Collection ID: C289
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Dorson, Richard M. (Richard Mercer), 1916-1981
Abstract:
Dr. Richard Dorson is often cited as the father of American folklore. Over his lifetime he published a large collection of books and articles dealing with how folklore and culture are tied together. Dorson founded the Indiana University Folklore Institute in 1963, and became the first director and Chairman of the Folklore Department in 1978. This collection consists of Dr. Dorson's published articles, correspondence, and research connected to the Gary Project which resulted in the book Land of the Millrats.
Extent:
9.6 cubic feet (11 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Richard M. Dorson papers, Collection C289, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Richard Dorson was born March 12, 1916 in New York City, studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, 1929-1933, and earned his A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University. He began his teaching career at Harvard University in 1943, moved to Michigan State University in 1944, and spent the majority of his teaching years at Indiana University, 1957-1981. While at Indiana University he founded the Folklore Institute in 1963 and became the first director and Chairman of the Department of Folklore in 1978. Dorson died on September 11, 1981.

Over the span of his career Dr. Dorson wrote a multitude of books and articles. Dorson received many awards and honors over the years, beginning with the Harvard Sheldon Traveling Fellowship for 1942-1943; the Library of Congress Fellowship in History of American Civilization, 1946; three Guggenheim Fellowships, 1949, 1964 and 1971; and fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies in 1952 and 1961. He received grants from a variety of foundations and institutions including the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dr. Dorson was also active in several professional societies and organizations in the field of folklore. He served as editor of the American Folklore Society's Journal of American Folklore, 1957-1962; as president of the society, 1966-1968, and as the society's delegate to the American Council of Learned Societies, 1969-1973. Dorson also served terms as vice president of the International Society of Folk Narrative Research from 1959 to 1964 and of the International Society of Ethnology and Folklore, 1964-1971.

Scope and Content:

The Richard Dorson papers house 9.6 cubic feet spanning 1939 to 1982. There are three series in this collection, Publications, 1939-1982, Subject files, 1977-1980, and The Gary Project, 1975-1979.

The Publications series spans 1939-1982 and includes published articles, manuscripts written by Dorson, correspondence relating to his writings, and book reviews written by Dr. Dorson. Publications include "Folklore and Fakelore", (fakelore is a term coined by Dorson), "Folklore and Cultural History", "Folklore in Michigan", "The Identification of Folklore in American Literature", and "Oral Tradition and Written History: The Case for the United States".

The second series, Subject files, 1978-1980, includes materials related to Dr. Dorson's professional and teaching career. A large set of index cards contained within this series provides a catalog of American folktales, which Dorson has arranged by state. Also present is a list of colleagues and alumni in the field of folklore dated 1979. The Subject files series also contains records related to professional meetings Dorson attended such as the American Folklore Society, Smithsonian Council, and the grant selection of the National Endowment for the Humanities. A presentation given at the Boston Public Library in 1978 and one course syllabus "American Folklore in American Civilization" are also contained within this series.

The final series, The Gary Project 1975-1979, is arranged into six subseries: Project Files, Neswspaper clippings, Slides, Photocopies of newspaper clippings, Audio cassettes, and Videotapes. The series includes research materials used in writing the book The Land of the Millrats which documents the culture and folklore of Gary, Indiana. This series consists of newspaper clippings from local Gary, Indiana newspapers, audio cassette interviews with townspeople, recorded musical events and recounted local folktales. This series also includes a set of slides from the Gary Bicentennial Celebration and Art Auction, field reports, bibliographic notes, and conference materials from the Urban Folklore Conference. Administrative records related to the logistics of the projects and material related to the production of Jennie's, a film about Jennie's Café, a small, family-owned restaurant in Gary that served as an urban meeting place for people of different backgrounds is also included in this series. The Gary Project Videotapes series houses rough cuts, final versions, and copies of seven educational films about the Region created by the IU Folklore Institute including "Ethnic Stores," "Gusle and Tamburitza," Hey Mr. Tamburitza Man," "Singer of Tales," "Opa: Macedonian Dancing," "Gospel in Gary," and "Lithuanian-American Folk Symbols."

Acquisition information:
Accession Information: 2007/047, 2003/055
Appraisal information:

One cubic foot of non-Dorson publications were removed. Publications by other Indiana University Folklore Department faculty were relocated to the Indiana University Folklore Archives. Course materials from courses not taught by Dorson were relocated to the Indiana University Folklore Archives records and collections. Duplicate publications were also removed.

Custodial history:

Transferred from the Indiana University Folklore Department.

Processing information:

Processed by Ashley Howdeshell and Katie Martin.

Completed in 2010

Arrangement:

Collection is organized into three series: Publications, Subject files, and Gary Project.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

One file containing class evaluations is restricted.

The rest of the collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Richard M. Dorson papers, Collection C289, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu