Folklore Commons^™

Wright, Curtis William (Fa 1159), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1159. Student folk studies project titled “Amish” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of Amish life in Howard County, Indiana. Sheets may include an interview, brief description, informant’s name, and address. The project also includes “A Story of Isaac S. Miller” by O. G. M.

Jones, Sharon (Fa 1158), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1158. Student folk studies project titled “The Last of the Manual Switchboards” which includes interviews of manual telephone switchboard operators with a brief description of the manual telephone equipment and use in Hardin County, Kentucky. Sheets may include an interview, brief description and use of a manual telephone and switchboard.

Craig, Larry (Fa 1164), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Folklife Archives Project 1164. Student paper titled “The Life and Legend of Levi Higgins” in which Larry Craig gathers together stories relating to his great-grandfather, Levi Higgins. Craig collected legends from close family, friends, and other community members.

Bemiss, Roger (Fa 1157), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1157. Student folk studies project titled “Hunting and Fishing Jokes” which includes an interview of Charles W. Hawk of Warren County, Kentucky. Interview includes hunting tales, fishing tales, jokes, and country sayings collected by Hawk.

Wood, Diane (Fa 1155), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1155. Student folk studies project titled “Folk Art and the Pennsylvania German” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of Pennsylvania German and other folk art collected in Burton, Ohio and Warren County, Kentucky. Sheets may include an item or representation of folk art, brief description, photograph, and origin.

Satterwhite, Sue-Frank (Fa 1156), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1156. Student folk studies project titled “Gun Collecting: A Folklore Project” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of the antique American firearm collection of H. H. Thomas of Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. Sheets may include a brief description of a gun, use, photograph, and origin.

Vaughn, William (Fa 1152), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1152. Student paper titled “The Old and New [Contrast of Traditional and Modern Farm Machinery]” in which William R. Vaughn identifies manual and mechanized farm equipmentand details the differences between the pieces. Vaughn collected information from equipment salesmen and rural farmers. Also included in the paper are black and white photographs of recognizable machines such as plows, wagons, rakes, and cultivators.

Morris, Betty Lou (Fa 1154), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1154. Student folk studies project titled “Folk Architecture: Hart County, Kentucky” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of houses and structures in Hart County and Warren County, Kentucky, chiefly in Munfordville.

Sheets may include architectural term, definition

or brief description, photograph, location, structure

classification, informant’s name, age, and address.

Seaborne, Roy, Jr. (Fa 1151), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1151. Student paper titled “Old Farm Machinery and Methods” in which Roy Seaborne, Jr. explores the types of tools farmers, both traditional and contemporary, use to plant, harvest, anddistribute their crops. Information was gathered by Seaborne from farmers in Pike and Taylor counties in Kentucky. The paper also includes black and white photographs of various machinery along with brief descriptions of how the equipment is utilized.

Tinker, Robert Rush (Fa 1149), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1149. Student folk studies project titled “Playground Language: [Newburg, Kentucky]” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of playground rhymes in Newburg, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Sheets may include rope skipping rhyme, group game, informant’s name, and text classification.

Warren, Kaye (Fa 1150), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1150. Student folk studies project titled “From Slavery to Freedom for the Negro Race in Logan County [Kentucky]” which includes survey sheets with a brief description of African American life in Logan County, Kentucky. Sheets may include interviews, written records, photographs, informant’s name, age, and address.

Duros, Robert C. (Fa 1148), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1148. Student folk studies project titled “Collection Project on Coach Diddle” which includes tales about legendary basketball coach E. A. Diddle at Western Kentucky University. Project includes tales about Coach Diddle, informant’s name, and tale classification.

Sparks, Willard (Fa 1147), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1147. Student folk studies project titled “Frontier Log Structures,” which includes descriptions of different frontier log structures and their construction in Taylor County, Kentucky. Project includes illustrations of log structures and tools, a description of the structure or tool, and definitions related to log construction.

Ledden, Paul (Fa 1146), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1146. Student paper titled “Drag Racing Lore” in which Paul Ledden interviews his close friend Larry Lock, a drag racing enthusiast from the Chicago area. In his interview, Lock details the different types of racing tracks, car building and safety concerns, notable races, and superstitions related to the drag racing circuit.

Hoyt, Roy (Fa 1145), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1145. Student paper titled “Upholstery – A Folk Occupation” in which Roy Hoyt speaks with Frank Black, a resident of Burgin, Kentucky and “the last of the true ‘tufters’ in his portion of Kentucky.” In the interviews conducted by Hoyt, Black, who had been a craftsman for more than three decades, details the tools, materials, and processes used to upholster furniture. The paper also includes occupational anecdotes and color photographs of Black’s workshop, machines, and finished products.

Bowling Green, Kentucky Bosnia Oral History Project (Fa 1137), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Oral Histories

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1137. Collection of interviews, transcripts, photographs, and additional materials, gathered by the Kentucky Folklife Program in partnership with the Bowling Green Bosnian community, relating to the 2017 International Year of Bosnia and Herzegovina sponsored by Western Kentucky University.

Ivey, Janice (Fa 1144), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1144. Student paper titled “Folklore Study: Paul Bunyan,” in which Janice Ivey collects traditional oral narratives relating to famed folk icon Paul Bunyan. Ivey, who gathered stories from family members, also touches briefly on the claims of authenticity surrounding Paul Bunyan and his relationship to lumber camps in the early 20^th century.

Lawless, Vickie (Fa 1143), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1143. Student paper titled “Steamboat Tales” in which Vickie Lawless describes the importance of riverboat commerce and transportation in Russell County, Kentucky from the early 19^th century through the mid-20^th century Lawless also discusses the three most common steamboats during this period, the Albany, the Burnside, and the Rowena, and the folklore surrounding their pilots, crews, and landing sites. Lawless collected her information from former riverboat captains, engine room workers, family members, and residents of river communities

Walker, Jane (Fa 1139), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1139. Student paper titled “Ghostlore” in Jane Walker collected supernatural stories, most of which had some form of local variant. Walker gathered tales from family and friends in person, over the phone, through written letters and recorded stories.

Walton, Robert H. (Fa 1141), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1141. Student paper titled “Collection of Death Beliefs” in which Robert Walton details various superstitions, practices, and assumptions concerned with death and dying. Walton gathered together stories and sayings from students on WKU’s campus, family, friends, and Bowling Green locals.

Butler, Beverly (Fa 1142), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1142. Student paper titled “The Supernatural” in which Beverly Butler collects personal encounter narratives relating to “ghosts, spirits, or hanks.” Butler collected her stories from family members and friends.

Laude, Jan (Fa 1140), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1140. Cassette recordings of the "Attunement for Healing" and "Exploring Your Dreams and ESP" conferences sponsored by the Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment held in Virginia Beach, Virginia from 12 July 1981 to 24 July 1981. The recordings, collected by WKU folk studies graduate student Jan Laude, were used as source material for Laude’s Master’s thesis titled “A Contemporary Female Psychic: A Folkloristic Study of a Traditional Occupation,” which was published in 1982. Because the Department does not have consent forms or own copyright to these tapes, they may be used …

Clarke, Kenneth Wendell, 1917-2012 (Mss 635), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 635. Manuscripts, notes, publisher’s correspondence, and photographs relating to the scholarly work of WKU English and folklore professor Kenneth W. Clarke, principally "Bud Long: The Birth of a Kentucky Folk Legend" and "The Harvest and the Reapers." Also includes reel-to-reel tape discussing home burial and casket - coffins, African American discussing race relations, singing in Barren County, Kentucky. See also digitized reel-to-reel tape T (T) -7-71-16 discussing cockfighting.

Clayton, Louis Craig (Fa 1138), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1138. Student paper titled “The Harpending House” in which Louis Craig Clayton details the history related to theconstruction of Asbury Harpending’s sprawling mansion built near Eddy Creek in Princeton, Kentucky in 1873. Harpending, known for his financial exploits along the western coast of the United States, spent more than $65,000 to build the estate which featured more than 20 rooms, a swimming pool, gas heating, and indoor plumbing. In his paper, Clayton speaks with Mrs. Eldred, a leading historian at Princeton and wife to John Eldred. Harpending’s great-nephew. Clayton also speaks with Ina …

Ramsey, Bonita (Fa 1136), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1136. Student paper titled “Proverbs and Comparisons” in which Bonita Ramsey arranges proverbs alphabetically by keyword. Ramsey gathered her information from family members, friends at WKU’s Downing University Center and at a private dormitory, the College Inn, and from visitors at work.

Herndon, Bernice (Fa 1135), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1135. Student paper titled “Negro Spirituals” in which Bernice Herndon gathers together 21 hymns sung by congregants at several African American Baptist churches located in Bowling Green. Herndon also collected spirituals from family, friends, and neighbors.

An Adventure Concerning Identity: The Use Of Folklore And The Folkloresque In Murakami’S Hitsuji Wo Meguru Bōken (A Wild Sheep Chase) To Construct A Post-Colonial Identity, Jessica Alice Krawec

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis examines the use of folklore and the folkloresque in Haruki Murakami’s novel Hitsuji wo meguru bōken, or, as it is translated by Alfred Birnbaum, A Wild Sheep Chase. Murakami blends together Japanese and Western folklore to present a Japan that has been colonized by a post-national, global capitalistic force. At the same time, Murakami presents a strategy to resist this colonizing force by placing agency onto the individual and suggesting that it is still possible to craft a meaningful identity within the Japanese/Western blended, globalized society in which these individuals now exist.

Alongside examining the use of folklore …

On Being Trans: Narrative, Identity, Performance, And Community, Chloe Jo Brown

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis focuses on various topics related to transgender identity and culture. Through a combination of ethnographic and secondary research, I studied transgender coming out narratives, trans media representation, transgender performance and identity, and conceptualizations of group and chosen family in a community of trans students, the WKU Transgender and Non-Binary Student Group.

The three chapters of my thesis address some of the traditional milestones of a trans person’s acculturation: coming out, constructing one’s newly discovered trans identity, and finding community. Chapter 1 explores coming out as transgender, and the way in in which coming out is valued and discussed …

Archbold, Annie And Barbara Dubczak (Fa 379), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 379. A reel-to-reel audiotape recording of a program titled “Documents in Sound: A Sample in Folk Arts,” which was sponsored by the Barren River Regional Arts Council with funds from the Kentucky Folklife Foundation. According to the tape summary, the program includes five separate features, which can be played as individual vignettes or as a full 29-minute program. Features include traditional artists and cover topics such as woodworking, broom making, basket making, weaving, and drawn work.

Collins, Sara (Fa 1134), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1134. Student paper titled “Ghost Stories on a College Campus” in which Sara Collins gathers together tales of the supernatural. Collins places the stories into four main categories: “true” (classic), “memorate” (personal experiences), “regional” (local), and “other campuses.” Stories were collected by Collins from friends and fellow classmates.