Folklore Commons^™

Interpreting “Vampire” Burials In Medieval Eastern Europe, Arleen Chau

Undergraduate Research Posters

Since the early twentieth century, various atypical or deviant graves have been excavated across Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland. These discoveries have prompted much speculation, as the individuals were interred with items such as sickles placed over their necks or abdomens, along with other mortuary artifacts not considered normative compared to those found in typical community burials. Such practices suggest that these individuals were regarded as deviant or pariahs within their social contexts. Consequently, many have been quick to label these as “vampire burials,” interpreting them as measures intended to keep the dead from rising. However, this definition is problematic, …

Wilgus, Donald Knight (Fa 1203), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1203. Student folk studies projects collected by Professor Donald Knight “D. K.” Wilgus while teaching folk studies classes at Western Kentucky University. Most of the items collected are from south central Kentucky, but also includes items from Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

Thomason, Mary Jean (Healan) (Fa 1299), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Oral Histories

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1299. Project titled “Ten Broeck and Mollie: An Intriguing Puzzle,” which includes variants of the texts for “Ten Broeck and Mollie” and “Skewball” collected primarily from Jesse Blair in Grayson County, Kentucky. Project may include texts, song lyrics, tunes, photos, and informant name and location.

Crabtree, Julie Anne, B. 1988 (Fa 1294), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1294. Project titled “Pride Before the Fall: The Tale of a Motorcycle Wreck and the Onset of Supernatural Senses in Out-of-Body/Near-Death Experiences,” which details the supernatural experience of Russell Lee Callahan of Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky. The interview includes details of the accident, the core supernatural experience, and the resulting change toward religion. The interview is stored in the Sound Archives.

Death Ends A Life Not A Relationship: The Embodied Mourning And Memorializing Of Pets Through Material Culture, Gemma N. Koontz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many individuals develop strong bonds with their pets, viewing them as close “furry” friends or family. When these beloved companions die, both their relational and physical absences are deeply felt. Lacking socially recognized rituals to mourn and memorialize their pets, owners turn to and adapt traditional “human practices,” primarily that of keeping meaningful or significant items of the deceased.

Using both personal experiences and perspectives from multiple fields, this thesis discusses the life-cycle of the human-animal bond, examines the types of items owners keep or create, and how these are used to facilitate both mourning (the outward expression of grief) …

Parker, Sandra (Fa 1269), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1269. Student paper titled “Dormitory Stories” in which Sandra Parker collects variants and subtypes of a popular urban legend regarding a student’s death on Western Kentucky University’s campus. Parker provides a brief historic background on the tale and addresses common motifs present in a majority of the narratives. Parker gathered stories from two other WKU students.

Dailey, Jan (Fa 1268), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1268. Student paper titled “The Dorm Death: An Analysis of a Tale” in which Jan Dailey collects variants and subtypes of a popular urban legend regarding a student’s death on WKU’s campus. Dailey provides a brief historic background on the tale and addresses common motifs present in a majority of the narratives. Dailey gathered stories from multiple students living on WKU’s campus.

Watkins, Ronald (Fa 1266), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1266. Student paper titled “An Historic-Geographic Study of the ‘Face in the Wall’” in which Ronald Watkins attempts to locate the exact origins of a popular folktale. Ronald examines fifty variants of the same narrative and outlines traits found in each tale. The paper includes summaries of archetypes, characters, settings, and facial features of the apparition. Watkins gathered his stories from a volume title Indiana Folklore written by Ronald Baker in 1969.

Bradley, Peggy Louise (Fa 1262), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1262. Student folk studies project titled “Annotated Folksongs,” which includes song titles of traditional folk ballads from the Hazel Daniel Folksong Collection. Descriptions may include title of the ballad, where published, ballad number, and page number.

Purcell, Janice (Fa 1261), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1261. Student folk studies project titled “Three Traditional Singers: Texts and Analysis,” which includes lyrics and descriptions of traditional folk ballads recorded in Green County, Kentucky and West Huntington, West Virginia. Descriptions may include name of the ballad, location learned, history, variants, traditional aspects, and informant’s name, age and location.

Upchurch, Cindy (Fa 1177), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project FA 1177. Student folk studies project titled “Early Funeral Directors” which includes interviews with survey sheets about the history of early funeral practices in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana and Warren County, Kentucky. Sheets may include a brief description of a funeral practice, a photograph, text classification, and informant’s name, age and address.

Carter, Dinah And John Eder (Fa 1175), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1175. Student folk studies project titled “Tunnel Mill” which includes an interview and documentation about the history of Tunnel Mill in Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana. Sheets may include an interview, a photograph and informant’s name.

Marcum, Joe (Fa 1161), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1161. Student folk studies project titled “Folklore Collection Project: [Old Recipes and Remedies]” which includes survey sheets with brief descriptions of recipes or remedies in Logan County and Warren County, Kentucky. Sheets may include a recipe, remedy, brief description, informant’s name, address and text classification.

Litsey, Betty Lynn (Fa 1165), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1165. Student paper titled “Murdered Girl Ballads” in whichBetty Lynn Litsey explores the various types of ballads and the recurrent themes found in each composition. Litsey identifies three forms of murder ballads and provides severalexamples for each type.

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.

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.

Osborne, Lois (Fa 1121), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project FA 1121. Student folk studies project titled: "Good and Bad Luck Beliefs," which includes notecards with brief descriptions of traditional beliefs about good and bad luck in Cook County, Illinois, Dearborn County, Indiana, Knox County, Tennessee, and the counties of Barren, Fayette, Hardin, Hart, Hopkins, Jefferson and Nelson in Kentucky. Notecards may include a description of the traditional belief, informant's name and address, motif index number, and text classification.

Woolsey, Kennaird E. (Fa 1093), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project FA 1093. Student folk studies project titled: “Epitaphs,” which includes survey sheets of gravestone epitaphs organized by theme in Barren County, Edmonson County and Warren County, Kentucky. Survey sheets may include the epitaph, location and text classification along with the rubbing.

Mullins, Sharman (Fa 1062), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1062. Paper titled “At Rest” in which Sharman Mullins collects inscriptions found on gravestones in family plots, as well as church cemeteries and public cemeteries in Warren County and Logan County in Kentucky. Mullins also discusses aesthetics and the recurrent religious and familial themes inscribed upon the grave markers.

Sutherland, David (Fa 1056), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1056. Student folk studies project titled: “Ghost Stories Western Students Tell,” which includes survey sheets with ghost tales in Fayette County, Indiana and in Allen County, Jefferson County, Warren County and Webster County, Kentucky. Sheets may include a ghost story, informant’s name and address, and motif index number.

Green, William A., Jr. (Fa 1035), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1035. Paper titled “Folk Beliefs Told Throughout My Family” in which William A. Green, Jr. discusses folklore associated with his family in Louisville, Kentucky. Paper is based on data collected by Green from family members.

Mcguire, Wilma (Wise) (Fa 981), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 981. Project titled: “Ten Broeck and Mollie and the Miller’s Will.” Includes descriptions of the lyrics of the two ballads “Ten Broeck and Mollie” and “The Miller’s Will” collected in Taylor County, Kentucky.

Schlotman, Robert (Fa 980), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 980. Project titled: “Adults’ Children’s Lore.” Includes descriptions of song lyrics and rope skipping rhymes with adult connotations sung by children in the collector’s family in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

Hazelip, Pauline (Fa 974), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 974. Paper titled: “Tales of Glasgow Junction.” Includes brief descriptions of stories, pranks and incidents related to Glasgow Junction and Park City, Kentucky. Sheets include a brief description of the story and the informant’s name.

Carter, John Mark (Fa 945), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 945. Paper titled: “A Collection of Ghost Stories.” Includes survey sheets with brief descriptions of ghost stories from Bowling Green, Frankfort, and the Pennyrile region of Kentucky, and California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Sheets include a brief description, informant’s name, and the motif index number.

Rivers, David (Fa 944), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 944. Paper titled: “Ghost Stories.” Includes survey sheets with brief descriptions of ghost stories from the Bluegrass and Pennyrile regions of Kentucky, and from Sumner County, Tennessee, Mississippi and Ohio. Sheets include a brief description, informant’s name, and the motif index number.

Dennison, Robert (Fa 942), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 942. Project titled: “Ghosts and Omens of Death.” Includes introduction of ghost stories and omens of death collected in Hart County, Kentucky.

Smaxwell, Mike (Fa 935), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 935. Project titled: “Field Collections of Epitaphs.” Includes introduction of gravestone epitaphs collected in the Pennyroyal Region of Kentucky and Ohio.

Tharp, Dina (Fa 941), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 941. Paper titled: “Tombstone Rubbings.” Includes introduction and illustrations of gravestone art and designs collected in Henry County, Kentucky, and Warren County, Kentucky.

Pride, William R. (Fa 933), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 933. Student folk studies project titled: “Epitaphs,” which includes gravestone epitaphs collected from cemeteries in Jefferson County, Oldham County, Union County and Warren County, Kentucky.