Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

 Introduction

The Dr. Joel Rudinger papers are comprised of material collected by Dr. Rudinger during his time as a professor of English and Popular Culture at the Firelands Campus of Bowling Green State University. The majority of the collection was transferred to the Center of Archival Collections by the Popular Culture department at BGSU Main Campus in August 2012, with additional material donated directly to the Center by Dr. Rudinger in the same month. The 8 3/4 linear feet collection has been separated into office files, manuscripts, research notes, newsclippings, printed material, photographic material, and audio recordings ranging from 1966 to 2003.

General folklore and folk life topics are detailed within the collection, including material culture, foodways, folk culture, folk tales, family lore, and humor. As the majority of research for the collection materials was performed in Northern Ohio, there is a decided emphasis on the folklore and legends of the region.

No restrictions exist on the research use of this collection and duplication is permitted for research purposes. The register was completed by undergraduate student archival assistant Rebecca Denes in October, 2012.

 Biographical Sketch

Dr. Joel Rudinger is a Professor Emeritus of English and Popular Culture at the Firelands Campus of Bowling Green State University. He specializes in various aspects of folklore and has published several articles on national folklore and on the regional folklore of the Ohio Western Reserve region, with an emphasis on the area known as the Firelands.

During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Rudinger collected and saved work created by many of his students, which is presented in this collection. Included are several student essays written for both English and Popular Culture classes, as well as detailed and extensive folklore collecting projects that required students to perform field research and document their findings. These student projects make up the majority of the collection.

 Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection is comprised of student folklore collections. These contain a variety of folklore and folk life resources and vary in size and scope. Many of the projects appear to be complete, while others may be missing some of their original content. Not all of the student projects have the same types of information, but in general they present examples of material culture, foodways, folk culture, folk tales, family lore, and humor. In addition to the organized collections, there are also approximately 15,000 to 16,000 index cards from 1972 to 2003, each with a single example of beliefs, traditions, sayings, legends, jokes, and riddles.

As the majority of the contents were collected and reported by students living in the Firelands area of the Western Reserve region, they represent folklore transmission and variation on a micro level. The inclusion of student essays from 1970, 1986, and 2001 allow researchers to trace changes in lore that may have occurred during the thirty-one year time span. Most popular amongst the essays is the legend of Gore Orphanage, a tale that is well known by many who grew up in the Vermilion, Ohio area. Regional legends also include the Castalia Blue Hole, the Oak Harbor “Spook Light,” and the Maple Grove Cemetery Angel. Other essays track common superstitions about subjects like death, marriage, childhood, and health.

There are forty-five audio recordings included in the collection, primarily of folk tales and folk music. Many were recorded by students as part of their collections, and a number were recorded by Dr. Rudinger himself. In some cases, it was difficult to determine the origin of the recordings and so they are listed under “general audio.” The majority of the recordings are on reel-to-reel tapes, though there are a small number of cassettes. Due to the format, most of the audio recordings are currently not fully accessible to researchers.

 Series Description

OFFICE FILES

GENERAL FILES
1982 – 1999, n.d.
Five folders, arranged chronologically by type
Assorted syllabi, assignments, and exam information for classes taught by Dr. Rudinger.

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

MANUSCRIPTS – DR. JOEL RUDINGER
1971, n.d.
Two folders, arranged chronologically by type
First chapter of dissertation, “Wandering the Garden” article.

MANUSCRIPTS – STUDENT ESSAYS
1970 – 2001, n.d.
Fourteen folders, arranged chronologically by subject
Assorted student written essays on a variety of folklore related topics.

MANUSCRIPTS – COLLECTING PROJECTS
1968 – 2003, n.d.
Eighty folders, arranged alphabetically by date
Assorted student collection materials.

RESEARCH NOTES
1972 – 2003, n.d.
Thirteen boxes, arranged by year
Approximately 15,000 – 16,000 index cards containing examples of beliefs, traditions, sayings, legends, jokes, and riddles

SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1999 – 2003
Three folders, arranged chronologically
Two news articles and one collection of news sources used as folklore examples by Dr. Rudinger.

PRINTED MATERIAL

NEWSLETTERS
1963 – 1964
Two folders, arranged chronologically
Two newsletters, from Huron Junior High School and from unknown camp.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHS
1968 – 1984, n.d.
Eight folders, arranged chronologically by subject
Photographs of examples of folk and material culture, assorted sizes.

AUDIO RECORDINGS

AUDIOTAPES
1968 – 1990, n.d.
Arranged chronologically by type
Forty-six recordings, primarily folk songs and tales recorded by students and by Dr. Rudinger.

 Inventory

Box 1

1. Assorted syllabi for classes taught by Dr. Joel Rudinger, 1982 – 1985, n.d.
2. Popular Culture 250 (Firelands Campus) exam study guide, n.d.
3. Popular Culture 220 (Firelands Campus) final exam, Fall 1983
4. Popular Culture 220 (Firelands Campus) Student Collection Project assignment sheet, September 8, 1999
5. Handwritten assignment sheet, n.d.
6. Table of Contents and first chapter of Joel Rudinger dissertation, August, 1971
7. “Wandering the Garden” article by Joel Rudinger, n.d.
8. Assorted student essays used as examples for later classes, 1970 – 1972
9. “Believe in a Higher Being” handwritten student essay, March 4, 1975
10. Student essays - Death and funeral customs traditions, 1986, n.d.
11. Student essays - Pregnancy and childhood superstitions, 1986, n.d.
12. Student essays - Gore Orphanage Legend, 1986, 2001
13. Student essays - Headless Motorcycle Rider/Spook Light legend, 1986, 2001
14. Student essays - Health and healing superstitions, 1986, 2001
15. Student essays - Marriage and courtship superstitions and tradition, 1986, 2001, n.d.
16. Student essays – Assorted Superstitions and traditions, 1986, 2001, n.d.
17. Student essays – Castalia, Ohio “Blue Hole” legend, 2001
18. Student essays – Ouija Board legends, 2001
19. Student essays – Urban Legends, 2001
20. Student essays – Folk Games, 2001

Box 2

1. Student essays – Assorted ghost and spirit legends, 2001
2. Student essays – Assorted Western Reserve regional legends, 2001, n.d.
3. Student Collecting Project – Various pen and paper game instruction sheets, 1968, n.d.
4. Student Collecting Project – Joan Reely Lash, July 24, 1970
5. Student Collecting Project – Ruth Kraus, July 21, 1972
6. Student Collecting Project – Nanci Sani, July 21, 1972
7. Student Collecting Project – Mary Schaaf, July 21, 1972
8. Student Collecting Project – Mary Schaaf, July 21, 1972 (Folder 2)
9. Student Collecting Project – Kathy Smothers, July 21, 1972
10. Student Collection Project – Jane Wensink, July 21, 1972

Box 3

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Debby and Margaret Wakefield, July 23, 1972
2. Student Collecting Project – Debby and Margaret Wakefield, July 23, 1972 (Folder 2)
3. Student Collecting Project – Dorothy Golden, July 24, 1972
4. Student Collecting Project – Larry Lepard, July 24, 1972
5. Student Collecting Project – Ann Mock, July 24, 1972
6. Student Collecting Project – Ann Mock, July 24, 1972 ( Folder 2)
7. Student Collecting Project – Diane Opfer, July 24, 1972

Box 4

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Marjorie Rehark, July 24, 1972
2. Student Collecting Project – Marjorie Rehark, July 24, 1972
3. Student Collecting Project – Cathy Hohman, June 9, 1975
4. Student Collecting Project – Winn Biglin, September 20, 1983
5. Student Collecting Project – Tina Ackerman, December 6, 1983
6. Student Collecting Project – Eric Lieber, December 6, 1983
7. Student Collecting Project – Michael Shover, December 6, 1983
8. Student Collecting Project – Lynn Brandts, 1983
9. Student Collecting Project – Patt Bricker, 1983
10. Student Collecting Project – Patti Dennis, 1983
11. Student Collecting Project – Ellen Dubbert, 1983
12. Student Collecting Project – Debra Logan, 1983
13. Student Collecting Project – Harrison Smith, 1983
14. Student Collecting Project – Donna Katrincsak, December 9, 1984
15. Student Collecting Project – Bonita DeLuca, December 10, 1984
16. Student Collecting Project – Christine Linder, December 10, 1984

Box 5

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Jolie Reising, December 10, 1984
2. Student Collecting Project – Carol Wiesenauer, December 1984
3. Student Collecting Project – Catherine Cox, 1984
4. Student Collecting Project – Bert and Noreen Fitzgerald, 1984
5. Student Collecting Project – Dorothy Konst, 1984
6. Student Collecting Project – Unknown, 1984
7. Student Collecting Project – Jennifer Kelly, August 15, 1985
8. Student Collecting Project – Sharon Olmstead, December 10, 1986
9. Student Collecting Project – Bart Procter, December 17, 1986
10. Student Collecting Project – Peter Sterk, 1986
11. Student Collecting Project – Kathi Butler, December 7, 1987
12. Student Collecting Project – Lori Kiser, December 7, 1987
13. Student Collecting Project – Pamela Kuban, December 7, 1987
14. Student Collecting Project – Jill Nemitz, December 7, 1987
15. Student Collecting Project – BJ Rowland, December 7, 1987
16. Student Collecting Project – Dan Traczek, December 7, 1987
17. Student Collecting Project – Michael Bradley, 1987
18. Student Collecting Project – Joan Lasky, 1987
19. Student Collecting Project – Joan Lasky, 1987 (Folder 2)

Box 6

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – C. McNally, 1987
2. Student Collecting Project – Pamela King, 1990
3. Student Collecting Project – Suzanne Cowan, 1992
4. Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996
5. Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996 (Folder 2)
6. Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996 (Folder 3)
7. Student Collecting Project – Marcia Blue, December 7, 1999
8. Student Collecting Project – Terri Jones, December 7, 1999

Box 7

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Dustin Meyers, December 7, 1999
2. Student Collecting Project – Branden Wiley, December 7, 1999
3. Student Collecting Project – Valeria Bennet, 1999
4. Student Collecting Project – Kristen Dennison, 1999
5. Student Collecting Project – S. Joy, 1999
6. Student Collecting Project – Tara Peck Timar, 1999
7. Student Collecting Project – Marlisa Young, 1999
8. Student Collecting Project – Assorted Progress Reports, 1999
9. Student Collecting Project – Kimberlee Valentine, April 18, 2003
10. Student Collecting Project – Chris Pean, April 25, 2003
11. Student Collecting Project – Chris Pean, April 25, 2003 (Folder 2)
12. Student Collecting Project – Kelly Thurston, April 28, 2003
13. Student Collecting Project – Marilyn Turner, April 2003
14. Student Collecting Project – Rebecca Myers, 2003
15. Student Collecting Project – Mark Noftz, 2003
16. Student Collecting Project – Carla Ontko

Box 8

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Elizabeth Sowecke, 2003
2. Student Collecting Project – Thomas Frey, n.d.
3. Student Collecting Project – Valorie Osbun, n.d.
4. Student Collecting Project –Claudia Whyde, n.d.
5. Student Collecting Project – Unknown, n.d.
6. Student Collecting Project – Uknown, n.d.
7. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1972 – 1983

Box 9

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1983 – 1984

Box 10

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1984

Box 11

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1985 – 1986

Box 12

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1986

Box 13

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1986 - 1987

Box 14

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1987 – 1990

Box 15

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1990 – 1992

Box 16

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1992 – 1999

Box 17

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1999

Box 18

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1999 – 2003

Box 19

Folders

1. Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 2003, n.d.

Box 20

Folders

1. Jokes and riddles index cards, 1983 – 1996

Box 21

Folders

1. Jokes and riddles index cards, 1996 – 2003, n.d.

Box 22

Folders

1. “False E-mail Promises Free Cars, Credit” Sandusky Register article with attached e-mail example, October 17, 1999
2. “Pearl’s Last Ride” Sandusky Register with typed annotations, March 23, 2003
3. Collection “Kidney Snatcher” folklore sources, 2003
4. Huron Junior High School “Kitten Kapers” newsletter, 1963 – 1964
5. “Camper’s Chronicle” newsletter, [1964?]
6. Material culture (quilting) photo, May 1968
7. Religious iconography photo, June 1979
8. Folk art and material culture photos, October 1984
9. Assorted stone marker photos, October 1984
10. Gore Orphanage area photos, October 1984
11. Photo of “Old House” near Fitchville, Ohio, October 1984
12. Photo of “Toilet Papered” house, October 1984
13. Modern photos of assorted one-room schoolhouses, n.d.
14. Handmade paper “Fortune Teller”/”Cootie Catcher,” n.d.

Box 23

Folders

1. Student Collecting Project – Various tape recording data sheets, 1968
2. Student Collecting Project – Various tape recording data sheets, 1970 – 1990, n.d.
3. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Peg Vance, May 15, 1968
4. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Mary Ledwin, n.d.
5. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Sheila Smith, October 2, 1968
6. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Mary Ledwin, December, 1968
7. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Marji Hazen, n.d.
8. Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Chuck Junoo, n.d.
9. Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, Liza Zaleski, December 11, 1990
10. Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, BJ Rowland, n.d.
11. Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, Diana Thom, n.d.
12. Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, Richard Chase, n.d.
13. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, March 6, 1968
14. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, 1968
15. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, 1968
16. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, June, 1970
17. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, August, 1970
18. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, October, 1970
19. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, November 11, 1970
20. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, n.d.
21. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, n.d.
22. Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, n.d.
23. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Lana Blythe, n.d.
24. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Marji Hazen, n.d.
25. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Holtzhauser, n.d.
26. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, No name listed, n.d.
27. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, No name listed, n.d.
28. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Dave McDonald, n.d.
29. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Martha Johnson, December 19, 1966
30. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ben Young and Family, March 16, 1970
31. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Truscott Family, April 19, 1970
32. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jan Ellen Weske, October 30, 1970
33. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Henry Timman, November 11, 1970
34. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jeanine Williams, December 6, 1970
35. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ruth Bartley and Diane Henderson, n.d.
36. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jess Begley, n.d.
37. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Paula Belch, n.d.
38. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jack Beuschlein, n.d.
39. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Richard Chase, n.d.
40. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Dershewitz, n.d.
41. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Dershewitz, n.d. (Second Tape)
42. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Hawks, n.d.
43. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Martha Johnson, n.d.
44. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ken Neuenschwander, n.d.
45. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, David Peterson, n.d.
46. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Gwen Sprau, n.d.
47. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jane Young and Connie Wright, n.d.
48. General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, No name listed, n.d.

Manuscripts by Subject | Education Collections