A Folklorist's Progress: Reflections of a Scholar's Life(Special Publications of the Folklore Institute)

Stith Thompson (1885ETH1976), often called the father of U.S. folklore, completed "A Folklorist's Progress" in 1956. This reflection on his life leads the reader on a journey from his birthplace in Kentucky to the universities of Wisconsin, Harvard, California, Texas, and finally Indiana University. Throughout his career he interacted with scholars throughout the world. His life story reveals his influence on the direction American folklore scholarship in this century. His influence moved the study of folklore from a romantic approach to a 'scientific' approach.He helped establish folklore on firm academic footing. One of the most important results of his research efforts is the now classic Motif-Index of Folklore-Literature. This published edition of "A Folklorist's Progress" is enhanced with photographs and facsimiles, excerpts from his wife Louise Thompson's travel diaries, and glosses identifying the main accomplishments of some fifty folklorists and kindred scholars mentioned in the text. Based at the Indiana University Folklore Institute, the editors of "A Folklorist's Progress" include John H.McDowell, Professor of Folklore, Inta Gale Carpenter, Associate Director of Special Projects, Donald Braid, a recent graduate of the doctoral program and Adjunct Professor at Butler University, and Erika Peterson-Veatch, a doctoral candidate.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations A TributeNHerman B. Wells EditorsO Preface A DaughterOs PerspectiveNMarguerite Thompson Hays with Dorothy Thompson Letsinger IntroductionNWarren E. Roberts Seventieth Birthday Ballad Tribute I A Bell Rings II From a Colonial Melting Pot III The First World I Knew IV From Boy to Man: Indianapolis, 1897-1905 V Kentucky Interlude: 1905-1907 VI ScholarOs Initiation: Wisconsin, 1907-1909 VII Learning to Teach: Portland, 1909-1911 VIII The Golden Gate: 1911-1912 IX Harvard: 1912-1914 X Apprenticeship: Texas, 1914-1918 XI Honeymoon Transition: 1918 XII Under PikeOs Peak: 1918-1920 XIII A New England Winter: 1920-1921 XIV Entrenching at Indiana: 1921-1926 XV A Year in Europe: 1926-1927 XVI Making a Motif Index: 1927-1931 XVII Harvard and Europe Revisited: 1931 XVIII Depression: 1931-1935 XIX Recognition Abroad: 1935 XX West Coast Revisited: 1936 XXI Recognition at Home: 1936-1937 XXII Ireland and Points East: Summer, 1937 XXIII New Administration at Indiana XXIV The East A-CallinO: 1939 XXV The War in Europe: 1939-1941 XXVI First Sabbatical:1941 XXVII Mobilization: 1942 XXVIII Doing Our Bit: 1943-1945 XXIX Post War: 1945-1946 XXX South American Journey: 1947 XXXI Asesor Tecnico: 1947 XXXII Dean: 1947-1950 XXXIII Midcentury: 1950-1951 XXXIV Norway: 1951-1952 XXXV Ex-Dean: 1952-1953 XXXVI Distinguished Service: 1953-1955 XXXVII Emeritus: 1955 XXXVIII Unfinished Business Biographical Glosses Selected Bibliography of Stith ThompsonOs Work Index of Names and Places