An easy-to-use guide to American regional folklore with advice on conducting research, regional essays, and a selective annotated bibliography.
American Regional Folklore begins with a chapter on library research, including how to locate a library suitable for folklore research, how to understand a library’s resources, and how to construct a research strategy. Mood also gives excellent advice on researching beyond the library: locating and using community resources like historical societies, museums, fairs and festivals, storytelling groups, local colleges, newspapers and magazines, and individuals with knowledge of the field.
The rest of the book is divided into eight sections, each one highlighting a separate region (the Northeast, the South and Southern Highlands, the Midwest, the Southwest, the West, the Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii). Each regional section contains a useful overview essay, written by an expert on the folklore of that particular region, followed by a selective, annotated bibliography of books and a directory of related resources.
Features
- Fully annotated bibliographies on the folklore of each of eight regions of the United States
- Engaging overview essays by folklore scholars introduce each of the U.S. regions covered
- A list of literary authors who incorporate folklore themes in their writings, together with a brief list of some of their major works
- A list of folklore-related museums, with addresses and phone numbers, a list of folklore journals, and, when possible, a list of websites
Terry Ann Mood is professor emeritus, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, and was formerly head of collection development at the university's Auraria library.
Reviews
"Everything from the content, to the ease of access, to the thoughtful design makes this a worthwhile purchase . . . It provides access to sources so that interested patrons can find information in a variety of sources . . . American Regional Folklore: A Sourcebook and Research Guide will be useful in many ways in all types of libraries. It will not languish on your shelves. It can be used to answer many different patron requests, and those who work with schoolchildren as well as undergraduate or graduate students can use it with ease . . . It is straightforward, has a wealth of useable information, and is enjoyable to read—what more could you ask for? I recommend it highly.' "—Reference & User Services Quarterly, September 1, 2005
"An excellent starting point for any campaign of intense personal research into a given American tall tale, and very highly recommended, especially for academic, public, and personal library reference shelves."—The Bookwatch, November 1, 2004
"Mood's user friendly sourcebook on a broad range of American regional folklore (including songs, tales, legends, and material culture) offers guidance on conducting research . . . Recommended. Undergraduates and graduates."—Choice, February 1, 2005
"[A] useful collection development tool for librarians collecting American folklore. . . . This is also a recommended sourcebook for those interested in American folklore research, including storytellers looking for new material."—Library Journal, January 1, 2005
"For the academic or public library, or museum, this is a must buy."—Library Media Connection, April 1, 2005
"The book is a treasure trove of information for those researching or studying American folklore, and for those looking for specific museums, archives, societies, and other places to contact for more information."—American Reference Books Annual, March 1, 2005
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