
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
- Utley, Frances Lee
-
-
Subjects
- fakelore
- folk music
- folklore archives
- folklore bibliography
- folklore library
- folksong revival
Interviewee
Humphrey, Linda; Humphrey, Theodore; Wachs, Ellen
October 24,
1986
Call Number
87-026
Physical Description
54 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 41 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Linda and Theodore Humphrey speak a little about their early
lives and education. They discuss their interest in folklore and their
experience at a summer seminar for folklore at Indiana University with Richard
Dorson. They talk about their impressions of Dorson, his beliefs about the
discipline of folklore, and the memorial service following his death held at an
American Folklore Society (AFS) meeting. Eleanor Wachs talks about discovering
folklore while in college and loving it. She recalls coming to Indiana
University and working with Dorson, his jokes, and his great writing
abilities.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Parlor, Mary Celeste
- Wilgus, D.K.
-
-
Subjects
- Dorson memorial service
- folklore discipline
- summer seminars
Interviewee
Ives, Edward D. "Sandy"
October 20,
1985
Call Number
87-008
Physical Description
28 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 56 minutes; index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Edward D. "Sandy" Ives, born on September 4, 1925, discusses
singing folksongs as a supplemental income to teaching, which led him to write
a book. A colleague influenced him to bring his writings to the American
Folklore Society (AFS), where he met Richard Dorson who then brought him to
Indiana University. Ives recalls the courses he took, his professors , and his
classmates and social life. He talks about fields that are related to folklore
including anthropology and literature, as well as those that pushed the
boundaries of folklore. He speaks about Dorson's personality and their
relationship. He also discusses what Dorson and Stith Thompson brought to the
Indiana University folklore program.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Kirtley, Bacil F.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- dissertation
- folksong
- student life
Interviewee
Janelli, Roger L.
April 29,
1986
Call Number
87-017
Physical Description
73 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 30 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Roger L. Janelli, born on September 21, 1943, talks about his
education and how it led to a career in folklore. He enjoyed folksong as an
undergraduate, took a folklore summer course as a graduate, and since he did
not enjoy his major, switched and became increasingly interested in the field.
After serving in Korea with the United States Army, he cultivated an interest
in Asian folklore. Janelli discusses the image of Indiana University (IU) as a
student at the University of Pennsylvania, and compares the two colleges. He
talks about the beginning of the program at IU and the great influences of
Stith Thompson and Richard Dorson who made it great. He also speaks of working
with Dorson and Dorson's personality.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Journal of the Folklore
Institute
- United States Army
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Leach, MacEdward
- Thompson, Stith
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Subjects
- departmental community
- departmental eclecticism
- education
- folklore program characteristics
- folklore program weaknesses
- international reputation
- philology
Interviewee
Johnson, John W.
July 29,
1988
Call Number
87-043
Physical Description
82 pages, 4 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 3 hours 7 minutes, no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
John W. Johnson, born on March 14, 1942, talks about his early
life and education and his fascination with all things foreign. He talks about
his subsequent study of linguistics at the University of Texas and a single
folklore class that sparked his interest. He speaks extensively about his
experiences in the Peace Corps working in Somalia. He talks especially about
his great interest in Somalian literature, which led him to pursue a master's
degree in London, at which he wrote a dissertation which in turn led him to
Indiana University (IU). Johnson discusses the great base Stith Thompson
created at IU and for the field of folklore in general. He talks about Richard
Dorson's contributions to the program, as well as some of his hindrances. He
speaks about the changes that have occurred in the folklore program over time
and the wonderful reputation the institution still holds today.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- Peace Corps
- University of Texas at Austin
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Abrahams, Roger D.
- Bird, Charles
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Oinas, Felix J.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Place Names
- Somalia
- Texas
-
-
Subjects
- departmental changes
- dissertation
- education
- fieldwork
- folklore genres
- Folklore Institute reputation
- linguistics
Interviewee
Jones, Michael Owen
March 12,
1986
Call Number
87-016
Physical Description
69 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Michael Owen Jones, born on October 11, 1942, recalls, as an
undergraduate, hearing others discuss folklore courses, which sparked his
interest in the subject. When he was finally able to enroll in one himself, he
loved it. Although he graduated from the University of Kentucky with three
majors, he wanted something more. His interest in folklore led him to Indiana
University (IU). Jones recalls classmates, courses, and professors at IU; all
that he learned, liked, and disliked. He talks about Richard Dorson, his
contributions, his personality, and the love/hate relationship he had with
many. Jones talks about what IU has to offer and compares that with UCLA, where
he now works.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Kansas
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
-
American
Folklore
- dissertation
- student dedication
- student life
- undergraduate program
Interviewee
Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara
October 26,
1986
Call Number
87-027
Physical Description
35 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 42 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information
Scope and Content Note
Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett talks of her early education in
English literature at the University of Toronto and University of
California-Berkeley, and her interactions with Alan Dundes, which led her to
attend the Indiana University Folklore Institute to earn her doctoral degree in
folklore. She discusses the people at IU that influenced her. She discusses the
strong and active student population, who led a small revolt against the poor
teaching methods of the folklore faculty, and later initiated the
Folklore Forum, a student run journal. She
speaks of the development of the field of folklore over time and the
diversification of the study of folklore today.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Folklore Forum
- Turner Hotel
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Toronto
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Mintz, Jerome R.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- student activism
- teaching methods
Interviewee
Letsinger, Dorothy; Hays, Magarite Thompson; Wallace,
Roger
September 27,
1985
Call Number
87-004
Physical Description
47 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dorothy Letsinger and Margarite Thompson Hays, daughters of
Stith Thompson, discuss their father's career as an English professor and
folklorist, which ultimately led to the development of the Indiana University
Folklore Institute. They touch upon his early education in English literature
and his position as the head of English Composition at Indiana University. They
talk about his interests in folklore and English. They discuss home life, daily
routine, interactions with students and faculty members, and his relationship
with his family members. They talk about the creation of the Folklore Institute
with the blessing of Herman B Wells, and his souring relations with Richard
Dorson after he took over the program in the late 50s.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Discussion Club
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
-
Personal Names
- David, Harold
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Kinsey, Alfred C.
- Niles, John Beatty
- Thompson, Stith
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- English composition programs
- faculty wives
- family vacations
- historic-geographic method
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
- World War II
Interviewee
McDowell, John
September 24,
1985
Call Number
87-001
Physical Description
38 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
John McDowell, born on September 24, 1946, discusses his early
life and education. He talks about how he got into folklore at the University
of Texas due to his interest in music and poetry, and about how he came to work
at Indiana University (IU). He speaks of the rivalries that existed and
continue to exist between the folklore programs of various colleges and
compares a few of those programs. McDowell recalls fellow teachers in the IU
folklore department and the politics that occurred within the department,
centering usually around Richard Dorson. He discusses what made the folklore
program so great including its eclecticism and its international reputation. He
also discusses the IU folklore Institute's public image and its influence over
the field of folklore in general.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Abrahams, Roger D.
- Bauman, Richard
- Brown, Mary Ellen
- Dorson, Richard M.
- El-Shamy, Hasan
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- departmental changes
- departmental eclecticism
- departmental politics
- ethnomusicology
- folklore discipline
- international reputation
- student life
- university rivalries
Interviewee
Noy, Dov
February 10,
1986
Call Number
87-011
Physical Description
27 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 53 minutes; no index;
newspaper article
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dov Noy discusses his involvement with the Indiana University
Folklore Institute. Originally from Poland, Noy was educated in Israel, when he
was stranded there when World War II started. During his time with the British
Army, Noy became interested in folk narrative. He originally came to IU to
study comparative literature, but quickly switched to folklore. Noy speaks of
the Summer Institute and the classes he taught. He also describes his
perceptions and relationship with Stith Thompson, whom he felt was very
welcoming to students, even though he may not have been a good lecturer. Noy
discusses his relationship with Richard Dorson. Noy discusses the development
of folklore studies in Israel, which he has been active in promoting since his
return in the late 1950s.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
- International Congress for Jewish Studies
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Bidney, David
- Buckley, Bruce
- Dorson, Gloria
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Thompson, Stith
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Place Names
- Jerusalem, Israel
-
-
Subjects
- comparative literature
- folklore archives
- Jewish folklore
-
Studies in Biblical and Jewish
Folklore
- World War II
Interviewee
Oinas, Felix J.
April 8,
1988
Call Number
87-042
Physical Description
28 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 79 minutes; no index;
copy of
Felix J. Oinas Bibliography by Ronald F.
Feldstein
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Felix J. Oinas discusses his ties to the Indiana University
Folklore Institute. Oinas spends most of the interview discussing his
relationship with Richard Dorson, which he describes as very close. Oinas
taught classes for the folklore department, published papers in the field of
folklore, and gave lectures at folklore conferences. Dorson confided in Oinas
about many things, including departmental politics and personal conflicts.
Oinas discusses Dorson's personal characteristics, and his professional
contributions to the field of folklore. Oinas briefly touches upon his
relationship with Stith Thompson, which he describes as formal in nature. The
interview ends with a discussion of Dorson's love of tennis and a description
of his untimely death on a tennis court.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University Department of Slavic Languages and
Literatures
- Indiana University Department of Uralic Altaic
Studies
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklorist
- linguist
- Slavics professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Anderson, Walter
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Jason, Heda
- Messenger, John
- Taylor, Archer
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- dissertation committees
- folk narrative
- Guggenheim fellowships
- Russian folklore
Interviewee
Oring, Elliott
March 10, 1986
Call Number
87-012
Physical Description
105 pages; 3 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 125 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Elliott Oring discusses his connections with the Indiana
University Folklore Institute. He describes his time as a graduate student and
the classes he took at IU. He discusses the atmosphere of the student body,
which he felt was where most of his learning about folklore took place. He
spoke of some shortcomings of his education at IU. He talks about many
different aspects of Richard Dorson: his relationship to students, his
relationships with other faculty members and administrators, his teaching
methods, and his contributions to the folklore program at IU. Oring talks about
Thompson's contributions to the folklore program at IU as well. Oring evaluates
the folklore education he received at IU and the folklore educational
opportunities students today have. He compares IU's present program with other
around the United States and describes his perception of the reputation of
Indiana University today.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Folklore Forum
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- University of California, Berkeley
- WFIU
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Augusto, David
- Bidney, David
- Burns, Tom
- Carpenter, Inta
- DeCaro, Frank
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Durham, James
- Fish, Lydia
- Hickerson, Joseph
- Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara
- Salo, Matt T.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- folk humor
- folklore archives
- folklore definition
- folklore theories
- folksong revival
- interview transcription
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
- public sector folklore
- student journals
Interviewee
Reuss, Richard
October
18, 1985 - October 19, 1985
Call Number
87-007
Physical Description
55 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 44 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Richard Reuss discusses his involvement with the Indiana
University Folklore Institute. He originally became interested in folklore
through the folksong revival and decided to attend IU in the mid
nineteen-sixties to earn a PhD. Reuss discusses the solidarity of the student
body. He talks about various graduate assistantships that were available to
students at the time. Reuss spends most of the interview discussing his
interactions with and impressions of Stith Thompson and Richard Dorson. Reuss
feels that Thompson left a "long shadow" for Dorson to come out of. He cites
Dorson's motivation as one of the reasons that the Folklore Institute is
well-known. Reuss discusses the "four Ps" of promoting a new academic
discipline: performance, publish, propaganda and power. He then relates the
four Ps to the steps Dorson took to promote the study of folklore. Finally
Reuss reflects on Dorson's influence on his own studies in folklore and tells a
few anecdotes that characterize Dorson's personality.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
-
Journal of American
Folklore
-
Journal of the Folklore
Institute
- Nick's English Hut
-
-
Personal Names
- Botkin, Benjamin A.
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Green, Archibald
- Greenway, John
- Hickerson, Joseph
- Lomax, Alan
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Seeger, Charles
- Stekert, Ellen J.
- Thompson, Stith
- Travers, Mary
- Wigginton, Elliot
-
-
Subjects
- fakelore
- folksong revival
- graduate assistantships
- John F. Kennedy assassination
- urban folklore
Interviewee
Richmond, W. Edson
June 26,
1986
Call Number
87-020
Physical Description
23 pages, only partially transcribed; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8
ips, 115 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Montenyohl, Eric
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
W. Edson Richmond discusses his involvement with the Indiana
University Folklore Institute. Richmond came to IU as an English professor in
1945 and because of his interest in ballads, began teaching folklore courses.
Due to of his early involvement in the Institute, he became acting director
during the interim between directors Stith Thompson and Richard Dorson.
Richmond discusses the purpose of the Folklore Fellows. Much of the interview
is untranscribed due to a poor recording.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Baughman, Ernest W.
- Brewster, Paul
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Halpert, Herbert
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Herzog, George
- Jansen, William Hugh
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- ballads
- dissertation writing
- Folklore Fellows
- linguistic atlas
Interviewee
Roberts, Warren E.
June 25,
1986
Call Number
87-019
Physical Description
51 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 103 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Montenyohl, Eric
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Warren Roberts discusses his interests in folklore and his
involvement in the Indiana University Folklore Institute. Roberts became
interested in folklore as an undergraduate at Reed College in Oregon where he
studied ballads. He came to IU to study under Stith Thompson and received what
is considered to be the first folklore doctoral degree given at IU. He was then
hired as a professor and first taught Thompson's folktale classes. Subsequently
he started teaching material culture classes as his interests in folklore
changed. Roberts discusses his relationship with Thompson, and Thompson's
influence on the IU Folklore Institute, and the study of folklore in general.
Roberts also describes Richard Dorson's personality and his influence on the
Institute. Roberts discusses his participation in the IU Folklore Summer
Institutes. He describes the development of the animosity between Pennsylvania
State University and Indiana University folklorists, stemming from a clash of
personalities and dealing within the American Folklore Society. Roberts talks
about his work with material culture and his hopes for a folk museum which
never came to be. He speaks of collecting log buildings and other artifacts
from around Indiana for his museum.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
- Indiana University Foundation
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- Pennsylvania State University
- Reed College
- United States Army
-
-
Occupation Names
- folklore professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Ashton, John W.
- Boas, Franz
- Botkin, Benjamin A.
- Byer, Samuel P.
- Coffin, Tristam
- Cook, Bill
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Franklin, Joseph
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Herzog, George
- Jackson, George Pullen
- Jansen, William Hugh
- Leach, MacEdward
- Perrault, Charles
- Rabin, Joseph
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Sullivan, Wallace
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Brookville Lake, Indiana
- Fairfield, Indiana
- Freedom, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- 1944 GI Bill
-
English and Scottish Popular
Ballads
- fakelore
- folk museums
- folk narrative
- folklore library
- historic-geographic method
- log cabins
- material culture
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
- Native American folk narrative
- Rogers Center
- sacred harp music
- Star Husband tale
Interviewee
Rosenberg, Neil
October, 20,
1985
Call Number
87-009
Physical Description
62 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 59 minutes; index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Neil Rosenberg, born on March 21, 1939, discusses his great
enjoyment of music. He recalls his involvement in the 'folksong revival' as an
undergraduate, which developed into an interest in the field of folklore. He
continued his musical involvement by playing in a bluegrass band while studying
folklore at Indiana University (IU) as a graduate. Rosenberg recalls professors
whom he studied under, what student life was like, and the frustration and work
he put into his dissertation. He talks about Richard Dorson, his impact on the
program, and his anti-folkmusic attitude. He compares the IU folklore program
to that of other universities, talks about rivalries between them, and about
what brought IU out on top including its internationalism. He also talks about
working at IU and what he learned from it.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- University of Pennsylvania
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Halpert, Herbert
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Thompson, Stith
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Subjects
- dissertation
- folk music
- folksong revival
- international reputation
- student life
- summer institute
- university rivalries
Interviewee
Sebeok, Thomas A.
January 25,
1988
Call Number
87-041
Physical Description
85 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 49 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Thomas A. Sebeok, born on November 9, 1920, discusses how he
first became involved in folklore through studying and publishing in related
fields. He speaks of the very beginning of the folklore program at Indiana
University (IU) as a summer institute, and the people involved with it
including Stith Thompson and Herman B Wells. Although not directly involved in
the department, Sebeok talks about his experiences in the field and those in
it, as well as his part in bringing Richard Dorson to IU. He speaks a great
deal about Dorson, his accomplishments, his role in the Institute, and his
influences overall. Sebeok gives a general account of the history of the IU
folklore institute, and the changes it has undergone since its beginning, as an
objective observer.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University Department of Anthropology
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
Journal of American
Folklore
-
-
Personal Names
- Bauman, Richard
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Jakobson, Roman
- Thompson, Stith
- Voegelin, Carl F.
- Wells, Herman B
-
-
Subjects
- department faculty
- folklore program founding
- international reputation
- linguistic summer institute
Interviewee
Smith, Ronald
September 21,
1987
Call Number
87-039
Physical Description
95 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 118 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Ronald Smith speaks of his educational background and his
subsequent involvement with the Indiana University Folklore Institute. Smith
describes the New York City Public School system where he was first a student,
then a teacher and administrator. After teaching music for a few years, Smith
decided to go back to school to earn a PhD in folklore because he was
interested in ethnomusicology. Smith attended the IU Folklore Institute while
Richard Dorson was director, and later became a professor of ethnomusicology in
the folklore department. Smith describes his relationship to Dorson first as a
student and then as a faculty member. Smith also evaluates both Dorson's and
Stith Thompson's impact on the IU Folklore Institute and the field of folklore
as a whole.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Bronx Borough Chorus
- Clinton High School
- Hunter College
-
-
Occupation Names
- ethnomusicology professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dorson, Richard M.
- List, George
- Ortiz, Norma
- Primrose, William
- Stone, Ruth
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Place Names
- Bronx, New York
- New York, New York
-
-
Subjects
- ethnomusicology
- fieldwork
- folklore curriculum
- Ford Foundation grants
- public schools
- teacher examinations
Interviewee
Steiner, Shirley
August 29,
1987
Call Number
87-037
Physical Description
15 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 30 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Shirley Steiner discusses her interests in folklore and her
perceptions of folklore as a discipline. She describes her educational
background and her decision to go back to school after many years to study
folklore at University of California Los Angeles. She spends some time
discussing the teaching methods used in her classes, and their frequent mention
of Richard Dorson and his writings. Although Stith Thompson is mentioned she
does not have the perception that he was one of the modern folklore scholars.
She touched upon the differences between the different folklore programs in the
United States, the prominent folklore scholars and the "friendly rivalry"
between schools. She also spends some time discussing her interests in
folklore, which mostly focused on tarot cards.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Oberlin College
- University of California, Los Angeles
-
-
Occupation Names
- psychotherapist
-
-
Personal Names
- Bauman, Richard
- Botkin, Benjamin A.
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Stoeltje, Beverly
- Thompson, Stith
-
Interviewee
Stekert, Ellen
June 22,
1987
Call Number
87-035
Physical Description
128 pages; 3 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 160 minutes, no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Stekert speaks of her involvement with the Indiana
University Folklore Institute. She outlines her early education and her early
interests in folklore, mostly from classes at Cornell University and from her
involvement in the folksong revival. She attended IU to earn her master's
degree and then the
University of Pennsylvania to earn her PhD. Stekert
describes at length her turbulent relationship with Richard Dorson as a student
and then a colleague. She describes her fellow students at IU and the
intellectual environment they created. She touches upon her reasons for leaving
IU after earning her master's degree. She describes her experiences as a
doctoral student at U Penn. She also speaks briefly of her time at Wayne
State University and her work in the Wayne State University Archives.
Throughout the interview she mentions her childhood bout with polio, and how it
has affected her life. She describes some pictures she has saved from her time
at IU. She also evaluates the education she received at IU.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- Cornell University
-
Journal of American
Folklore
- University of
Pennsylvania
- Wayne State University
- Wayne State University Folklore Archives
-
-
Occupation Names
- English professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Bidney, David
- Botkin, Benjamin A.
- Carpenter, Inta
- Coffin, Tristam
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Gloria
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Dundes, Alan
- Garvin, Tony
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Hand, Wayland D.
- Hauser, Laura
- Hickerson, Joseph
- Ives, Edward D. "Sandy"
- James, Thelma
- Köngäs Maranda, Elli K.
- Leach, MacEdward
- McCullough, Judith M.
- Paredes, Américo
- Randolph, Vance
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Roberts, Warren E.
- Thompson, Harold W.
- Thompson, Shelby
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- fakelore
- folklore library
- folksong revival
- McCarthyism
-
Motif-index of Folk-Literature :
a Classification of Narrative Elements in Folk Tales, Ballads, Myths, Fables,
Mediaeval Romances
-
Ozark Folksongs
- polio
- urban folklore
- World War II
Interviewee
Stern, Stephen
March 10,
1986
Call Number
87-013
Physical Description
121 pages, 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 25 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Stephen Stern, born on June 12, 1947, talks about his early life
and education, and how that later affected the direction of his collegiate
studies. He discusses studying philosophy at UCLA and not being completely
satisfied until he found folklore, which brought him to Indiana University (IU)
for a Ph.D. He recalls courses and professors, classmates and social
atmosphere, and all that he learned. He talks about the great sense of
community within the department as well as the politics that also took place
usually in league with Richard Dorson. He discusses Dorson, his teaching style,
his personality, and his power within the department. Stern speaks of the great
opportunity he had as a graduate student to create and teach a course in Jewish
folklore. He talks about writing his dissertation, the support he had from both
Dorson and fellow students. He compares the program at IU to that of UCLA where
he now works. He also comments on the many people who have remained close since
his time at IU.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- University of California, Los Angeles
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Georges, Robert A.
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Rourke, Constance
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Los Angeles, California
-
-
Subjects
- departmental community
- departmental politics
- dissertation
- folklore program changes
- Jewish folklore
- student life
Interviewee
Stoeltje, Beverly
June 11,
1987
Call Number
87-034
Physical Description
46 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour 31 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Beverly Stoeltje, born in 1940, discusses studying folklore at
the University of Texas (UT) at the graduate level and her interest in the
American west. She discusses the courses and the different techniques of
teaching used by the instructors. She discusses her impressions of Indiana
University (IU) as a student of UT, many of which concern Richard Dorson, and
goes on to compare the universities including the University of Pennsylvania.
She talks about the process of coming to work at IU, about teaching, and about
marrying within the field. Stoeltje discusses Dorson, their relationship, his
treatment of women, his influence and power, and his contributions to both the
institute and the field. She also discusses folklore as a discipline,
especially in America, and what influences the Folklore Institute has had upon
folklore and vice versa.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Bauman, Richard
- Boatwright, Mody
- Brown, Mary Ellen
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
- American West folklore
- fakelore
- folklore discipline
- folklore program weaknesses
- teaching
- university rivalries
Interviewee
Stone, Ruth
December 17,
1987
Call Number
87-040
Physical Description
59 pages; 3 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 129 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ruth Stone discusses her involvement with the Indiana University
Folklore Institute. She discusses her educational background: first living in a
village in Liberia and later returning to the United States to attend Juilliard
and Hunter College. She discusses her reasons for choosing the IU Folklore
Institute to earn her PhD and spends time comparing IU's program to other
programs active during that period. She discusses the atmosphere of the
Institute while she was a student and names her mentors. She speaks of the
competitive atmosphere that was also informal, leading to many parties. She
also speaks of her involvement as a professor in developing the ethnomusicology
program at IU. She compares the interdisciplinary and international nature of
IU's program with others in America. She spends some time discussing the
Indiana University Archives of Traditional Music, the Mathers Museum, and the
Hoagy Carmichael memorabilia. She outlines the influences of Richard Dorson and
Stith Thompson on the development of IU's Folklore Institute and on the
discipline of folklore as a whole.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Hunter College
- Indiana University Archives of Traditional
Music
- Juilliard School
- Mathers Museum of World Cultures
- Society of Ethnomusicology
- University of Northern Iowa
-
-
Occupation Names
- ethnomusicology professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Boiles, Charles
- Brandel, Rose
- Cashion Jerry
- Dégh, Linda
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Glassie, Henry H.
- Jansen, Judith
- List, George
- Merriam, Alan P.
- Smith, Ron
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
-
Subjects
- African studies
- ethnomusicology
- ethnomusicology curriculum
- fieldwork
- folklore department pig roast
- Hoagy Carmichael memorabilia
- Kpelle language
Interviewee
Wells, Herman B
December 18,
1985
Call Number
87-010
Physical Description
16 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 34 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Harrah-Conforth, Jeanne
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Herman B Wells speaks of his relationship with Stith Thompson
and his role in founding the Indiana University Folklore Institute. He speaks
of the slow process of developing a new academic discipline. He also touched
upon his relationship with Richard Dorson.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University Folklore Summer Institute
-
-
-
Occupation Names
- university president
-
-
Personal Names
- Ashton, John W.
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
Subjects
-
Being There
- discipline development
Interviewee
Wilson, William A. "Bert"
September 18,
1986
Call Number
87-021
Physical Description
94 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours 29 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Domowitz, Susan
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
William A. "Bert" Wilson, born on September 23, 1933, talks
about his early life and education. He talks about going to Finland on a Mormon
trip and becoming interested in Finnish literature. Through a National Defense
Education Act (NDEA) language fellowship, he was able to study Finnish
literature further at Indiana University (IU) and its roots in folklore. He
recalls courses that he took, the professors, what he learned from them, and
how the program expanded his interest to include Mormon and American folklore.
He also recalls students who studied at IU during his different times there,
and their great camaraderie and lasting friendships. Wilson talks a great deal
about Richard Dorson and his huge impact on IU folklore through his amazing
power, his high expectations and aspirations for his students and for the
field. He talks about Dorson's relationships with others, mostly in terms of
love-hate, and about the conflicts Dorson had with many including David Bidney
and Duncan Emerich. Wilson goes on to talk about the great contributions Stith
Thompson made to the IU program, creating a strong supportive base for Dorson,
and to the field, through his work on the historic-geographic method. He
compares this program building on a smaller level to that of Alta and Austin
Fife at Utah State University and talks about the growth of folklore programs
at other universities. He discusses his work for his dissertation and at
editing over the years. He also discusses the changes the IU Folklore Institute
has undergone since Dorson's death.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Folklore Society
- Brigham Young University
- National Defense Education Act Language
Fellowship
- Utah State University
-
-
Occupation Names
- professor
-
-
Personal Names
- Bidney, David
- Dorson, Richard M.
- Emerich, Duncan B.
- Fife, Alta
- Fife, Austin
- Oinas, Felix J.
- Richmond, W. Edson
- Thompson, Stith
-
-
-
Subjects
- American history
- departmental changes
- departmental politics
- dissertation
- Finnish literature
- folklore definition
- folklore program founding
- historic-geographic method
- journal editing
- Mormon folklore
- student life