Center for Archival Collections

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

 Introduction

The Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Faculty and Student Folklore Collection was transferred to the Center for Archival Collection (CAC) on August 28, 1990 from the Popular Culture Library by Brenda McCallum, Head of the Popular Culture Library. An addition cubic foot of records were given to the Center for Archival Collections by the Popular Culture Department in July, 2012. The eleven cubic feet of records, dating from 1951-1994, are comprised of student project files, Black Swamp Folklife Festival files, and miscellaneous folklore files.

No restrictions have been placed on the use of this collection. The finding aid was prepared by Eric Honneffer in June 2005 and updated by Joan Eardly, Student Archival Assistant, in October 2012.

Sketch

The BGSU Faculty and Student Folklore Collection documents student projects completed at BGSU between 1964-1983. Folklore classes were first introduced at BGSU during the 1960's in the Department of English and later formed part of the curriculum in the Popular Culture Department. Professors Winkelman, Erdely, Browne, Rudinger, Motz, Arpad, and Geist were affiliated with folklore instruction at BGSU. Some of their names appear in the collection.

Among the classes represented in the collection’s student project files are English 372, Folklore 421, Popular Culture 220, 424 and 490, and American Culture Studies 780. Projects primarily concentrated on students interviewing individuals to document local, state, national and international folktales, superstitions, customs, riddles, jokes, songs, games, folk arts and the like.

 Scope and Content

The BGSU Faculty and Student Folklore Collection contain student project files, Black Swamp Folklife Festival files, and miscellaneous folklore files created for folklore classes at BGSU between 1964-1994.

The student project files (nine cubic feet) contain class papers focusing upon a variety of folktales, superstitions, customs, riddles, jokes, songs, games, folk arts and the like. A portion of the files are arranged by some of the above-mentioned categories while others are labeled as general collections since they contain multiple subjects in one paper. All of these files are then arranged alphabetically by the last name of the student. Material donated at a later date is filed separately and in subject order in Box 12. Tape indexes, informant lists and note cards with summary data from the papers can also be found in the collection. All student papers may not have matching cards, tape indexes and informant lists. For some projects there may be no paper and only some cards. The 1964-1994 date span is scattered. Most of the papers were written between the years of 1964-1968 with approximately 10% from the 1980s-1990s.

Many BGSU, Bowling Green and northwest Ohio references are included among the subjects covered in the student papers. Local ghost stories, college lore, superstitions and folk tales may be found here. There are hardly any documents such as class syllabi to provide insights into the various folklore classes. Some project instructions for English 372 are located at the end of the student project files along with miscellaneous bibliographies. Some of the student papers had been wet at some point and were duplicated. Because of their poor condition some illegibility has resulted.

The Black Swamp Folklife Festival files comprise two cubic feet of this collection. The festival was held at BGSU from May 21-23, 1976. The event not only marked the nations bicentennial but showcased the history, culture and arts of northwest Ohio. Students in Popular Culture 490 assisted with the three-day event as part of their class requirements.

The files are arranged by subject: funding and planning, publicity, and interview report forms. Within these subjects the box contents are arranged alphabetically by topic. These records reflect the many details of planning, publicizing and in general organizing a National Endowment for the Humanities grant-funded event. Office files, correspondence, financial records, planning documents, original art work for festival publicity and general history about the Black Swamp region of northwest Ohio may be found in the files. Interview report forms and other data related to individual artisans, craftsmen, performers and others participating or considered for participation at the festival are included.

Lastly, miscellaneous folklore files from 1951-1965 consist of a few folders of membership data, publications and meeting announcements for state folklore societies in Ohio, California and Kentucky. A constitution and meeting programs for November 1965 from the American Folklore Society are also included. Some printed materials related to folklore topics and miscellaneous documents from Ross County, Ohio can be found in these folklore files as well.

 Series Description

SUBJECT FILES

STUDENT PROJECT FILES
1964-1994 (scattered)
Arranged by subject and then alphabetically by student name.
Includes folklore class papers, tape indexes, informant lists and note cards with summary data from the papers.

BLACK SWAMP FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL FILES
1975-1976
Arranged by general subject, then alphabetically by topics.
Files include correspondence, financial records, planning documents, original artwork for festival publicity, general reference materials and data relative to artisans, craftsmen, performers and others who were considered or actually participated at the festival.

MISCELLANEOUS FOLKLORE FILES
1951-1965 (scattered)
These files contain membership data, publications and meeting announcements for state folklore societies in Ohio, California and Kentucky. A constitution and meeting programs for November 1965 from the American Folklore Society are included, as well as printed materials devoted to folklore topics. Miscellaneous documents relating to history and folklore is included for Ross County, Ohio.

 Inventory

Box 1: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Folktales (A-O)
2. Folktales (John J. Brady)
3. Folktales (C-E)
4. Folktales (F)
5. Folktales (G-H)
6. Folktales (K-L)
7. Folktales (M)
8. Folktales (N-O)

Box 2: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Folktales (Sandi Peterson)
2. Folktales (P-Q)
3. Folktales (R)
4. Folktales (Joel D. Rudinger)
5. Folktales (Schatt-Sloboda)
6. Folktales (Smith-Straley)
7. Folktales (T)
8. Folktales (U-Z; unidentified)

Box 3: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Folk Art (A-B)
2. Folk Art (C-G)
3. Folk Art (H)
4. Folk Art (K-M)
5. Folk Art (N)
6. Folk Art (O-Q)
7. Folk Art (R-V)
8. Folk Art (W)
9. Folk Art (Diane Zachrich)
10. Folk Art (miscellaneous, unidentified)
11. Food and Medicine (C-Z, unidentified)

Box 4: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Folk Songs (A-C)
2. Folk Songs (D)
3. Folk Songs (E-G)
4. Folk Songs (H)
5. Folk Songs (K-L)
6. Folk Songs (M)
7. Folk Songs (N-R)
8. Folk Songs (S)
9. Folk Songs (T-Z, unidentified)
10. Verse (A-Z)
11. Sayings and Proverbs (H-T)

Box 5: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Jokes and Riddles (A-D)
2. Jokes and Riddles (F-K)
3. Jokes and Riddles (M-O)
4. Jokes and Riddles (P-R)
5. Jokes and Riddles (Schott-Sika)
6. Jokes and Riddles (Smith-Straley)
7. Jokes and Riddles (T-Unidentified)
8. Games (A-M)
9. Games (N-T)
10. Superstitions (A-H)
11. Superstitions (K-Unidentified)

Box 6: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Folk Groups, Black Folklore (A - Fakonda)
2. Folk Groups, Black Folklore (A - unidentified)
3. Graffiti (K. Pituch, P. Wright)
4. BGSU Traditions (R. Orf, J. Rudinger, G. Sheers)
5. Christmas (J. Brady, W. Schurk)
6. Other Countries (A-S)
7. Rural (D. Bullock, J. Renn, K. Yoder)
8. Weddings (B-Unidentified)
9. Miscellaneous (A-R)
10. Miscellaneous (D-S)

Box 7: Student Project Files

Folder

1. General Collections (A)
2. General Collections (P. Batouche)
3. General Collections (J. Baumann)
4. General Collections (B. Brady)
5. General Collections (B)
6. General Collections (M. Campbell)
7. General Collections (G. Clouse)
8. General Collections (B. Cooper)
9. General Collections (C)
10. General Collections (J. Dally)
11. General Collections (E. Dinse)
12. General Collections (D)
13. General Collections (E)
14. General Collections (F)

Box 8: Student Project Files

Folder

1. General Collections (I. Gardin)
2. General Collections (S. Gasbare)
3. General Collections (N. Gebhardt)
4. General Collections (S. Gilson)
5. General Collections (D. Grime)
6. General Collections (D. Grime) (duplicate)
7. General Collections (J. Hufnagle)
8. General Collections (J. Hufnagle) (duplicate)
9. General Collections (B. Keirstead)
10. General Collections (B. Keirstead) (duplicate)
11. General Collections (B. Kennedy)
12. General Collections (K)

Box 9: Student Project Files

Folder

1. General Collections (M. Ledwin)
2. General Collections (B. Lyell)
3. General Collections (J. McKeever)
4. General Collections (M. Moore)
5. General Collections (T. Muhovich)
6. General Collections (J. Nagel)
7. General Collections (B. Nolting)
8. General Collections (D. O'Brien)
9. General Collections (N. O'Dell)
10. General Collections (C. Passarelli)
11. General Collections (N. Payne)
12. General Collections (K. Powley)
13. General Collections (D. Pulschen)
14. General Collections (D. Pulschen) (duplicate)
15. General Collections (P)

Box 10: Student Project Files

Folder

1. General Collections (F. Ruffer)
2. General Collections (R)
3. General Collections (A. Saunders)
4. General Collections (A. Saunders) (duplicate)
5. General Collections (J. Saunders)
6. General Collections (J. Saunders) (duplicate)
7. General Collections (S. Saunders)
8. General Collections (S. Saunders) (duplicate)
9. General Collections (K. Schatt)
10. General Collections (A. Smith)
11. General Collections (S. Smith)
12. General Collections (K. Sunderman)

Box 11: Student Project Files

Folder

1. General Collections (T)
2. General Collections (V)
3. General Collections (W)
4. General Collections (Z)
5. General Collections (Miscellaneous)

Box 12: Student Project Files

Folder

1. BGSU Traditions, 1983-1984
2. Black Folklore, 1981, 1991
3. Customs: Housework, 1981
4. Dating/Weddings, 1981-1983
5. Family Traditions, 1984-1986
6. Folktales, 1981, 1984
7. Folk Arts & Crafts, 1982-1993
8. Folk Speech/Nicknames, 1981-1984
9. Folk Songs, 1981-1984
10. Folk Songs, 1990-1994
11. Folk Songs Project: Michael D. Ottney, 1987
12. Folk Songs Project: Brenda Wilhelm, 1984
13. Food Customs/Rituals, 1981-1987
14. Food Customs/Rituals, 1990
15. Other Countries, 1982-1984
16. Medicine, 1981-1984
17. Medicine, 1988-1991
18. Occupational Folklore, 1984, 1994
19. Pregnancy and Menstruation Beliefs, 1981, 1988
20. Rural Folklore, 1984, 1991
21. Social Events, 1990-1991
22. Sports/Organizations, 1981-1987
23. Sports/Organizations 1990-1994
24. Supernatural: Ghosts and Vampires, 1984-1985
25. Superstitions: College, 1984, 1991
26. Superstitions and Folktales Project: Carol Passarelli, 1967
27. Weather and Planting, 1981-1984

Box 13: Student Project Files

Folder

1. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (A-D)
2. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (E-G)
3. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (H-K)
4. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (L-M)
5. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (N-R)
6. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (S)
7. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (T-U)
8. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (V-Z)
9. Tape Indexes and Informat Lists (unidentified)
10. English 372 projects with instructions and miscellaneous bibliographies

Box 14: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (A-D)

Box 15: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (Dix-Mc)

Box 16: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (M-P)

Box 17: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (Pie-V)

Box 18: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (W-Z)

Box 19: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - 3x5 cards (Subject Order)

Box 20: Student Project Files

1. Student Project Files - Oversized Cards (A-Z)

Box 21: Black Swamp Folklife Festival Files

Folder

1. Funding and Planning - Incoming Correspondence, 1975-1976
2. Funding and Planning - Outgoing Correspondence, 1975-1976
3. Funding and Planning - Internal Correspondence, 1975-1976
4. Funding and Planning - Forms, 1975-1976
5. Funding and Planning - Funding, Festival Budget, 1975-1976
6. Funding and Planning - Funding, Costing Out Festival, 1975-1976
7. Funding and Planning - Funding, Craft Sales, 1975-1976
8. Funding and Planning - Funding, Deposit Slips, 1975-1976
9. Funding and Planning - Funding, Expenses - Invoices, Bills, 1975-1976
10. Funding and Planning - Funding, Expenses - Printing, Xeroxing, Telephone, 1975-1976
11. Funding and Planning - Funding, Timesheets, 1975-1976
12. Funding and Planning - Funding, Travel, 1975-1976
13. Funding and Planning - Funding, Forms, 1975-1976
14. Funding and Planning - Funding, NEH Grant Final Report, 1975-1976
15. General Information - Bicentennial, 1975-1976
16. General Information - Black Swamp of Ohio, 1975-1976
17. General Information - Festivals, 1975-1976
18. General Information - Maps, Maumee River Basin (Ohio), 1975-1976
19. General Information - "Old Timey" Recipes and Sayings, 1975-1976
20. General Information - Publicity, TV and Radio, 1975-1976
21. General Information - Settlement Patterns, 1975-1976
22. General Information - Trademarks, 1975-1976
23. Letterhead, Business Cards, 1975-1976
24. Organizational Chart, 1975-1976
25. Participants and Information Packet, 1975-1976
26. Participants Lodging and Food, 1975-1976
27. Planning and Preliminary Notes/Information, 1975-1976
28. Planning - Sources and Leads, 1975-1976
29. Popular Culture 490 - Applications, 1975-1976
30. Program Updates and Notes, 1975-1976
31. Prospectus, Project Description, 1975-1976

Box 22: Black Swamp Folklife Festival Files

1. Publicity - Advertising Festival in the Newspaper, 1975-1976
2. Publicity - Black Swamp Almanac Text, 1975-1976
3. Publicity - Black Swamp Almanac Text and Clip Art, 1975-1976
4. Publicity - Black Swamp Almanac Layout and Photos, 1975-1976
5. Publicity - Black Swamp Festival Gazette, 1975-1976
6. Publicity, Logos, 1975-1976
7. Publicity - News clippings, 1975-1976
8. Publicity - Poster and Flyer Design (original art work), 1975-1976
9. Publicity - Poster Routes, 1975-1976
10. Publicity - Press Releases 1975-1976
11. Publicity - Ribbons Given at Festival, 1975-1976
12. Researchers, 1975-1976
13. Set Up and Lay Out for Festival, 1975-1976
14. Workers and Volunteers, 1975-1976

Box 23: Black Swamp Folklife Festival Files--Interview Report Forms

1. Amish, 1975-1976
2. Appalachian Cooks, 1975-1976
3. Appalachian Singers, 1975-1976
4. Apple Butter, 1975-1976
5. Auctioneers, 1975-1976
6. Bagpipes, 1975-1976
7. Flea Markets, 1975-1976
8. Craft Guilds, 1975-1976
9. "Folk" Arts and Crafts, 1975-1976
10. Baking - Ethnic Cooking, 1975-1976
11. Barbershop Singing, 1975-1976
12. Basket Making, 1975-1976
13. Black Folk Arts, 1975-1976
14. Blacksmith/Wheelwright, 1975-1976
15. Black Swamp "Outdoors" Lou Klewer, 1975-1976
16. Bookbinding, 1975-1976
17. Candles, 1975-1976
18. Chair Caning, 1975-1976
19. Cemetery (handling), 1975-1976
20. Children's Games and Songs, 1975-1976
21. Churches, 1975-1976
22. Clockmaker, 1975-1976
23. Country Western Music, 1975-1976
24. Crafts, 1975-1976
25. Dairy Cows and Goats, 1975-1976
26. Dixieland/Others Including Blues, 1975-1976
27. Doll Maker, 1975-1976
28. Duck Calling, 1975-1976
29. Egg Decoration, 1975-1976
30. Ethnic Dancing and Music, 1975-1976
31. Farm Life/County Fairs and Other, 1975-1976
32. Fiddling Contest, 1975-1976
33. Folk Art, 1975-1976
34. Folk Clothing, 1975-1976
35. Folk Music, 1975-1976
36. Food/Concessions, 1975-1976
37. Foods (Fast Food/Commercial), 1975-1976
38. Fur Trading/Preparation and Working, 1975-1976
39. Glass Arts, 1975-1976
40. Horse and Ponies/Trams and Tractors, 1975-1976
41. Ice Cream Social, 1975-1976
42. Indian, 1975-1976
43. International/Ethnic Lists, 1975-1976
44. Ladies Groups, 1975-1976
45. Leather Work, 1975-1976
46. Log Cabin, 1975-1976
47. Midwest Foods, 1975-1976
48. Minerals/Rock Gems, 1975-1976
49. Music and Musicians, 1975-1976
50. Ohio Folk Festival (Ohio Historical Society), 1975-1976
51. Painting, 1975-1976
52. Potting/Ceramics, 1975-1976
53. Quilting, 1975-1976
54. Railroading, 1975-1976
55. Rifle Shoot/Match, 1975-1976
56. Interview Report, 1975-1976
57. Rug Making, 1975-1976
58. Scandinavian, 1975-1976
59. Silversmith, 1975-1976
60. Soap Making, 1975-1976
61. Square Dance, 1975-1976
62. Stained Glass, 1975-1976
63. Toy Makers, 1975-1976
64. Tractor Pull, 1975-1976
65. Water Events, 1975-1976
66. Wine and Beer Making, 1975-1976
67. Wood Working and Wood Carving, Draw Shave - Furniture, 1975-1976
68. Wool/Shearing and Weaving

Box 24: Miscellaneous Folklore Files

Folder

1. 10 Folk Stories by Hazel Spencer Phillips, n.d.
2. Ohio Folklore Society Meeting Announcements and Programs), 1955-1961; 1963
3. Ohio Folklore Society Membership Lists and Cards, 1955-1961
4. California Folklore Society Newsletters, 4/22/1953-Nov. 1965
5. Kentucky Folklore Society Record, 10/1962-12/1962; 1/1963-3/1963
6. American Folklore Society Constitution and Meeting Programs, 11/1965
7. "The Study of Folk Literature: Its Scope and Use" by Frances Lee Utley, n.d.
8. Joe Magarac - Pittsburgh's Man of Steel (Legends), 1951; 1953
9. Miscellaneous Documents(Some from Ross County, Ohio), 1960-1966

Manuscripts by Subject | Education Collections | Miscellaneous Collections