Stith Thompson : x i s L i f e and X i s

R o l e in Folklore Scholarship
PEGGY

MARTIN

VOLUME 2

FOLKLORE PUBLICATIONS GROUP

INDIANA U N I V E R S I T Y

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s u b s e q u e n t m u b l i c ~ t i o ni n 2 j o u r n a l o r o t h e r r e c o ~ n i z e df o r m a t .
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i m ~ e d i a t e l y~ i v ~ i l l ~ - ibnl neo r t n n t .,.orks o f c u r r e n t P o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p a n d ( 2 ) t o n r o v i d e a u t h o r s ~ ~ 5 tthhe o ~ p o r t i m i t yt o n s c e s ? t h e
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c o r r e s p o n d e n c e r h o u l d be ~ e n t o t,Le P o l k l o r e r ' u b l i c e t i o n s Group
a t t h e f o l l o i r i n y ?.$I r e s s :
R o l k l o r e I ' u l ~ l i c a t i o n e Group
Polklore Institute
504 N o r t h F e s s Avenue
r3loominr-t o n , I n $ inn?. 47401

No pcrrt of this work 7nay b e r e p r o d u c ~ d i n anv f o r m o r by any means

w i t h o u t t h e l:$ritten p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e p u b l i s h e r .
Covcr:

I l l u s t r a t i o n of "The S t a r Vusbsnd T a l e n by Dana E v e r t s .

STITH THOMPSON:
HIS LIFE AND HIS ROLE

I N FOLKLORE SCHOLARSHIP

WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY

PEGGY MARTIN

FOLKLORE MONOGRAPH SERIES

FOLKLORE PUBLICATIONS GmUF'
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

S T I T H THOMPSON:
H I S L I F E AND H I S ROLE
I N FOLKLORE SCHOLARSHIP

iii

E d i t o r ' s Foreword

With t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h i s study of t h e l i f e and works of

S t i t h Thompson, t h e e d i t o r s of t h e F o l k l o r e P u b l i c a t i o n s Group a r e
p l e a s e d t o mark t h e i n i t i a t i o n of t h e new F o l k l o r e Monograph S e r i e s .
It i s p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t t h e man who earned t h e r e p u t a t i o n
a s t h e " f a t h e r of American f o l k l o r e ' ' should be t h e s u b j e c t of t h i s
f i r s t Monograph i s s u e . As t h e founder of t h e f o l k l o r e program a t
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y , Thompson's enormous o r g a n i z a t i o n a l e n e r g i e s and
a c t i v i t i e s l a i d t h e groundwork f o r t h e development of t h e F o l k l o r e
Department and F o l k l o r e I n s t i t u t e t o t h e p r e s e n t s t a t u s of a major
c e n t e r f o r f o l k l o r e r e s e a r c h and s c h o l a r s h i p i n t h e United S t a t e s .
In a very r e a l s e n s e , t h e F o l k l o r e P u b l i c a t i o n s Group owes i t s
e x i s t e n c e and continued support t o Thompson's l i v i n g legacy of
folklore study a t Indiana University.
This paper had i t s o r i g i n s i n a graduate seminar conducted by
P r o f . Richard M. Dorson a t t h e F o l k l o r e I n s t i t u t e during t h e s p r i n g
semester of 1976. Each p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h i s seminar c o n t r i b u t e d a
paper d e a l i n g w i t h t h e l i f e and works of a f o l k l o r i s t of contemporary
o r h i s t o r i c a l importance. While t h e r e i s c e r t a i n l y no l a c k of
primary and secondary source m a t e r i a l s concerning Thompson and t h e
h i s t o r i c - g e o g r a p h i c method of which he was a major proponent, Martin's
study r e p r e s e n t s a unique a d d i t i o n t o t h e l i t e r a t u r e of t h i s f i e l d
i n s e v e r a l ways. The e x t e n s i v e b i b l i o g r a p h y which she has i n c l u d e d
h e r e assembles, i n convenient c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r , Thompson's major
w r i t i n g s on f o l k l o r e , and should prove an i n v a l u a b l e a i d t o every
s t u d e n t of f o l k l o r e , t h e f o l k t a l e , and of Thompson h i m s e l f . Furthermore, i n pursuing an e s s e n t i a l l y b i o g r a p h i c a l approach t o Thompson's
academic c a r e e r , Martin o f f e r s t h e r e a d e r a glimpse a t t h e man
behind t h e methods, p l a c i n g Thompson's s c h o l a r l y output i n t h e
contemporary context of h i s own l i f e and t i m e s , and p r o v i d i n g an
i n t r o d u c t o r y survey of t h e i d e a s and p e r s o n a l i t i e s of t h i s p e r i o d
i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e d i s c i p l i n e , i n which Thompson s t o o d a s a
leading international figure

This b i o g r a p h i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e i s made even more v i v i d by

drawing upon a number of p r e v i o u s l y u n a v a i l a b l e documents i n
Thompson's p e r s o n a l c o l l e c t i o n , which he donated t o t h e L i l l y
Library a t I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y i n 1972. These p a p e r s , housed i n
t h e permanent manuscripts c o l l e c t i o n of t h e L i l l y L i b r a r y , i n c l u d e
Thompson's l e t t e r s , d i a r i e s , o f f i c i a l correspondence, n o t e s ,
manuscripts, programs, photographs, and genealogical d a t a , and
a r e now a v a i l a b l e t o t h e s c h o l a r l y community. Since t h e completion

of M a r t i n ' s paper, t h e Thompson c o l l e c t i o n has been catalogued

according t o correspondent, s u b j e c t , and t y p e of document. The
298 e n t r i e s i n t h e index of correspondents alone g i v e an i n d i c a t i o n
of t h e r i c h n e s s of t h e h o l d i n g s a s a p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e of m a t e r i a l s
f o r f u t u r e s c h o l a r l y i n v e s t i g a t i o n s . The a u t h o r and e d i t o r s a r e
g r a t e f u l t o t h e s t a f f of t h e L i l l y L i b r a r y f o r t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n
i n g r a n t i n g a c c e s s and permission t o use t h e Thompson p a p e r s .
As a f i n a l , and more p e r s o n a l , n o t e , I had t h e p r i v e l e g e of
meeting P r o f e s s o r Thompson at h i s home i n Columbus, I n d i a n a i n
November 1975, j u s t s e v e r a l months b e f o r e h i s d e a t h t h e f o l l o w i n g
January. A t t h e age of n i n e t y , Thompson remained l u c i d and as
e n t h u s i a s t i c a s e v e r , and he reminisced f r e e l y and i n remarkable
d e t a i l on t h e e v e n t s , i s s u e s , and c o l l e a g u e s i n h i s l o n g p r o f e s s i o n a l
c a r e e r . S i n c e h i s r e t i r e m e n t twenty y e a r s b e f o r e , he had continued
t o keep a b r e a s t o f subsequent developments i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e he had
h e l p e d t o e s t a b l i s h ; and w i t h t h e v o i c e o f unquestionable e x p e r i e n c e ,
he once a g a i n warned a g a i n s t u n c r i t i c a l acceptance of c u r r e n t t r e n d s
i n f o l k l o r e u n t i l t h e y have been s u b s t a n t i a t e d by f a c t . But most
of a l l , I v a l u e Thompson's s i n c e r e words of encouragement t o t h e
younger g e n e r a t i o n s of f o l k l o r i s t s , and h i s p r i d e i n knowing t h a t
t h e work which he began over h a l f a c e n t u r y b e f o r e would not be
f o r g o t t e n . This paper s t a n d s a s a modest t r i b u t e t o t h e man and
h i s d e d i c a t i o n , one which we hope D r . Thompson would have been
honored t o r e c e i v e .

John M. 0 'Hara

Author's Note

This paper d i s c u s s e s t h e l i f e , w r i t i n g s , and c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o s c h o l a r s h i p of S t i t h Thompson, focusing on h i s

study of f o l k l o r e , h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e establishment
of a s c h o l a r l y foundation f o r f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s , and h i s
e f f o r t s t o organize f o l k l o r e and f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p on
an international basis.

The information given and t h e o r i e s

expressed include those of S t i t h Thompson as found i n h i s

books and r e c o l l e c t i o n s , t h e statements of s e v e r a l w r i t e r s
about him, and my own opinions as derived from t h e above
sources.

No a t t e m p t i s made t o p r e s e n t i n f u l l t h e

information a v a i l a b l e about Thompson, b u t i n s t e a d t o

s e l e c t information most r e l e v a n t t o s t u d e n t s of f o l k l o r e .
I d e a l l y , t h e paper should s e r v e as a n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o
Thompson's bibliography and w r i t i n g s , and r e f e r e n c e s a r e
made t o works i n which r e a d e r s can o b t a i n f u r t h e r i n f o r mation on p a r t i c u l a r t o p i c s .

Table of
--

Editor's Foreword
Author's Note

Contents

The Life of Stith Thompson

1. Childhood and Early Schooling

2. University Training

3. Early Career

iii

4. Years in Indiana and Major Folklore Research

Thompson's Major Folklore Publications
1. Theses and Dissertations

12

12

3. Indexes
A. The Types -of the Folktale

of Folk-Literature

C. The Indexes of Indic Tales

Thompson and Folklore Organization

.
.

14

15

17

26

26

3. South American Folklore Organization

14

17

2 . International Organization

13

4. The Study and Description of Folklore

1. The United States

2. Writings Concerning Primitive Folklore

B. The Motif-Index

27

28

Thompson and t h e C r i t i c s

30

1. ---Tales of t h e North American Indians

2. The Tylpes -of t h e F o l k t a l e

3. The Motif-Index of Folk-Literature

4. The F o l k t a l e

Evaluation of S t i t h Thompson and H i s Work

31

32

35

37

Notes
Bibliography: The P r i n c i p a l Writings of $ t i t h
Thompson Concerning Folklore

Errata

30

30

49
67

The L i f e
---

of S t i t h Thompson

S t i t h Thompson d i d n o t begin h i s t r a i n i n g as a f o l k l o r e
s c h o l a r , b u t r a t h e r as a t e a c h e r of English and composition.
Nonetheless, c e r t a i n events and p r e d i s p o s i t i o n s i n h i s e a r l y
l i f e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e development of h i s f o l k l o r e i n t e r e s t s .

1.

Childhood and Early Schooling

S t i t h Thompson w a s born on March 7 , 1885 i n Nelson

County, Kentucky, t h e son of John Thompson and E l i z a b e t h
McClaskey. H i s h e r i t a g e w a s a mixture of S c o t c h - I r i s h ,
Welsh, French, E n g l i s h , Dutch, and German ancestry.1
Thompson became i n t e r e s t e d i n h i s family h i s t o r y as a n
a d o l e s c e n t and continued genealogical r e s e a r c h throughout
h i s l i f e ; perhaps t h i s i n t e r e s t served as h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n
t o the techniques and resources of r e s e a r c h . H i s f a t h e r
pursued s e v e r a l a l t e r n a t e t r a d e s and i n t e r e s t s - - a s a
d i s t i l l e r , a l i v e s t o c k t r a d e r , a county judge--and t h e
family's f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n fluctuated. A s a r e s u l t ,
Thompson worked a t v a r i o u s odd jobs during h i s youth.
He a t t e n d e d grade school a t P l e a s a n t Grove and a t Springf i e l d , Kentucky--years which he looked back upon with some
fondness, as evidenced by t h e cornencement programs preserved
i n h i s papers ( L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n ) . He r e c a l l s i n h i s autobiography t h a t he e s t a b l i s h e d himself e a r l y as a s t u d i o u s young
man, b u t n o t as a n a t h e l e t e . 2
I n 1897 t h e Thompson family moved t o I n d i a n a p o l i s ,
Indiana, p a r t l y t o improve t h e i r f i n a n c e s and p a r t l y t o
o b t a i n b e t t e r education f o r t h e i r son. 3 Two p a r t i c u l a r l y
important events of h i s high school y e a r s influenced
Thompson's c a r e e r d e c i s i o n s . Although he e n t e r e d t h e Manual
Training High School i n t h e manual a r t s , h i s d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
with t h i s curriculum caused him t o make t h e d e c i s i o n t o
e n t e r t h e l i b e r a l arts program i n s t e a d , which i n s t a l l e d i n
him h i s first d e s i r e t o become a n English teacher.$ There
i s a n essay i n h i s personal papers ( L i l l y ) w r i t t e n i n 1903,
d e s c r i b i n g h i s f r i e n d s and t e a c h e r s a t t h e school. From i t s
romantic s t y l e , one would t h i n k t h a t those comrades were t h e
most o u t s t a n d i n g people he could e v e r hope t o meet, although
i n a l l h i s w r i t i n g s he p r e f e r r e d t o emphasize t h e p o s i t i v e
t r a i t s of h i s a s s o c i a t e s . I n 1902, however, Thompson took
a job i n t h e shipping rooms of t h e Bobbs-Merril Publishing
Company i n I n d i a n a p o l i s , where he chanced t o meet and be
impressed by such prominent l i t e r a r y f i g u r e s as James
Whitcomb Riley and Booth Tarkington.5

2.

U n i v e r s i t y Training

A f t e r two y e a r s of education a t B u t l e r College i n

I n d i a n a p o l i s , where he l e a r n e d c l a s s i c a l L a t i n and Greek
l i t e r a t u r e , Thompson r e t u r n e d t o S p r i n g f i e l d , Kentucky,
where he t a u g h t high school English f o r two y e a r s a t $40
a year--the experience was more b e n e f i c i a l than t h e pay,
With a budding i n t e r e s t i n modern drama, Thompson f i n i s h e d
h i s undergraduate t r a i n i n g a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Wisconsin,
where, under t h e s t i m u l a t i o n and advice of P r o f e s s o r A r t h u r
B e a t t y , he l e a r n e d French and German and d i d h i s f i r s t
f o l k l o r e research. A t t h a t t i m e f o l k l o r e study i n t h e
United S t a t e s was s l i g h t , except f o r t h e l i t e r a r y s t u d y
of ballads--which were n o t perceived t o be f o l k l o r e
anyway--and t h e a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l work being done on t h e
North American I n d i a n s . Beatty prompted Thompson's
f o l k l o r e i n t e r e s t s i n a t l e a s t t h r e e ways. F i r s t , i n
a b a l l a d course Beatty i n s t r u c t e d Thompson t o l o c a t e t h e
n a r r a t i v e songs of p r i m i t i v e peoples of North America and
A f r i c a . When h i s s t u d e n t r e t u r n e d , d i s h e a r t e n e d , and
r e p o r t e d t h a t he had n o t been a b l e t o f i n d any, Beatty
conceded t h a t Thompson had a c t u a l l y found what he was
supposed t o f i n d : t h a t t h e r e were none.? Second, Beatty
i n s t i l l e d i n him a s c e p t i c i s m f o r t h e then c u r r e n t
co.muna1 theory of b a l l a d o r i g i n s . 8 F i n a l l y , Thompson
wrote h i s Bachelor of A r t s t h e s i s , "The Return from t h e
Dead i n Popular Tales and B a l l a d s , " under B e a t t y ' s
d i r e c t i o n ( t h i s work w i l l be discussed below). Thus he
began t h e f o l k t a l e r e s e a r c h which l e d t o h i s l a t e r recogn i t i o n o f widespread t y p e s and m o t i f s . B e a t t y , u n t i l
h i s d e a t h , remained an a d v i s o r t o Thompson. I n a l e t t e r
)
t o Archer Taylor dated September 25, 1925 ( ~ i l l y Thompson
r e p o r t e d t h a t he had discussed Kaarle Krohn's proposal
t o r e v i s e Aarne's f o l k t a l e index with Beatty b e f o r e
r e p l y i n g t o Krohn.

S t i t h Thompson then took o f f a n o t h e r two y e a r s t o

teach high school English, t h i s time i n P o r t l a n d , Oregon.
During t h i s p e r i o d he t a u g h t himself Norwegian, Dutch,
Swedish, Danish, and Russian, and he s p e n t a s m e r i n
a lumber camp.9 Here, i n one of h i s few experiences with
l i v i n g f o l k l o r e , Thompson heard t h e o r a l Paul Bunyan
c y c l e from t h e l u n b e r j a c k s a 1 0 I n 1911 he received a
fellowship t o do graduate work i n English a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y
of C a l i f o r n i a , where he s t u d i e d with Walter Morris H a r t ,
a n advocate o f t h e communal o r i g i n of t h e b a l l a d , and C.M.
, whom he r e c a l l s as being t h e b e s t t e a c h e r he e v e r
Thompson became i n t e r e s t e d i n P o s i t i v i s t w r i t e r s
here a l s o , and developed h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l and t h e o l o g i c a l
p r i n c i p l e s . 1 2 For h i s M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s he continued work

Gh%
:i

on t h e m o t i f s of t h e r e t u r n of t h e dead, thereby expanding

h i s f a m i l i a r i t y with f o l k t a l e s ; t h e t h e s i s w a s e n t i t l e d ,
"The Idea of t h e Soul i n Teutonic Popular Ballads and
Literature. "
A Bonnheim Research Fellowship enabled S t i t h Thompson
t o go t o Harvard t o complete h i s Ph.D. s t u d i e s with t h e
noted b a l l a d s c h o l a r , George L. K i t t r e d g e . Thompson l a t e r
wrote t h a t K i t t r e d g e w a s a competent t e a c h e r b u t n o t r e a l l y
a f o l k l o r i s t , and t h a t he tended t o be p a t r o n i z i n g t o h i s
s t u d e n t s . 13 Three developments i n Thompson's Harvard
t r a i n i n g seemed t o be p a r t i c u l a r l y important t o h i s l i f e
and c a r e e r . F i r s t , with K i t t r e d g e ' s suggestions and
support he researched and wrote h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n on
"European Tales Among the North American Indians."
Second, through t h e s e r e s e a r c h e s , he began t o d i s t i n g u i s h
and c o l l e c t European t a l e types and m o t i f s . I n f a c t , he
repeated some of t h e work A n t t i Aarne had done i n h i s
Verzeichnis
M g r c h e n t ~ ~ e(1910),
n
which w a s i n t h
Harvard l i b r a r y , unknown t o K i t t r e d g e and Thompson.
Third, Thompson met Archer Taylor, a n o t h e r outstanding
f i g u r e i n American f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p . They began a
l i f e t i m e f r i e n d s h i p with a t r i p t o Europe t o g e t h e r i n
1913. The l e t t e r s from Taylor d a t i n g back t o t h e Harvard
y e a r s a r e contained i n a t h i c k f o l d e r i n t h e L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .

18

3-

E a r l y Career

L e t t e r s i n Thompson's p e r s o n a l papers r e v e a l t h a t he
received s e v e r a l teaching o f f e r s a f t e r h i s graduation from
Harvard i n 1914, b u t he chose t o go t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y of
Texas a t Austin, where he t a u g h t English composition. He
r e n t e d a room i n t h e home of John Lomax, t h u s beginning
many y e a r s of a s s o c i a t i o n with John and, l a t e r , Alan Lomax.
Lomax encouraged Thompson t o a t t e n d a meeting of t h e Texas
Folklore S o c i e t y , a t which t h e new member w a s i ' m e d i a t e l y
made Secretary-Treasurer. Thompson e d i t e d t h e f i r s t
p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e S o c i e t y with f i n a n c i a l a i d from B a r r e t t
~ e n d e l l . 1 5 This was h i s f i r s t involvement with f o l k l o r e
o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of j o u r n a l s , and committee
work. During t h e s e f o u r y e a r s he published f o u r English
composition t e x t s , e s t a b l i s h i n g an academic repu a t i o n
which w a s t o open up new o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r him.12 F i n a l l y ,
he married Louise Faust i n 1918. She seems t o have been a
b r i g h t and supportive woman. Besides r a i s i n g two daughters,
Dorothy and Marguerita, she accompanied him on h i s t r a v e l s
and kept d e t a i l e d d i a r i e s .
Understandably, Thompson wrote l i t t l e about h i s p r i v a t e
o r emotional l i f e i n h i s r e c o l l e c t i o n s except f o r t h e
d e s c r i p t i o n of c e r t a i n emotionally-charged events which
influenced h i s c a r e e r , such as h i s f r i e n d s h i p s with Taylor

and Lomax. Nonetheless, h i s reminiscences do convey a

f e e l i n g f o r t h e d e l i g h t s , p r e s s u r e s , and u n c e r t a i n t i e s
of a young s c h o l a r , Thompson a l s o placed a high value
on s o c i a l c o n t a c t s , c l u b involvement, and t h e informal
exchange of information. Laurens M i l l s a s s e r t s t h a t
Thompson had " t h e s o c i a l v i g o r of t h e Blue Grass."l7
C e r t a i n l y , t h i s v i g o r was a n a s s e t i n the c r e a t i o n and
maintainance of h i s tremendous network of f r i e n d s ,
acquaintances, and a s s o c i a t e s .
I n 1918 Thompson moved t o Colorado College a t
Colorado Springs. For t h e f i r s t few months of t h e
school y e a r he rewrote and condensed h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n ,
which had been r e j e c t e d by Harvard U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s
because of i t s excessive l e n g t h ; he a l s o reorganized i t
with t h e a i d of t h e n o t e s of Bolte and Polivka. This
was f i n a l l y published i n 1919 by Colorado College under
t h e t i t l e , European Tales Among t h e North American
I n d i a n s , and i t s acceptance by a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s and f o l k l o r i s t s earned him a p l a c e i n Who's Who and encouraged him
t o continue h i s c o n c e n t r a t i o n on f klore--a t u r n i n g
p o i n t , so t o speak, i n h i s c a r e e r .

?b

Because of poor f a c u l t y r e l a t i o n s a t Colorado,

Thompson accepted a p o s i t i o n i n English a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y
of Maine a t Orono f o r one uneventful year.19 On t h e way
t o Maine, however, he stopped a t t h e Harvard U n i v e r s i t y
l i b r a r y and discovered a copy of Aarne's Verzeichnis &
Mgrchenty~en, which he copied by hand, with g r e a t r e g r e t s
f o r n o t having u t i l i z e d i t f o r h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n . 2 0
While a t Maine, Thompson received a n o f f e r from Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y a s k i n g him t o become D i r e c t o r of Freshman
English. He accepted and moved t o Bloomington i n 1921,
beginning a t h i r t y - f o u r y e a r c a r e e r t h e r e .

4.

Years i n Indiana and Major Folklore Research

With t h e support of P r e s i d e n t W i l l i a m Lowe Bryan,

Thompson reorganized t h e Freshman Composition s t a f f ,
remaining with t h i s t a s k u n t i l 1937. Although t h e bulk
of h i s work w a s s t i l l i n English L i t e r a t u r e , Thompson
began t o teach f o l k l o r e c o u r s e s i n Bloomington and
I n d i a n a p o l i s i n 1923.21 During t h e s e e a r l y y e a r s he
a l s o began h i s c o l l e c t i o n of m o t i f s , i n s p i r e d by h i s
d i s s e r t a t i o n r e s e a r c h , and h i s survey of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
North American I n d i a n t a l e s f o r h i s book, Tales o f t h e
North American I n d i a n s (1929).
A 1926 a r t i c l e by one of Thompson's s t u d e n t s , Robert
E. Harris, d e s c r i b e s him as t h e "Archdeacon of Co.ma
Hounds," a n a r d e n t advocate of meticulous s c h o l a r s h i p ,
and a k i n d l y f r i e n d t o h i s s t u d e n t s . "He t r a n s m i t s t o

s t u d e n t s h i s own buoyant s c h o l a r s h i p and e n t h u s i a s t i c

p u r s u i t of knowledge, and i n s t i l l s i n them thereby t h a t
d e s i r e f o r i n t e l l e c t u a l development which i s t h e b a s i s
f o r a l l l e a r n i n g . "22
By 1925 Thompson had completed h i s f i r s t 400-page
Motif-Index manuscript, which included m o t i f s taken from
t h e f o l k l o r e of Europe and t h e North American I n d i a n s .
Archer Taylor encouraged him t o expand the scope of t h e
work, b u t took a copy of i t with him on a v i s i t t o Kaarle
Krohn i n Finland i n 1925. Thompson's correspondence
c o l l e c t i o n i n c l u d e s t h e l e t t e r s t h a t Taylor wrote back
t o Thompson from Finland, g i v i n g Krohn's c r i t i c i s m s of
t h e d r a f t (which w i l l be discussed below) and h i s suggest i o n t h a t Thompson might be the s c h o l a r with the i n t e r e s t
and a b i l i t y t o t r a n s l a t e and expand Aarne's ~ e r z e i c h n i s . 2 3
Thompson agreed t o l a y a s i d e h i s motif r e s e a r c h and planned
a y e a r i n Europe f o r 1926-27 t o r e v i s e t h e index. The
importance of t h i s t r i p should be emphasized; Thompson
met a number of prominent European f o l k l o r i s t s , thereby
beginning a l i f e l o n g correspondence and exchange of i d e a s
and f a c t s with t h e major s c h o l a r s of h i s f i e l d . He a l s o
had a n i n s p i r i n g meeting with Kaarle Krohn and Johannes
Bolte i n Copenhagen. He regarded t h e s e men a s t h e g r e a t e s t
f o l k l o r i s t s o f t h e time; both were extremely knowledgeable
and they encouraged t h e e f f o r t s of younger s c h o l a r s .
Krohn, then a n o l d man, repeated t o Thompson t h e words t h a t
Reinhold Kdhler had used when expressing h i s s e l e c t i o n of
Krohn a s h i s s u c c e s s o r , and asked t h a t Thompson remember
them. "It can w e l l be imagined t h a t t h e confidence he
expressed has stayed with me a l l through t h e y e a r s , "
wrote Thompson a t t h e age of 71.24
A f t e r completion of t h e r e v i s e d index, The Types of
r e t u r n e d t o Bloomington t o teach
r e s e a r c h . He a l s o began c o l l e c t i n g
f o l k l o r e books f o r t h e Indiana U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y a t t h i s
time. I n 1931 he s p e n t a n o t h e r summer i n Europe, renewing
acquaintances and making new ones, and doin l i b r a r y and
a r c h i v e r e s e a r c h f o r h i s motif c o l l e c t i o n . 2 T The U n i v e r s i t y
supported h i s work during t h e Depression, and i n 1935, a t
t h e age of 50, he completed t h e f i n a l d r a f t s of the f i r s t
e d i t i o n of t h e Motif-Index of F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e .
During t h e
1930's s t u d e n t s from t h e United S t a t e s and abroad began
t o come t o Indiana U n i v e r s i t y t o study f o l k l o r e with
Thompson, many of them l a t e r t o e s t a b l i s h themselves
f i r m l y i n f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s and t o d'sseminate t h e methods
and t h e o r i e s t h a t Thompson taught.
F i n a l l y , Thompson
be a n work on h i s f i n a l English textbook, completed i n
1 9 0--Heritage of World L i t e r a t u r e . The book w a s
conceived and w r i t t e n t o f i l l t h e need f o r a comprehensive
c o l l e g e t e x t f o r a c l a s s he was teaching.27

t h e F o l k t a l e , Thompson
and continue h i s motif

By t h e time t h a t t h e Motif-Index appeared, S t i t h

Thompson's r e p u t a t i o n a s a f o l k l o r i s t w a s i n t e r n a t i o n a l ,
b r i n g i n g fame t o t h e man and t o Indiana University.
Thompson perpetuated t h i s r e p u t a t i o n by h i s t r i p s abroad
t o a t t e n d meetings and conferences. I n 1935 he was
i n v i t e d t o a t t e n d a F o l k t a l e Congress i n Lund, Sweden,
as one of twenty-five f o l k t a l e s p e c i a l i s t s ; upon h i s
a r r i v a l he was introduced t o t h e Swedish eople by
t h e p r e s s as t h e "Linnaeus of F o l k l o r e a " 2 8 This conf e r e n c e w a s Thompson's f i r s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l conference
and h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n i n t o formalized i n t e r n a t i o n a l
o r g a n i z a t i o n and c o , m i t t e e work.
This Congress w a s followed by two more i n 1937,
a t Edinburgh and a t P a r i s , a t which he w a s a b l e t o o b t a i n
feedback on h i s own work and promulgate the worldwide
comparative study of the f o l k t a l e , which he b e l i e v e d t o
be e s s e n t i a l t o f o l k l o r e e f f o r t s . Thompson a l s o l e c t u r e d
i n Dublin, I r e l a n d , i n t h e summer of 1937, and he accompanied Seamus O'Duilearga on a f i e l d t r i p t o record
Gaelic s t o r y t e l l i n g i n t h e I r i s h countryside. This was
h i s second memorable experience with l i v i n g f o l k l o r e ,
t h e f i r s t having been h i s summer with t h e Oregon
lumberjacks. Because o f t h e p o p u l a r i t y of the AarneThompson type index, he was mistakenly addressed by t h e
I r i s h as " D r . Aarne Thompson. " F i n a l l y , from 1936-39
Thompson was P r e s i d e n t of t h e American Folklore S o c i e t y .
I n March of 1939 Thompson received a s u b s t a n t i a l
o f f e r from New York U n i v e r s i t y t o d i r e c t t h e English
department t h e r e . He s e r i o u s l y considered a c c e p t i n g
t h e o f f e r , b u t i n a l e t t e r now found i n t h e L i l l y
C o l l e c t i o n Archer Taylor s t r o n g l y dissuaded Thompson
from t h e i l l s o f city l i f e and f r o m graduate l e v e l
teaching. Herman B Wells, then P r e s i d e n t o f Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y , heard about the o f f e r and proposed a n
a l t e r n a t i v e - - a n i n c r e a s e i n s a l a r y ; r e s e a r c h and conf e r e n c e s u p p o r t , annual funds f o r t h e purchase o f f o l k l o r e
books and f o r t h e establishment of a s p e c i a l s e r i e s of
f o l k l o r e p u b l i c a t i o n s ; and a promotion t o the f i r s t
P r o f e s s o r s h i p of English and Folklore i n t h e United
~ t a t e s . 2 9 I n a statement d e l i v e r e d a t a memorial
s e r v i c e following Thompson's d e a t h , Wells remarked
t h a t h i s d e c i s i o n t o keep Thompson was one of t h e b e s t
d e c i s i o n s he ever made during h i s own c a r e e r a t Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y , f o r Thompson's r e p u t a t i o n enhanced t h a t of
t h e school which supported him.
Four developments i n Thompson's l i f e i n t h e 1940's
were p a r t i c u l a r l y important. F i r s t , f r o m 1941-46 he
wrote a survey of t h e f o l k t a l e and f o l k t a l e s c h o l a r s h i p
--The F o l k t a l e (1946) --which developed o u t of a seminar

he taught known as "The F o l k t a l e and A l l i e d Forms " j O

Second, i n 1942 he organized t h e F i r s t Summer Folklore
I n s t i t u t e , a g a t h e r i n g of f o l k l o r e s t u d e n t s and s c h o l a r s
i n Bloomington. The I n s t i t u t e w a s h e l d every f o u r y e a r s
f o r t h e n e x t two decades. Third, i n 1947 he w a s i n v i t e d
by t h e Venezuelan M i n i s t r y of Education t o e s t a b l i s h a
Folklore Service i n Caracas. Thompson, h i s w i f e , and
daughter s p e n t a y e a r i n South America, v i s i t i n g f o l k l o r i s t s
and museums, l e c t u r i n g , c o l l e c t i n g m a t e r i a l f o r t h e
Library of Congress, and e s t a b l i s h i n g a s u c c e s s f u l and
comprehensive program of f o l k l o r e c o l l e c t i n g and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n Venezuela. By a c q u a i n t i n g himself with t h e
f o l k l o r e r e s e a r c h of South America, making t h e information
a v a i l a b l e i n p u b l i c a t i o n s , and corresponding with t h e
f o l k l o r i s t s t h e r e , Thompson helped coordinate t h e i r e f
with those of North American and European f o l k l o r i s t s .
He r e t u r n e d t o South America t o a t t e n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l
conferences i n 1954 (Sao ~ a o l o )and i n 1960 (Buenos
A i r e s ) . On t h e l a t t e r v i s i t he conducted a four-month
l e c t u r e t o u r sponsored by t h e U.S. S t a t e Department,
and checked on t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e Venezuelan S e r v i c i o .

pts

F i n a l l y , Thompson received a l e t t e r from P r e s i d e n t

Wells while s t i l l i n South America, o f f e r i n g him t h e
Deanship of t h e Graduate School a t Indiana. Thompson
accepted t h e p o s i t i o n with t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t he be
given an a s s i s t a n t f o r h i s r e s e a r c h (Jonas Balys of
~ s t o n i a,) and h e l d i t u n t i l 1950. Among o t h e r t h i n g s ,
Thompson e s t a b l i s h e d a graduate s t u d e n t r e s i d e n t h a l l ,
e s t a b l i s h e d t h e Ph.D. program i n f o l k l o r e a t the U n i v e r s i t y ,
and helped i n s t i t u t e t h e Indiana U n i v e r s i t y Press. 33
I n 1950 Thompson h e l d t h e Midcentury Folklore Congress
i n Bloomington--a combination of the Summer I n s t i t u t e ,
t h e American Folklore S o c i e t y , and t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Folk Music Council. He managed t o o b t a i n t h e money t o
b r i n g s e v e r a l European f o l k l o r i s t s t o Indiana t o j o i n
i n the f o u r symposia on c o l l e c t i n g , a r c h i v i n g , studying
f o l k l o r e , and making i t a v a i l a b l e t o s c h o l a r s and t o t h e
p u b l i c . The d i s c u s s i o n s of t h e c o n f e r nce were published
as Four Symposia
Folklore i n 1953.38 Here, t o o ,
Thompson f e l t t h a t t h e informal conversations were of
g r e a t e s t b e n e f i t , though c e r t a i n l y t h e published
d i s c u s s i o n s touch upon c r u c i a l p a s t and p r e s e n t i s s u e s
i n folklore scholarship.
Thompson published a r e v i s i o n of t h e Motif-Index of
Folk-Literature from 1955-58, with t h e a i d of Balys a n r
s e v e r a l o t h e r r e s e a r c h a s s i s t a n t s . He a t t e n d e d more
i n t e r n a t i o n a l conferences and meetings i n t h e 195OPs,
h e r s i n g himself i n c o . m i t t e e work ( i n c l u d i n g a p o s i t i o n
on t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Commission of Folklore and t h e

Performing A r t s ) , p u b l i c l e c t u r e s , f r e q u e n t meetings of
U.S. s o c i e t i e s , and continuing s u p e r v i s i o n of s t u d e n t s ,
c o l l e c t i o n s , monographs, and indexes. I n 1951-52 he
was a F u l b r i g h t l e c t u r e r i n 0 ~ 1 0 . 3 5 He was named
Distinguished Service P r o f e s s o r of English and F o l k l o r e
i n 1953, and i n 1955, a t t h e age of 7 0 , he r e t i r e d from
t e a c h i n g a t Indiana U n i v e r s i t y . He h a r d l y r e t i r e d from
work, however; from 1956-57 he s p e n t a y e a r i n Europe
on a Guggenheim Fellowship, r e s e a r c h i n g a r c h i v e s t o
r e v i s e t h e Types of the F o l k t a l e - - t h i r t y y e a r s a f t e r
h i s f i r s t European f o l k t a l e r e s e a r c h .
Thompson continued t o a c c e p t some s m e r t e a c h i n g
p o s i t i o n s a t v a r i o u s u n i v e r s i t y i e s through t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s ,
and he continued t o p u b l i s h journal and encyclopedia
a r t i c l e s . I n 1958 he published (with Jonas ~ a l y s )The
Oral T a l e s of I n d i a , and i n 1960 Types of I n d i c F o l k t a l e s
m t h Warren ~ o b e r t s ) . These indexes were t h e r e s u l t of
twenty yea s of i n t e r m i t t e n t r e s e a r c h on t h e f o l k t a l e s
of I n d i a . 3g While a t t e n d i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l mee t i n g
o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Folk-Narrative
Research i n K i e l i n 1959, Thom son received a f i f t h
Honorary Doctorate of L e t t e r s . 3 7
I n 1968 Thompson published h i s l a s t book, One Hundred
F a v o r i t e F o l k t a l e s , a systematic compilation of s e l e c t e d
f o l k t a l e s . This i s t h e l e a s t s c h o l a r l y of any of h i s
works; many major f o l k t a l e a r e a s were omitted, and only
marginal d a t a about d i s t r i b u t i o n were included. 38 I n
t h e summer of 1961 he t a u g h t a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of H a w a i i ,
and a t t e n d e d t h e P a c i f i c S c i e n t i f i c Congress i n Honolulu.39
By t h e 1960's the Folklore I n s t i t u t e had become a yearround program, d i r e c t e d by D r . R.M. Dorson, and Thompson
took no g r e a t p a r t i n i t .
There i s l i t t l e information a v a i l a b l e about h i s
l a s t y e a r s , except t h a t he s p e n t them i n a n u r s i n g
home i n Columbus, I n d i a n a , and t h a t h i s h e a l t h f a i l e d
d r a m a t i c a l l y a f t e r h i s wife died. He made o c c a s i o n a l
t r i p s t o Bloomington t o v i s i t w i t h f o l k l o r i s t s and
f r i e n d s t h e r e . Thompson died on January 1 0 , 1976
a t t h e age of 90.
Before concluding t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f Thompson's
l i f e , a word should be s a i d about t h e two p r i v a t e l y
multigraphed volumes of h i s reminiscences, F o l k l o r i s t ' s
Propress (1956) and Second Wind (1966). Not only do
they c o n t a i n a wealth of information and a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l
data, b u t they o f f e r e x c i t i n g i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e i n t e r a c t i o n s
of f o l k l o r i s t s i n Europe and t h e Americas. Thompson
wrote i n d e t a i l about t h e d i n n e r s , meetings, l i b r a r y
c o n v e r s a t i o n s , and t h e l i k e w i t h f o l k l o r e f r i e n d s and

a s s o c i a t e s , g r a d u a l l y e l a b o r a t i n g through p e r s o n a l experience
t h e expansion of f o l k l o r e c o l l e c t i o n , r e s e a r c h , and methodology
d u r i n g t h e f i r s t s i x t y y e a r s of t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y .

Thompson's Major F o l k l o r e P u b l i c a t i o n s

1.

Theses and D i s s e r t a t i o n s

S t i t h ~ h o m p s o n ' s e a r l i e s t f o l k l o r e w r i t i n g s were h i s
B a c h e l o r o f A r t s (Wisconsin 1 9 0 8 ) and M a s t e r o f A r t s
( C a l i f o r n i a 1912) t h e s e s . I n t h e f o r m e r , "The R e t u r n
of t h e Dead i n P o p u l a r T a l e s and B a l l a d s , " Thompson
followed t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l i d e a s o f t h e
e r a , s t a t i n g t h a t people o f t h e same s t a g e of c u l t u r a l
development have t h e same i d e a s a b o u t t h e dead. These
b e l i e f s may p e r s i s t i n t o a l a t e r s t a g e o f c u l t u r e as
"fossils."
Thompson s e l e c t e d a t random f o l k t a l e and
b a l l a d m o t i f s which he t h o u g h t i n d i c a t e d a b e l i e f i n
temporary o r permanent r e t u r n from t h e dead, t h e l a t t e r
b e i n g a more a n c i e n t b e l i e f . He seems t o have f i t t e d h i s
data t o h i s speculations; b u t , nonetheless, the t h e s i s
r e p r e s e n t s e x t e n s i v e r e s e a r c h on f o l k t a l e s and t h e i r
elements.
"The I d e a o f t h e S o u l , " w r i t t e n i n 1912, w a s l i m i t e d
t o a s u r v e y o f Teutonic f o l k l o r e ; even s o , t h e t r e a t m e n t
w a s r a t h e r broad. A l e t t e r from A r t h u r B e a t t y i n t h e
L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n d a t e d 1912 s u g g e s t s t h a t , i n d e e d , B e a t t y
f e l t t h e t o p i c t o be too b r o a d , b u t t h e i d e a t o be a good
o n e , f o r such a t r e a t m e n t had n o t y e t been done. One
can see a refinement i n the speculations of the e a r l i e r
t h e s i s , though Thompson c o n t i n u e d t o uphold t h e i d e a t h a t
t h e b a l l a d was a l a t e r form t h a n t h e t a l e , p r o b a b l y
composed from f o l k t a l e e l e m e n t s . He w a s much more
c a u t i o u s i n h i s g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s , s t a t i n g t h a t "Any d e f i n i t e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n a s t o f o l k b e l i e f by t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n
of m u l t i t u d e s o f p o i n t s g a t h e r e d f r o a g r e a t c o l l e c t i o n
T h i s i s among
o f t a l e s i s open t o some c r i t i c i s m .
t h e f i r s t of many s t a t e m e n t s Thompson w a s t o make i n
h i s books and a r t i c l e s warning a g a i n s t o v e r g e n e r a l i z a t i o n
from i n s u f f i c i e n t d a t a . Although he w a s a n a d v o c a t e o f
comparative f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s , he b e l i e v e d t h a t comparisons
s h o u l d n o t be made u n t i l i n d i v i d u a l i t e m s a r e t h o r o u g h l y
atudied.

"go

When G.L.Kittredge r e a d a l e t t e r i n a b a l l a d c l a s s
from a n a n t h r o p o l o g i s t who had c o l l e c t e d what he b e l i e v e d
t o be a European t a l e from t h e North American I n d i a n s ,
Thompson's i n t e r e s t w a s s u f f i c i e n t l y s t i m u l a t e d t o l e a d
him t o r e s e a r c h such t a l e s f o r h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n . I n t h e
p r o c e s s o f r e s e a r c h i n g and becoming familiar w i t h
European and North American I n d i a n t a l e s , Thompson
began h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f m o t i f s , and e s s e n t i a l l y r e p e a t e d
some o f t h e work which Aarne had a l r e a d y done f o r h i s

index of Northern European t a l e types. I n t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n , which was published as European Tales Among t h e North
American I n d i a n s i n 1919 and a a n a r t i c l e c a l l e d "Sunday
School S t o r i e s Among Savages," 1 Thompson concluded t h a t
t h e French had c o n t r i b u t e d t h e g r e a t e s t number of t a l e s t o
t h e North American I n d i a n s , followed by t h e Spanish, the
Negroes, and the English. He a l s o pointed o u t t h e e s s e n t i a l
s t a b i l i t y of most of t h e Old World t a l e s i n t h e New World,
b u t noted t h a t some of them had undergone processes of
i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o t r i b a l l o r e , which should be studied--a
foreshadowing of t h e processes he w a s t o be concerned with
i n connection with historic-geographic s t u d i e s . Warren
Roberts, i n a review of the published book i n 1965, a s s e r t e d
t h a t t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n has r mained a b a s i c f o l k l o r e and
anthropology r e s e a r c h t o o l . 83

2.

Writings Concerning P r i m i t i v e Folklore

Tales of.- North American I n d i a n s w a s p a r t i a l l y a n

outgrowth of Thompson's d i s s e r t a t i o n , f u l f i l l i n g a need he
recognized f o r a s y s t e m a t i c , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c o l l e c t i o n o f
North American I n d i a n f o l k t a l e s from a l l the c u l t u r e a r e a ~ . ~ 4
I n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n , Thompson surveyed previous work done
by a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s and amateurs i n c o l l e c t i n g t h e t a l e s , and
he provided comments about t h e n a t u r e of the l o r e i n t h e
v a r i o u s a r e a s . He observed t h a t genre boundaries i n
p r i m i t i v e t a l e s a r e weak, and t h a t explanatory elements
may be added a t a l a t e r t e l l i n g . Thompson included
t r i c k s t e r t a l e s , hero t a l e s , c r e a t i o n myths, and s t o r i e s
of otherworld journeys and of animal wives and husbands,
i n t h e i r b e s t - t o l d v e r s i o n s ; he added comparative n o t e s
and i n s e r t e d motif numbers which coincided with those of
t h e Motif-Index.
Archer Taylor, reviewing t h e book,
agreed t h a t i t met a l l reasonable demands f o r a survey,
r e p r e s e n t i n g a compromise be een t h e demans of t h e
p u b l i c and those of s c h o l a r s y 5 Other reviewers have
pointed o u t t h a t t a l e s from t h e Southern P l a i n s , Sout e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , and t h e Southwest were ~ n d e r r e ~ r e s e n t e d . 4

A word may be added h e r e concerning Thompson's

i d e a s about p r i m i t i v e f o l k l o r e , though they a r e n o t
e x c l u s i v e of h i s i d e a s about f o l k l o r e i n general. Most
of p r i m i t i v e c u l t u r e belongs i n t h e province of ethnology and a thropology; p r i m i t i v e a r t and music need s p e c i a l
a t t e n t i o n . b S t o r y t e l l i n g , however, i s u n i v e r s a l . There
i s a continuum from p r i m i t i v e t o s o p h i s t i c a t e d l i t e r a t u r e ,
Thompson
and e l u c i d a t i o n of t h e p r o c e s s of develo
f e l t , i s a major g o a l of f o l k l o r e study.
only t h e
n a t i v e f o l k l o r e , b u t the i n t e g r a t e d l o r e borrowed from
h i g h e r c u l t u r e s should be consideredr s t u d i e s of i n d i v i d u a l
items , t h e i r probable o r i g i n and d i s t r i b u t i o n should
precede comparative s t u d i e s and t h e o r e t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n s of

gvenkt

s t y l e , f u n c t i o n , and performance. 49 Thompson r e p e a t e d l y

emphasized t h a t type indexes should be made of t h e P a c i f i c
a r e a , t h e North and South American I n d i a n s , and k f r i c a ,
and h i s s t u d e n t s d i d indeed begin indexing work i n t h e s e
areas.
Thompson's f i r s t a r t i c l e about p r i m i t i v e f o l k l o r e ,
"The P r e h i s t o r i c Origins of S a t i r e " (1916) was r a t h e r a n
embarrassment t o him l a t e r . S a t i r e , he s t a t e d , was t h e
product o f a n i r r a t i o n a l savage mind, a p r e l o g i c a l
m e n t a l i t y , and was a c t u a l l y a p o e t i c form of the c ~ r s e . 5 ~
A s Thompson's knowledge of f o l k l o r e i n c r e a s e d and matured,
he a l t e r e d h i s e s t i m a t i o n of p r i m i t i v e mental p r o c e s s e s ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n regard t o myth. He l a t e r b e l i e v e d t h a t
myth-making processes have n o t changed from p r i m i t i v e
t o modern people. One must c o n s i d e r a c u l t u r e ' s own
d e f i n i t i o n of i t s myths, j u s t a s we have worked o u t
o u r own genre d i s t i n c t i o n s f o r Western f o l k l o r e . 51
Thompson d i d n o t t h i n k t h a t f o l k l o r i s t s knew enough
about t h e o r i g i n and dissemination of myths t o s p e c u l a t e
on t h e n a t u r e of mythology. He f r e q u e n t l y described
psychoanalytic, r i t u a l i s t i c , and dream t h e o r i e s of myth
as nonsense. One cannot f i t a broad range of m a t e r i a l
i n t o a s i n g l e mold. Myth means what i t sa s ; t h e q u e s t
f o r o u t s i d e meanings i s doomed t o f a i l u r e . 3 2

3.

Indexes
The Types
-

of

the F o l k t a l e

The r e q u e s t made of Thompson by Krohn t o r e v i s e Aarne's

type index has a l r e a d y been mentioned. Krohn r e a l i z e d t h a t
t h e amount of m a t e r i a l published s i n c e the index had been
w r i t t e n n e c e s s i t a t e d an expansion and r e v i s i o n . Aarne
d i e d b e f o r e being a b l e t o continue the t a s k , and Thompson
w a s asked t o do so. He t r a n s l a t e d t h e index from Finnish
i n t o E n g l i s h , expanded t h e m a t e r i a l from Northern European
c o l l e c t i o n s t o i n c l u d e Southern and E a s t e r n Europe,
Great B r i t a i n , and, t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t , I n d i a . He made
use o f t h e n o t e s of Bolte and Polivka, Reidar Th.
C h r i s t i a n s e n ' s survey f Norwegian t a l e s , and o t h e r
similar r e c e n t works. 5

"Type," s a i d Thompson, i s a "term used by s t u d e n t s

of f o l k l i t e r a t u r e t o d e s i g n a t e a n a r r a t i v e capable of
maintaining a n independent e x i s t e n c e i n t r a d i t i o n . " The
v e r s i o n given i n t h e index w a s n o t s e l e c t e d according
t o a e s t h e t i c c r i t e r i a of good and bad, b u t i s r a t h e r a
t h e o r e t i c a l r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e probable archetype of
t h e t a l e f o r use i n a p r a c t i c a l l i s t i n g and catalogue
of t a l e s . The indexing p r o c e s s , then, i m p l i e s a b a s i c
assumption t h a t a t a l e i s a n e n t i t y w i t h a h i s t o r y and
a n o r i g i n . 54 More w i l l be s a i d about archetypes i n t h e

d i s c u s s i o n of t h e historic-geographic method below. Thompson

wrote about the d i f f i c u l t y determining j u s t what p o i n t i n
a t a l e i s important enough t o use i n i t s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ;
he emphasized t h a t t a l e types grouped t o g e t h e r by s u b j e c t
i n the index do n o t n e c e s s a r i l y have any g e n e t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p t o each o t h e r - - t h a t i s the job f o r t h e f o l k l o r i s t
t o f i n d o u t through e x a c t i n g me thodology and comparative
a n a l y s i s . 55
Thompson r e t a i n e d Aarne's c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of t h e t a l e s
i n t o animal t a l e s , ordinary t a l e s , and jokes and anecdotes,
b u t he added s e c t i o n s on formula t a l e s and miscellaneous
t a l e s . He omitted l i t e r a r y c o l l e c t i o n s and l o c a l legends.
The second r e v i s i o n (1961 ) , f i r s t proposed i n t h e Lund
Conference i n 1935, expanded t h e index t o i n c o r p o r a t e
new c o l l e c t i o n s and surveys. There were a few minor
chan e s i n o r g a n i z a t i o n a s w e l l . I n a l e t t e r t o C h r i s t i a n s e n August 18,1957--Lilly c o l l e c t i o n ) Thompson l i s t e d
t h e c r i t e r i a he used i n checking each a r c h i v e before making
the r e v i s i o n ; how many of each type d i d t h e a r c h i v e p o s s e s s ;
what types n o t i n t h e index were i n t h e a r c h i v e s ; and
what changes i n t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e types would t h e
a r c h i v e s suggest. Bibliographies and motif numbers a r e
included i n both e d i t i o n s . Students u s i n g t h e index
should read t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n c a r e f u l l y and check t h e l i s t
of a b b r e v i a t i o n s used i n t h e work i n o r d e r t o l o c a t e
types e f f e c t i v e l y and t o understand t h e n a t u r e of t h e
genres and a r e a s d e a l t with. The T ~ s e sof t h e F o l k t a l e
i s an index only f o r t h e f o l k t a l e r e g i o n s from "India
t o I r e l a n d ; " Thompson b e l i e v e d t h a t o t h e r l a r g e a r e a s
should be indexed s e p a r a t e l y . I d e a l l y , s e p a r a t e indexes
f o r each genre should be w r i t t e n .

The Mo t i f - I n d e x
-

of Folk-Literature

The Mo t i f - I n d e x (two e d i t i o n s ) i s Thompson's most

monumental f o l k l o r e work, embodying a t l e a s t f o r t y y e a r s
of research. I t i s the p u b l i c a t i o n which Thompson
r e f e r r e d t o most f r e q u e n t l y i n h i s a r t i c l e s . Thompson
was impressed by t h e world-wide s i m i l a r i t i e s i n f o l k l o r e
matifs--some of them t h e r e s u l t of independent i n v e n t i o n
from the u n i v e r s a l n a t u r e of human experience, some of
them t h e r e s u l t of d i f f u s i o n . He noted t h a t over one-half
of the t a l e types i n Aarne's index c o n s i s t e d of only one
m o t i f , and t h a t t h e i r e x i s t e n c e as independent f o l k l o r e
elements should be documented. The Motif-Index i s a
p r a c t i c a l l i s t i n g o f m o t i f s f o r t h e s c h o l a r t o use i n
s t u d i e s of t h e o r i g i n and dissemination of t a l e s . Motifs
a r e grouped by s u b j e c t , and, as i n t h e type index,
Thompson d i d n o t i n t e n d t o imply a r e l a t i o n s h i p among
m o t i f s appearing t o g e t h e r . I t i s a s i e n t i f i c c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
system l i k e t h a t used by b i o l o g i s t s . 5 8 Though previous

a t t e m p t s had been made by s e v e r a l s c h o l a r s (such as von

Hahn, J. Jacobs, KBhler) t o c o n s t r u c t such l i s t s , they
had been too narrow i n d e f i n i t i o n and scope.57 Thus t h e
index was n o t meant t o be a n end i n i t s e l f , but only t h e
foundation f o r f u t u r e r e s e a r c h - - p a r t i c u l a r l y h i s t o r i c geographic study.
" I n f o l k l o r e , t h e term motif i s used t o d e s i g n a t e
any one of t h e p a r t s i n t o which a n item of f o l k l o r e can
be analyzed," s a i d Thompson. I t may be a n i n c i d e n t , a
s h o r t , simple s t o r y i n i t s e l f , a background o b j e c t , a n
imaginary world, a c h a r a c t e r . A motif must have somet h i n g unusual about i t t h a t enables i t t o p e r s i s t i n
t r a d i t i o n . Whereas the Finnish f o l k l o r i s t s who developed
t h e historic-geographic method b e l i e v e d t h a t each m o t i f
was o r i g i n a l l y p a r t of j u s t one t a l e , Thompson a s s e r t e d
t h a t m o t i f s a r e independent elements which may be universal i n d i s t r i b u t i o n o r widespread i n p a r t i c u l a r t a l e
types over l a r g e a r e a s , i 8 b u t n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a t t a c h e d
i n origin to a single tale.
I n assembling m a t e r i a l f o r the index, Thompson used
both l i t e r a r y and o r a l s o u r c e s , because of t h e d i f f i c u l t y
i n s e p a r a t i n g the c o n s t a n t flow of elements between t h e
two t r a d i t i o n s , Narrative elements of myths, f a b l e s ,
f o l k t a l e s , f a b l i a u x , medieval romances, exempla, j e s t books, and l o c a l t r a d i t i o n s were included, t h e legends
being given t h e l e a s t c o n s i d e r a t i o n . No s u p e r s t i t i o n s ,
customs, proverbs, o r r i d d l e s were surveyed. The index
c o n t a i n s both general and r e g i o n a l b i b l i o g r a p h i e s ,
twenty-three c h a p t e r s of motif c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s (each
with i t s own s y n o p s i s ) , c r o s s - r e f e r e n c e s , and a s i x t h
volume which i s an index t o the index, The s t u d e n t
s h o u l d check t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n c a r e f u l l y b e f o r e t r y i n g

t o use e i t h e r e d i t i o n .
The r e v i s i o n of the Motif-Index was begun i n 1947,
and i t w a s published i n 1955-58, I t r e p r e s e n t s a more
than f i f t y p e r c e n t expansion over the f i r s t e d i t i o n ,
i n c o r p o r a t i n g the more r e c e n t c o l l e c t i o n s and s t u d i e s
n o t p r e v i o u s l y a v a i l a b l e . Neither the type index nor
motif-index was s o l e l y t h e work of one person, The
correspondence f i l e s i n the L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n r e v e a l
t h a t Thompson received suggestions and m o t i f s from
numerous s c h o l a r s , n o t t h e l e a s t of whom was Archer
Taylor, who had advised Thompson on the indexes from
t h e i r beginnings. For t h e second e d i t i o n Thompson was
a b l e t o use a s s i s t a n t s and s e c r e t a r i e s funded by t h e
University. The Motif -Index i n s p i r e d o t h e r w r i t e r s
t o make t o make r e g i o n a l and genre indexes based upon
t h e same system--for example, Frank Hoffman's index
of e r o t i c f o l k l o r e elements. Thompson purposely

excluded e r o t i c m o t i f s from h i s index. H i s r e p l y t o a

l e t t e r from Gershon Legman r e q u e s t i n g information on e r o t i c
b a l l a d s was b r i e f , simply s t a t i n g t h a t he had no i n t e r e s t
i n t h e "pornography" of f o l k l o r e . 5 9

C.

The Indexes of I n d i c Tales

Thompson discounted Theodor Benfey's theory t h a t

European f o l k t a l e s came from I n d i a , b u t he recognized t h a t
i t w a s a n important a r e a i n f o l k l o r e dissemination which
deserved s e p a r a t e study. The most important l i t e r a r y
c o l l e c t i o n s , he noted, came from I n d i a a n were e s p e c i a l l y
i n f l u e n t i a l i n Europe i n t h e Middle Ages.80 Thompson
began r e s e a r c h on the f o l k t a l e s of I n d i a i n 1938. H i s
o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n was t o w r i t e a type index of t h e t a l e s ,
b u t because of the formless n a t u r e of t h e n a r r a t i v e s he
found i t necessary t o w r i t e a motif index f i r s t . This
index, e n t i t l e d The Oral Tales of I n d i a , was published
with Jonas Balys i n 1958, followed by t h e type index,
Types of I n d i q F o l k t a l e s (with Warren ~ o b e r t s )i n 1960.
Both indexes follow t h e schemes and numerical o r g a n i z a t i o n s
of Thompson's previous indexes. No a t t e m p t w a s made t o
i n c l u d e l i t e r a r y c o l l e c t i o n s , however, and t h e r e s e a r c h e r s
used only those c o l l e c t i o n s a v a i l a b l e i n t h e United ~ t a t e s . ~ 1
Again, t h e s e works were intended t o be t o o l s f o r f o l k l o r e
research.

4.

The Study and Description of Folklore

The n e x t two books t o be considered c o n t a i n Thompson's

own t h e o r e t i c a l and methodological statements as w e l l a s
e v a l u a t i o n s of p a s t and p r e s e n t t r e n d s i n f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p . J& F o l k t a l e , published i n 1946, i s a good i n t r o d u c t i o n
t o t h e t h e o r i e s of t h e f o l k t a l e u n t i l t h e time of i t s
p u b l i c a t i o n , and t o t h e broad concerns of t h e author.
Through h i s d i s c u s s i o n of f o l k t a l e s c h o l a r s h i p , Thompson
unfolds h i s p l a n s and hopes f o r the f u t u r e of h i s d i s c i p l i n e , t h e mistakes of t h e p a s t , and t h e methods of t h e
p r e s e n t . The m a j o r i t y of Thompson's a r t i c l e s d e a l with
one o r more s u b j e c t s discussed i n The F o l k t a l e - - e i t h e r as
s t e p s i n t h e development of h i s c o n v i c t i o n s , o r as modif i c a t i o n s o r e l a b o r a t i o n s of them.
Although he w a s aware of new t r e n d s i n f o l k l o r e
s c h o l a r s h i p , Thompson changed few of h i s i d e a s a f t e r 1946,
devoting more of h i s time t o o r g a n i z a t i o n a l work than t o
t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e o r i e s . I n a 1965 correspondence
with Alan Dundes, Thompson s t a t e d some of h i s doubts about
s t r u c t u r a l and psychoanalytic a n a l y s e s of f o l k l o r e , and
and concluded t h a t he himself was a r e p r e s e n t a t i y e of t h e
p a s t attempting t o give the advice of experience t o t h e
new generation.62

Thompson wrote t o A.H. Gayton on October 26, 1946

concernin t h e methodology, production, and g o a l s o f The
F o l k t a l e L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n ) . I n t h i s l e t t e r , he s t a t e s
t h a t he o f f e r s t o t h e i n t e l l i g e n t r e a d e r a book synthes i z i n g t h e accomplishments of f o l k t a l e s c h o l a r s h i p , and
p r e s e n t s a n o t i o n of t h e a c t u a l c o n t e n t of a l a r g e
p o r t i o n o f t a l e s from t h e European, A s i a t i c , and North
American I n d i a n t r a d i t i o n s . I n t h e f i r s t p a r t of t h e book,
Thompson d i s c u s s e s s t o r y t e l l i n g and t h e v a r i o u s forms
of t h e f o l k t a l e , i n c l u d i n g legends, n o v e l l a s , myths,
and hero t a l e s , among o t h e r s . He summarizes p a s t s t u d i e s
o f genres and types and t r i e s t o g i v e a n i d e a of h i s t o r i c a l
connections, developments, and t h e dissemination of
f o l k t a l e s . T r a d i t i o n i s the key c r i t e r i o n i n Thompson's
d e f i n i t i o n of f o l k l o r e , whether i t be a n a r r a t i v e , song,
dance, b e l i e f , custom, o r item of m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e .
i s t h a t of t r a d i t i o n , something
"The co,mon i d e a
handed down from one person t o a n o t h e r and preserved
e i t h e r by memory o r p r a c t i c e r a t h e r than w r i t t e n record. $163
This p r o c e s s of transmission of f o l k l o r e items i s more
c r u c i a l than o r i g i n s i n d e f i n i n g them a s f o l k l o r e .
Thompson noted t h a t f o l k l o r e i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e
s t a b i l i t y of i t s e s s e n t i a l c o n t e n t i n t r a d i t i o n and t h e
v a r i a t i o n s produced by t h e laws of transmission; a s a n
o r a l phenomenon i t has no s t dard forms such as a r e
found i n l i t e r a r y t r a d i t i o n . $$

...

Thompson began h i s f o l k t a l e i n t e r e s t s a s a s t u d e n t
of l i t e r a t u r e , and he c o n s t a n t l y emphasized t h e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s of o r a l and w r i t t e n n a r r a t i v e v e r s i o n s .
L i t e r a t u r e and o r a l l i t e r a t u r e a r e a c t u a l l y very d i f f e r e n t ,
each following d i f f e r e n t laws of transmission, b u t they
may seem a l i k e on the s u r f a c e , s i n c e t h e r e has been a n
i n t e r c h a n g e o f c o n t e n t , even s t y l e , be t w e e ~ ~ t h e smi n c e
t h e very beginnings of w r i t t e n l i t e r a t u r e .
Three f u r t h e r p o i n t s about Thompson's i d e a s should
be made here. F i r s t , Thompson regarded genre d i s t i n c t i o n s
l a r g e l y as a m a t t e r of convenience f o r s t u d y , i n t h e
same manner as t h e types and m o t i f s of h i s indexes should
be used. One should look a t the genre d e f i n i t i o n s of
each c u l t u r e i n regard t o i t s own f o l k l o r e , e s p e c i a l l y
i n prin&tive c u l t u r e s where n a r r a t i v e d i s t i n c t i o n s a r e
vague.
Secondly, t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s of b a s i c human
s i t u a t i o n s and experiences, and t h e n a t u r e of human
thought have produced p a r a l l e l s i n f o l k l o r e t y p e s and
m o t i f s through independent i n v e n t i o n . One must n o t be
too h a s t y i n assuming d i f f u s i o n between two s i m i l a r
m o t i f s i n s e p a r a t e p l a c e s b e f o r e t h e possib l i t y of
polygenesis h a s been adequately considered. b7 Third,
Thompson re-emphasizes i n t h i s s e c t i o n t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y
of t h e a r t of s t o r y t e l l i n g , p a r t i c u l a r l y among p r e - l i t e r a t e

peoples f o r whom i t i s a n e s s e n t i a l means of transmission

of information and entertainment. Laws of r e a t i o n and
transmission a r e t h e same i n a l l c u l t u r e s . 68
The second p a r t of The F o l k t a l e i s a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e
e s s e n t i a l t a l e types of t h e I n d i a - I r e l a n d t r a d i t i o n drawn
from t h e c o n t e n t of t h e Aarne-Thompson index. S i m i l a r l y ,
t h e t h i r d s e c t i o n d e a l s with p r i m i t i v e f o l k t a l e s , and i t
p a r a l l e l s much of t h e c o n t e n t of Tales of t h e North
American I n d i a n s . These a s p e c t s of h i s work have a l r e a d y
been considered above. The l a s t p a r t , on studying
f o l k t a l e , h a s been reviewed a l t e r n a t e l y as t h e b e s t 9 and
t h e worst7O s e c t i o n of t h e book, depending upon whether
t h e reviewer a s s o c i a t e s himself with t h e t h e o r i e s o r
methods which Thompson a c c e p t s o r r e j e c t s .

Zhe

I n t h e f i r s t c h a p t e r of P a r t 4, Thompson e v a l u a t e s
t h e p a s t t h e o r i e s of t h e f o l k t a l e . These include:
a.
b.

c.

d.

e.

The broken-down myth theory of f o l k t a l e o r i g i n s

supported by t h e Grims which assumed a common
Indo-European mythology;
The t h e o r i e s of t h e comparative mythologists,
l e d by Max MUller and George Cox, who b e l i e v e d
t h a t t h e s e Indo-European myths were a l l e g o r i e s
of c e l e s t i a l phenomena;
The I n d i a n i s t theory of Theodor Benfey, Reinhold
Kdhler, and o t h e r s , which assigned primary
importance t o I n d i a as a source of European
and A s i a t i c f o l k t a l e s ;
The evolutionary a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s of
t h e f o l l o w e r s of E.B. Tylor and Andrew Lang,
who supported t h e n o t i o n of uniform evolutionary
s t a g e s of c u l t u r e and independent i n v e n t i o n of
f o l k l o r e items;
The r i t u a l i s t t h e o r i e s which assumed t h a t a l l
n a r r a t i v e genres a r e derived from p r i m i t i v e
ritual

Thompson concludes t h a t each of t h e s e t h e o r i e s may be

a p p l i c a b l e t o c e r t a i n s i t u a t i o n s and t a l e s , b u t t h a t one
cannot g e n e r a l i z e and a t t e m p t t o e x p l a i n a l l of o r a l
t r a d i t i o n by one formula. 71 I n r e j e c t i n g t h e s e encompassing
t h e o r i e s , Thompson demonstrates t h e g o a l of h i s s c h o l a r s h i p
--one cannot s p e c u l a t e on t h e meaning o r u l t i m a t e o r i g i n
of f o l k l o r e forms u n t i l one has examined t h e a v a i l a b l e
f a c t s concerning t h e h i s t o r y of each item. 72
I n a word, t h e g o a l of t h e s c h o l a r of f o l k l o r e i s a thorough knowledge of a l l t h e
circumstances concerning every p a r t i c u l a r
i t e m of f o l k t r a d i t i o n . This means n o t only
t h e h i s t o r y of t h e p a r t i c u l a r item b u t a l s o
a n a n a l y s i s of i t , so a s t o understand i t s
t r u e n a t u r e . 73

The c h a p t e r on "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Organization of

F o l k t a l e Study" i s a compilation of information based
upon Thompson*~r e s e a r c h e s and p e r s o n a l f a m i l i a r i t y with
European and American s c h o l a r s h i p . He d i s c u s s e s t h e
development of f o l k l o r e as a d i s c i p l i n e i n most European
c o u n t r i e s and i n t h e United S t a t e s , with emphasis upon
t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s of the Finnish f o l k l o r i s t s . This
s e c t i o n , combined with some of Thompson's a r t i c l e s and
p e r s o n a l correspondence, adds t o t h e p i c t u r e of t h e
i n t e r a c t i o n of men and i d e a s , t h e changing t h e o r i e s and
d e f i n i t i o n s of t h e f i r s t p a r t of t h i s century mentioned
above i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n of h i s reminiscences. ?4 Thompson
s t a t e d i n a 1932 a r t i c l e t h a t he b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e c h i e f
developments of t h e f i r s t f o r t y y e a r s of f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p were: 1. t h e a n n o t a t i o n of t h e Grim c o l l e c t i o n by
Bolte and Polivka, who brought t o g e t h e r every s i g n i f i c a n t
c o l l e c t i o n ; 2. t h e development of f o l k l o r e a r c h i v e s ; 3 . t h e
compilation o f b i b l i o g r a p h i e s and encyclopedias; 4. t h e
establishment of t h e Folklore Fellows Colnmunications as
a n instrument of c o l l e c t i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n , and p u b l i c a t i o n
of m a t e r i a l of i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s . 75
Thompson c r e d i t s t h e Finns with providing t h e impetus
f o r comparative f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s and s c i e n t i f i c methodol o g y , n o t i n g t h e succeses of t h e a r c h i v e s , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
and methods, p a r t i c u l a r l y
systems, j o u r n a l s (e.g.
t h e historic-geographic method developed by J u l i u s and
Kaarle Krohn.

m),

A f i n a l development of f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s which
Thompson d i s c u s s e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r i s the i n t e r n a t i o n a l
o r g a n i z a t i o n of f o l k l o r i s t s i n t o a s s o c i a t i o n s and cong r e s s e s , such as t h e Lund and Edinburgh congresses.
Although t h e information he g i v e s i s very g e n e r a l , i t
i s a u s e f u l i n t r o d u c t i o n t o the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l forms of
t h e d i s c i p l i n e . Thompson's p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n these
i n s t i t u t i o n s i s d i s c u s s e d f u r t h e r below.

The n e x t c h a p t e r , " C o l l e c t i n g F o l k l o r e , " i s , i n a

s e n s e , a r e t u r n t o t h e b a s i c s t e p s of s c h o l a r s h i p .
Thompson emphasized s e v e r a l a s p e c t s of c o l l e c t i n g .
F i r s t , he s t r o n g l y advocated f a i t h f u l recording of
t e x t s and t h e maintenance of t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e
o r a l form. 76 Second, he f r e q u e n t l y discussed t h e l o c a t i o n
of informants v i a u n i v e r s i t i e s , l o c a l s o c i e t i e s , and
schools. E l d e r l y and middle-aged people u s u a l l y make
t h e b e s t informants. School c h i l d r e n should n o t be used
a s informants b u t may be h e l p f u l i n l o c a t i n g o l d e r people.77
Third, Thompson evaluated t h e techniques, advocating t h e use
of a shorthand o r a recording machine t o k ep t h e i n t e r viewing s i t u a t i o n a s n a t u r a l as possible.78 A thorough
knowledge of l o c a l m o t i f s and p l o t s can be used by t h e

c o l l e c t o r t o s t i m u l a t e h i s informants. F i n a l l y , Thompson
suggested t h a t Arnerican c o l l e c t o r s use t h e experiences of
European c o l l e c t o r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e I r i s h , a s g u i d e l i n e s .
The I r i s h Folklore Commission, which u t i l i z e s f u l l - t i m e
and part-time c o l l e c t o r s as w e l l as c h i l d r e n , was one of
Thompson's f a v o r i t e examples, e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e he had had
t h e opportunity t o observe i t f i r s t h a n d . American
c o l l e c t o r s need more o r g a n i z a t i o n , a broader f o l k l o r e
background, and a c e n t r a l o r r e g i o n a l guidebook. 79
The c h a p t e r on "Classifying Folk Narrative" c o n t a i n s
a n o u t l i n e of e a r l y a t t e m p t s a t l i s t i n g and c a t a l o g i n g
t a l e s p r i o r t o Thompson's own indexing work, i n which he
drew upon t h e s e preceding e f f o r t s . Again he p o i n t s o u t
the p r a c t i c a l value of l i s t i n g types and m o t i f s p r i o r
t o making f u r t h e r a n a l y s e s and surveys of t a l e s , t a l e
a r e a s , and genres.
"The L i f e H i s t o r y of a F o l k t a l e " d e a l s with t h e
historic-geographic method developed by Finnish s c h o l a r s .
Thompson modified t h e method (as have most s t u d e n t s who
have used i t ) ; he demonstrated i t i n h i s a n a l y s i s of
"The Star-Husband T a l e , " and he helped propagate i t s
usefulness mong s c h o l a r s by w r i t i n g f r e q u e n t l y about i t
and encouraging h i s own s t u d e n t s t o employ i t . H i s
indexes were used as t o o l s by historic-geographic
r e s e a r c h e r s . Thompson c r e d i t e d t h e development of a
more s c i e n t i f i c approach t o f o l k l o r e with t a k i n g t h e
"study of o r a l n a r r a t i v e from a p u r e l y s p e c u l a t i v e s t a g
t o one where r e s u l t s a r e based upon a s c e r t a i n e d f a c t s . ~ 8 0
The method i n v o l v e s t h e d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of t h e h i s t o r y
of a complex t a l e t o d e r i v e i t s h y p o t h e t i c a l o r i g i n a l
form. The f o l k t a l e can r e v e a l t h e c u l t u r a l v a l u e s of
i t s c r e a t o r s , s a i d Thompson; i t i s more than j u s t a
s u r v i v a l from t h e p a s t . However, i n o r d e r t o d e r i v e
much meaning from i t , one needs t o know the probable
o r i g i n a l form and t h e h i s t o r y of i t s dissemination.
Thompson d i s c u s s e s t h e method thoroughly i n t h i s
c h a p t e r , i n h i s a n a l y s i s of "The Star-Husband T a l e , " and
i n Four S ~ m p o s i a . Since t h e method i s based upon l o g i c ,
i t must be modified t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r t a l e and s i t u a t i o n
one i s working with. I d e a l l y , one should have a t l e a s t
seventy-five v e r s i o n s of t h e t a l e , f o r t h e more v e r s i o n s
one u s e s , t h e s a f e r a r e one's conclusions. The t a l e should
be complex so t h a t i t can be broken i n t o traits. 'These a r e
n o t m o t i f s , b u t r a t h e r t h e p o i n t s of v a r i a t i o n . 'Oral
v e r s i o n s should be arranged geographically4 l i t e r a r y
v e r s i o n s chronologically. The t a l e should be divided i n t o
t r a i t s , mapped, analyzed by s t a t i s t i c a l counts, and

evaluated by c e r t a i n c r i t e r i a enumerated by ~ h o m ~ s o n . ~ ~
Gradually one can c o n s t r u c t h y p o t h e t i c a l sub-types which
seem t o be l o c a l developments o f h i s t o r i c a l and geog r a p h i c a l processes.
These sub-types must be a s c e r t a i n e d before one cons t r u c t s t h e archetype, which i s , e s s e n t i a l l y , t h e probable
o r i g i n a l form from which the sub-types could have developed.
I t i s a l o g i c a l c o n s t r u c t i o n with h e u r i s t i c v a l u s , n o t
merely a t a b u l a t i o n of t h e most f r e q u e n t l y found t r a i t s O 8 2
Since t h e concept of archetype has been f r e q u e n t l y m i s understood, Thompson emphasizes t h a t i t i s n o t t h e a c t u a l
o r i g i n a l form, merely a h y p o t h e t i c a l one which can be used
t o e x p l a i n t h e v i c i s s i t u d e s of t h e t a l e a s i t t r a v e l l e d .
One cannot know t h e e x a c t p l a
of o r i g i n of the t a l e ,
only i t s e a r l i e s t known home.
One assumption of t h e
methodology i s t h a t t h e home a r e a of t h t a l e w i l l
r e t a i n a form c l o s e s t t o the o r i g i n a l . 8 8 A f t e r t h e
groundwork i s done, one can hypothesize about t h e laws
of o r a l transmission which a f f e c t e d t h e spread and
v a r i a t i o n of t h e t a l e . Thompson summarizes some of h i s
reasons f o r using the method:

8g

If t h e t r a d i t i o n i s p u r e l y o r a l , i t i s

c o n t i n u a l l y i n f l u x and t h e v e r s i o n s one
has before him each r e p r e s e n t only t h e
form i n which a p a r t i c u l a r t e l l e r a t a
p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e on a p a r t i c u l a r day t o l d
t h e s t o r y . There i s of course no quest i o n of t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of the s t a n d a r d
t e x t , f o r t h e t a l e changes from day t o day.
The most t h a t the s t u d e n t can hope f o r i s
t h a t on t h e b a s i s o f a very extensive
sampling he may be a b l e t o d i s c e r n the
elements i n t h i s f l u i d t r a d i t i o n and i f
he i s f o r t u n a t e , t o say something i n t e l l i g e n t about the g e n e r a l p l a c e o f o r i g i n
and the form of t h e t r a d i t i o n before i t
s t a r t e d on i t s long journey over t h e world.86
Thompson w a s c a r e f u l t o c o n s i d e r t h e c r i t i c i s m s
d i r e c t e d a t t h e Finnish methodology, reminding h i s r e a d e r s
t h a t through e v a l u a t i o n of t h e s e c r i t i c i s m s one could
improve t h e methods. A l b e r t Wesselski argued f o r t h e
predominance of t h e l i t e r a r y over the o r a l t r a d i t i o n
throughout h i s t o r y . Thompson thought t h a t Wesselsky w a s
too narrow-minded, b u t he acknowledged the importance of
l i t e r a r y i n f l u e n c e s and t h e need t o do more r e s e a r c h on
on t h e problem. C.W. von Sydow argued a g a i n s t t h e theory
o f wave-like d i f f u s i o n o f f o l k t a l e s supported by many
historic-geographic scholars, pointing out t h a t diffusion
i s t h e r e s u l t of t h e a c t i v i t i e s of a few g i f t e d t e l l e r s

only and i s t h e r e f o r e e r r a t i c . He a l s o emphasized t h e

importance of l i n g u i s t i c and geographical boundaries i n
hampering d i f f u s i o n ; l o c a l r e d a c t i o n s of t a l e s , he argued,
a r e n o t sub-types derived from a disseminated archetype,
b u t a r e s e p a r a t e r e g i o n a l developments from a common
d i s t a n t a n c e s t o r ( o i k o t y p e s ) . Thompson admitted t h e need
f o r more s t u d i e s of transmission, b u t b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
completed t a l e monographs amply demonstrated the d i f f u s i o n
o f t a l e s over l i n g u i s t i c and geographical boundaries. H i s
a n a l y s i s of "The Star-Husband Tale" w a s a n attempt t o
demonstrate the v a l i d i t y of t h e method i n a s i t u a t i o n
where t h e r e were no w r i t t e n i n f l u e n c e s and where t h e above
boundaries were n e g l i g i b l e ( t h e t r a d i t i o n of the North
American 1ndians)--perhaps t h e same s i t u a t i o n which
e x i s t e d i n p e a s a n t , p r e - l i t e r a t e Europe. This demonstration
does n o t , however, e l i m i n a t e the v a l i d i t y of t h e c r i t i c i s m s
i n studying o t h e r t a l e s i n o t h e r s i t u a t i o n s . 87
The l a s t c h a p t e r of The F o l k t a l e d e a l s with t h e
f o l k t a l e as l i v i n g a r t , and although t h e a e s t h e t i c study
of t h e f o l k t a l e was n o t Thompson's s p e c i a l t y , he recognized
t h e importance of the f o l k t a l e i n c u l t u r e . One can make
comparative stiudies of transmission and of s t y l i s t i c
devices, and one can s p e c i f y s o c i a l and p s c h o l o g i c a l
a s p e c t s of performance w i t h i n t h e c u l t u r e .58 Thompson
gave a t l e a s t two p o i n t s of advice i n regard t o s t y l i s t i c
and f u n c t i o n a l i s t s t u d i e s . F i r s t , one should maintain t h e
a u t h e n t i c i t y and i n t e g r i t y of t h e t e x t s , o r one's c o n c l u s i o ~
w i l l n o t be v a l i d . Second, one should n o t be too h a s t y i n
g e n e r a l i z i n g about t h e meaning of t a l e without adequate
background r e s e a r c h and c o n s i d e r a t i o n . f 9
Most of Thompson's major t e n e t s have been mentioned.
A b r i e f r e i t e r a t i o n of h i s p l a n f o r f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p

w i l l h e l p t o p l a c e them i n p e r s p e c t i v e . He g i v e s t h e
following s t e p s of f o l k t a l e r e s e a r c h l e a d i n g t o t h e
discovery of o r i g i n s and d i s t r i b u t i o n s :
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

Collection
Classification
Cataloging
E l a b o r a t i o n of techniques f o r study
The w r i t i n g o f monographs on i n d i v i d u a l
t a l e s . 90

Once t h e s e s t e p s have been taken, one can proceed t o study

t h e f o l k t a l e as a n a r t , and, f i n a l l y , discover i t s meaning.91
Inlihis l e t t e r t o Gayton i n 1946, Thompson s t a t e d t h a t he
d i d n o t f e e l t h a t f o l k l o r e was as s e r i o u s o r as s c i e n t i f i c
as i t should be. He emphasized t h e need f o r a knowledge of
h i s t o r y , l i t e r a t u r e , sociology, anthropology--all d i s c i p l i n e s
related to folklore. Folklore, l i k e the other s o c i a l

s c i e n c e s , should be a p o i n t of view on s o c i e t y and c u l t u r e .

A f o l k l o r i s t needs a working knowledge o f major European
languages, along with any o t h e r s he may be working w i t h ,
and he must have a p r a c t i c a l mastery of t h e t h e o r i e s and
techniques of h i s d i s c i p l i n e .
The l a s t work discussed h e r e , Four S ~ m p o s i aon
F o l k l o r e , i s a t r a n s c r i p t i o n of t h e d i s c u s s i o n s of t h e
Mid-century Folklore Congress h e l d i n Bloomington i n 1950.
Four broad t o p i c s served as g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e symposiat
c o l l e c t i n g f o l k l o r e , a r c h i v i n g f o l k l o r e , making m a t e r i a l s
a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c and t o s c h o l a r s , and t h e study of
f o l k l o r e . Few, i f any, of t h e i s s u e s were r e s o l v e d ;
they a r e of continuing i n t e r e s t t o s t u d e n t s of f o l k l o r e .
Each symposium w a s divided i n t o f o u r s e c t i o n s , and t h e
remarks of each p a r t i c i p a n t were noted. Of p a r t i c u l a r
i n t e r e s t i s t h e comparison between American and European
f o l k l o r e developments and t h e o r i e s . Most o f Thompson's
major i d e a s about f o l k l o r e study i n America were
discussed i n some a s p e c t i n t h e symposia, and may be
b r i e f l y summarized as follows:

1.

2.

3.
4.

5.

6.

R a c i a l , r e g i o n a l , e t h n i c , and Anglo
f o l k l o r e should be c o l l e c t e d and
s t u d i e d , both as p a r t of American
f o l k l o r e and as elements i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n s . 92
More systematic c o l l e c t i n g , organi z e d on s t a t e and l o c a l l e v e l s , i s
needed, i n c l u d i n g t r a i n i n g of c o l l e c t o r s by u n i v e r s i t i e s and l o c a l s o c i e t i e s . 9 3
Increased use of q u e s t i o n n a i r e s and maps,
such as those used by v a r i o u s European
c o u n t r i e s , would be h e l p f u l i n l o a t i n g
f o l k l o r e a r e a s i f used properly.9
More f o l k l o r e museums a r e badly needed.95
The Library o f Congress Folklore
S e c t i o n should a c t a s a clearinghouse
f o r American f o l k l o r e . Small a r c h i v e s
should be copied on microfilm and t h e
m a t e r i a l made a v a i l a b l e t o s c h o l a r s .
The I r i s h and Swedish systems should
serve a s models f o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f
m a t e r i a l . 96 9 97
Folklore should be presented t o t h e
p u b l i c through t h e media, through f o l k
f e s t i v a l s , and so on, only i n i t s p u r e ,
o r a l form. Folklore i t e m s a l r e a d y dead
should n o t be revived, because they no
l o n g e r have a p l a c e i n c u l t u r e . I f i t e m s
a r e t o be revived, they must be brought
back i n t o c o n t a c t with a l i v i n g
t r a d i t i o n . 98

S t h t h Thompson wrote numerous book reviews, and though

m o s t of them seem t o be f a i r and comprehensive, few c o n t a i n
much o v e r t c r i t i c i s m . H i s regard f o r complete, rkgorous
s c h o l a r s h i p i s obvious, and when a book i s c r i t i c i z e d , i t
i s u e u a l l y on t h e grounds of i n s u f f i c i e n t r e s e a r c h o r l a c k
of comparative n o t a t i o n . Thompson w a s impressed by
s c h o l a r s with extensive knowledge i n t h e i r f i e l d s and
t h e a b i l i t y t o s t i m u l a t e , encourage, and organize t h e
e f f o r t s of s t u d e n t s and a s s o c i a t e s . He admitted t h a t he
used t h e work of some of t h e s e men as models f o r h i s own
scholarship. I n t h e l e t t e r t o Gayton (1946) r e f e r r e d t o
above, Thompson a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e techniques of s o c i a l
research have been b e s t exemplified by Franz Boas,
Johannes B o l t e , Kaarle Krohn, C.W. von Sydow, and t h e i r
followers.

Thompson g&

1.

Folklore Organization

The United S t a t e s

The f i r s t experience Thompson had with f o l k l o r e

o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s h i s work as Secretary-Treasurer of t h e
Texas Folklore S o c i e t y and e d i t o r of i t s f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n
( r e p r i n t e d i n 1935 as Round the ~ e v e e.99
)
From t h a t time
f o r t h he f r e q u e n t l y a t t e n d e d many l o c a l s o c i e t i e s as a
member o r g u e s t l e c t u r e r and he was a c t i v e i n encouragi n g t h e i r development.106 I n h i s autobiography he
mentions t h e meetings he a t t e n d e d i n connection with
h i s p o s i t i o n a t Indiana U n i v e r s i t y , p a r t i c u l a r l y a s Dean
of t h e Graduate School.
The n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n which Thompson was
most a c t i v e were t h e American P h i l o s o p h i c a l S o c i e t y , t h e
Modern Language Association (he w a s once chairman of t h e
Popular L i t e r a t u r e s e c t i o n ) , and t h e American Folklore
Society. He w a s e l e c t e d P r e s i d e n t of t h e l a t t e r organiz a t i o n i n 1936, and he considered i t t o be a n important
s t e p i n h i s c a r e e r . The S o c i e t y w a s then a t a l o w ebb;
i n 1937, a t i t s 50th Anniversary meeting, Franz Boas
spoke about i t s p a s t , and Thompson about i t s f u t u r e . l O l
I n h i s speech, Thompson encouraged t h e members t o
broaden t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e S o c i e t y , t o explore t h e
v a r i e d and r i c h h e r i t a g e of the country, t o maintain
t i e s with f o r e i g n s c h o l a r s , and t o j o i n the e f f o r t of
t h e s c h o l a r , t h e amateur c o l l e c t o r , and t h e f o l k . 1 2

Thompson organized the f i r s t S m e r Folklore I n s t i t u t e i n Bloomington i n 1942, with t h e p l a n of holding i t

every f o u r y e a r s f o r e i g h t weeks during the summer.
S t u d e n t s , c o l l e c t o r s , and p r o f e s s o r s met t o g e t h e r f o r
coursework and informal d i s c u s s i o n . The r e p o r t of t h e
F i r s t I n s t i t u t e w a s published, 1 0 3 and t h e l e c t u r e n o t e s
of a s t u d e n t a t t h e Second I n s t i t u t e (1946) have been
multigraphed ( t h e s e a r e a v a i l a b l e i n the Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y ~ i b r a r y.)l o 4 These l e c t u r e n o t e s i n c l u d e
a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e h i s t o r i c - g e o g r a p h i c method by
Thompson, and a s h o r t course on t h e d e f i n i t i o n of
folklore.
The s m e r i n s t i t u t e s g r a d u a l l y faded o u t
as more and more courses i n f o l k l o r e were o f f e r e d a t
Indiana during t h e r e g u l a r academic year--The F o l k t a l e
and A l l i e d Forms, L i t e r a r y O r i g i n s , and English and
S c o t t i s h Popular Ballads were the f i r s t graduate courses
Thompson taught. A Ph.D. i n Folklore w a s o f f e r e d a f t e r
1950, with s t u d e n t s f i l l i n g i n t h e i r c u r r i c u l a with
courses from r e l a t e d d i s c i p l i n e s .

2.

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Organizations

According t o manuscripts i n h i s p e r s o n a l c o l l e c t i o n ,
Thompson took s i x t e e n t r i p s abroad and a t t e n d e d a t l e a s t
s i x t e e n i n t e r n a t i o n a l congresses. He h e l d memberships i n
t h e n a t i o n a l academies of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark,
and was a n honorary member of the f o l k l o r e s o c i e t i e s of
t h i r t e e n countries. H i s f i r s t election to a f o r e i
l e a r n e d s o c i e t y (Gustav Adolphus Akademi of Swedenacame
i n 1935 when he w a s f i f t y y e a r s old--much of h i s i t i n e r a n t
f o l k l o r e c a r e e r took p l a c e i n t h e l a t t e r y e a r s of h i s l i f e .
Only t h r e e congresses w i l l be discussed herer they
r e p r e s e n t t h e f i r s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s Thompson
a t t e n d e d , and he described t h e i r importance i n g r e a t
d e t a i l i n s e v e r a l a r t i c l e s and manuscripts. He believed
t h a t they helped t o break t h e b a r r i e r s between l i t e r a r y
and a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l s c h o l a r s . Thompson and Archer Taylor
were t h e only Americans i n v i t e d t o a t t e n d t h e conference
of f o l k t a l e s p e c i a l i s t s a t Lund, Sweden, i n 1935. They
discussed t h e c o l l e c t i o n , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , and comparative
study of f o l k t a l e s , and proposed t h e formation of a n
I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r Folklore and Anthropology
of Northern Europe and t h e European Populations of
America. I t s immediate g o a l was t o e s t a b l i s h a c e n t r a l
European a r c h i v e and a journal ( ~ o l k ) . An expanded
i n t e r n a t i o n a l conference was planned f o r Edinburgh,
Scotland i n 1937.105 Thompson admitted t h a t he f e l t
naive among so many d i s t i n g u i s h e d s c h o l a r s , y e t he w a s
pleased t o be recognized f o r h i s own work; both he and
Seamus O'Duilear a were made members of t h e Swedish
l e a r n e d s o c i e t y . 906 He w a s a b l e t o g e t valuable feedback
on t h e r e c e p t i o n of h i s indexes, and h e , i n t u r n , encouraged
t h e f o l k l o r i s t s t o expand t h e i r i n t e r e s t s beyond Northern
~ u r o p .I
e 07
Indeed, a t Edinburgh i n 1937 t h e scope of t h e new
o r g a n i z a t i o n d i d broaden, and t h e new I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Association f o r European Ethnology and Folklore was
formed. Plans were discussed f o r t h e new a r c h i v e and
f o r t h e establishment of t h e journal, Folk, an Thompson
was made a member o f t h e planning co,mmittee.
He f e l t
t h a t the meeting served t o s t i m u l a t e S c o t t i s h i n t e r e s t s
i n t h e i r own f o l k l o r e , l 0 9 j u s t as t h e P a r i s Congr6s of
August, 1937--held i n conjunction with t h e P a r i s Expos i t i o n - - d i d f o r t h e French.
Thompson w a s impressed by t h e e f f o r t s of t h e P a r i s
f o l k l o r i s t s t o encompass a l l of t r a d i t i o n a l l i f e , and t h e
~ o n g r s swas divided i n t o two s e c t i o n s : d e s c r i p t i v e f o l k l o r e ,
and f o l k l o r e as a p p l i e d t o s o c i a l l i f e . They agreed t o
j o i n with the new I n t e r n a t i o n a l Association f o r European

Ethnology and Folklore, adopted Folk-Liv as t h e organ of

both con r e s s e s , and planned a second meeting i n Stockholm
i n 1940 subsequently c a n c e l l e d because o f t h e war).
Thompson joined t h e committees on permanent o r g a n i z a t i o n
and f o r a s s i s t a n c e on t h e annual Volkskundliche
Bibliographic compiled a t Basel.110
I n a l e t t e r to the
U.S. S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e , w r i t t e n on September 26,1937
( L i l l y ~ o l l e c t i o n,) Thompson described t h e a c t i v i t i e s
of t h e 1937 congresses and expressed h i s p l e a s u r e a t
t h e s p i r i t of i n t e r n a t i o n a l cooperation.

On a t r i p t o Europe i n 1952, Thompson became i n t e r ested i n another international folklore organization, the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m i s s i o n f o r t h e Popular A r t s and Folklore
(CIAP), a d i v i s i o n of UNESCO. He served as i t s ViceP r e s i d e n t from 1954-64. However, he admitted discouragement with i t s l i m i t e d f u n c t i o n s . A l e t t e r from R.Th.
C h r i s t i a n s e n on A p r i l 27, 1958 ( L i l l y c o l l e c t i o n )
r e f e r s t o remarks Thompson had made about t h e cumbersomeness o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ; e v i d e n t l y i t s only
a c t i v i t y a t t h e time w a s t o p u b l i s h t h e annual b i b l i o graphy. CIAP was reorganized i n 1962 a t a meeting i n
Antwerp, and i n 1964 i t was a g a i n reorganized and renamed
t h e S o c i e t y f o r Ethnology and Folklore (SIEF). 111
Thompson played no a c t i v e r o l e i n t h e new o r g a n i z a t i o n .

3.

South American Folklore Organization

Thompson's journeys t o South America i n 1947, 1954,

and 1960-61 were mentioned above i n t h e c o n t e x t of h i s
c a r e e r . H i s i n t e r e s t i n L a t i n America seems t o have been
sparked by a v i s i t t o Mexico C i t y f o r New Year's i n 1942,
when he met Vicente Mendoza and l e c t u r e d t o t h e Mexican
Folklore Society. He t a u g h t himself Spanish and began
t o correspond w i t h Mexican and South American f o l k l o r i s t s ,
some of whom he had met a t t h e Ei h t h American S c i e n t i f i c
Congress i n Washington i n 1940.flf During h i s 1947 t r i p
he v i s i t e d a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s i n South America, l e c t u r i n g
and meeting f o l k l o r i s t s and e n t h u s i a s t s , and c o l l e c t i n g
books and journals.
This new a r e a of i n t e r e s t seems t o
have been a g r e a t s t i m u l a t i o n f o r him; t h e r e a r e numerous
l e t t e r s , programs, and photographs i n h i s p e r s o n a l
c o l l e c t i o n s , as w e l l as d i a r i e s k e p t by h i s w i f e , t o
document h i s i n t e r e s t and enthusiasm i n the e n t e r p r i s e .
A t t h e i n v i t a t i o n of t h e Venezuelan Ministry of Education,
he o u t l i n e d a s u c c e s s f u l program f o r a Folklore S e r v i c e .
Although Thompson w a s impressed with t h e work o f
c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s , l o c a l s o c i e t i e s , and museums i n
South America, he found t h e f o l k l o r e work i n many
c o u n t r i e s poorly organized and hampered by p o l i t i c a l
and e t h n i c d i f f i c u l t i e s . The use of f o l k l o r e as

propaganda i n South America and Europe during World War I1

d i s t u r b e d him, and he wrote about i t with sorne dismay i n
h i s autobiography. Through h i s l e c t u r e s , a r t i c l e s ,
correspondences, and Summer I n s t i t u t e s , however, Thompson
helped t o spread a network of c o ~ m u n i c a t i o n samong
f o l k l o r i s t s i n Europe and t h e Americas.113

Thompson and t h e C r i t i c s

Most e v a l u a t i o n s of S t i t h Thompson have been made i n

connection with h i s l books; i t i s t h e r e f o r e a p p r o p r i a t e t o
mention some of t h e a p p r a i s a l s made of h i s f o l k l o r e books
and t o a t t e m p t t o s m a r i z e b r i e f l y t h e types of c r i t i c i s m s
given. Some e v a l u a t i v e remarks a r e t o be found i n t h e
L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n correspondences. However, with t h e
exception of those persons Thompson w a s on c l o s e p e r s ~ n a l
terms with, most remarks a r e e i t h e r very g e n e r a l and nonc r i t i c a l , o r a r e suggestions concerning r e l e v a n t m a t e r i a l s .
Indeed, t h e r e remains a s c a r c i t y of f a i r c r i t i c a l evalua t i o n s of h i s works and a c t i v i t i e s . Most of t h e a v a i l a b l e
reviews a r e of t h e Tales of t h e North American I n d i a n s ,
The Types of t h e F o l k t a l e , The Motif-Index of FolkL i t e r a t u r e , and % F o l k t a l e .

1.

T a l e s of t h e North American I n d i a n s

This book w a s well-received upon i t s p u b l i c a t i o n ,

because i t f i l l e d a need f o r a survey of North American
I n d i a n f o l k l o r e , which had n o t y e t been attempted; i t
brought t o g e t h e r t h e c o l l e c t i o n s made by a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s ,
p r i m a r i l y Franz Boas and h i s s t u d e n t s . Boas s t a t e d t a t
i t i s a n indespensable a i d t o d i s t r i b u t i o n s t u d i e s . 11);
I t s comparative n o t e s and bibliography have b en p o i n t e d
o u t as being p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e f u l t o s c h o l a r s . f l 5 However,
s i n c e t h e book p r e s e n t s only a l i m i t e d number of w e l l - t o l d
v e r s i o n s of t a l e s , and i n English t r a n s l a t i o n , r v'ewers
have noted i t s inadequacy f o r s t y l i s t i c s t u d i e s . 718
Thompson never intended i t t o s e r v e such a puepose; b u t
he d i d withdraw t h e manuscript f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y of
Chicago P r e s s when they asked him t o r e w r i t e t h e t a l e s
i n h i s own s t y l e .
2.

The Types of t h e F o l k t a l e

John Spargo, i n reviewing t h e first e d i t i o n of t h e

index, p r a i s e d Thompson's a n a l y t i c powers, h i s "philos o p h i c a l sense" of t h e f o l k t a l e , and h i s u s e f u l
expansion of Aarne's index i n t o a more understandable
p r a c t i c a l guide. Spargo mentions a few omissions ' i n
t h e index, and s u g g e s t s t h need f o r a c l e a r d e f i n i t i o n
of "typen from Thompson.llF Warren Roberts, too,
emphasizes i t s value as a b a s i c r e s e a r c h t o o l and as
a model f o r f u t u r e indexes.l18 One of t h e most n e g a t i v e
e v a l u a t i o n s w a s d e l i v e r e d b Bengt Holbek i n a r t i c l e s
w r i t t e n i n 1962 and 1965.115 Holbek c r i t i c i z e s t h e
t h e o r i e s behind t h e index and t h e h i s t o r i c - g e o g r a p h i c
method. There i s no "ur-form" o r "normal form," he s a y s ;

t a l e s do n o t conform t o t h e i r d e s c r i p t i o n s i n t h e index.
The indexes do n o t h e l p s t u d e n t s who a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e
reasons why t a l e s d e v i a t e from p a t t e r n s . Holbek expresses
g r e a t disappointment with t h e second r e v i s i o n of t h e book,
a s s e r t i n g t h a t Thompson has deviated from Aarne's o r i g i n a l
i n t e r e s t s , shown no c l e a r p r i n c i p l e s of s e l e c t i o n , and
ignored d i f f e r e n c e s between o r a l and w r i t t e n t r a d i t i o n .
Holbek b e l i e v e s t h a t such i l l o g i c a l indexes as t h i s one
a r e only a hinderance t o r e s e a r c h , and he s u g g e s t s a
new c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of f o l k l o r e m a t e r i a l s based upon
t h e m a t i c a l l y coherent groups of tales--a concept which
he d e f i n e s as vaguely as he accuses Thompson of d e f i n i n g
his.

3.

The Motif -Index of

Folk-Li t e r a t u r e

Among t h e first e v a l u a t i o n s of t h e index w a s t h a t

made of the o r i g i n a l 400-page d r a f t by Kaarle Krohn, and
conveyed t o Thompson by Archer Taylor i n a l e t t e r i n
1925 ( L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n ) . Krohn b e l i e v e d t h a t Thompson
d i d n o t always d i s t i n g u i s h c l e a r l y among m o t i f , t r a i t ,
episode, theme, t a l e , and c y c l e . He urged Thompson t o
concentrate on t h e m a t e r i a l s possessed i n co,mon by t h e
North American I n d i a n s and Europeans, suggested o t h e r
works which should be surveyed, and advised c e r t a i n
s t y l i s t i c changes. I n a second l e t t e r ( A p r i l 8, 1925)
Taylor conceded t h a t he d i d n o t t h i n k t h a t Krohn had
r e a l l y grasped the idea.
When t h e f i r s t volume o f t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n of t k e
index appeared i n 1932, i t s r e c e p t i o n w a s f a v o r a b l e , and,
l i k e the type index, i t w a s held t o be a n invaluable
research a i d and a model f o r f u t u r e s t u d i e s . Kurt Ranke
c a l l e d i t a "Grand piece of humanistic r e s e a r c h , "
e s s e n t i a l f o r h i s t o r i c a l and comparative f o l k l o r e
studies.120 C . H . Gerould acclaimed i t a s a n i n d i s pensable guide, a framework f o r f u t u r e s t u d i e s , and
an a s s e t i n t h ' n t e l l i g e n t study of f o l k l o r e i n t e r relationships. f 2i
Both t h e f i r s t and second e d i t i o n s were a l s o s u b j e c t
t o some negative c r i t i c i s m s , p r i n c i p a l l y concerning e r r o r s
of omission i n t h e t e x t o r bibliography. A.H. Gayton f e l t
i t d i d n o t meet t h e needs of studying t h e North American
I n d i a n s ;122 o t h e r c r i t i c s s i m i l a r l y noted c u l t u r e a r e a s
n o t f u l l y represented. S.E. Hyman, i n a s e n s a t i o n a l
review of t h e Motif-Index and The F o l k t a l e , c a l l e d t h e
index "Unrepresentative," wUndiscriminating," hnd
m u n s c i e n t i f i c . " 1 2 3 Ranke pointed o u t t h a t some of t h e
sources were unpublished o r i n a c c e s s i b l e , though t h a t could
hardly be c a l l e d a c r i t i c i s m of the index i t s e l f . He a l s o
s t a t e d t h a t the s e l e c t i o n c r i t e r i a f o r b i b l i o g r a p h i c
r e f e r e n c e s were too vague, and t h e bibliography too b r i e f .1z4

Many c r i t i c i s m s have been based upon misunderstandings

of t h e purpose of t h e index. I n a l e t t e r t o Thompson
dated November 1 9 , 1953 ( L i l l y c o l l e c t i o n ) , Martha Beckwith
c r i t i c i z e d him f o r l i s t i n g m o t i f s with no r e a l connections,
and f o r g i v i n g no i d e a of t h e number of times a motif
occurs. Presumably, Beckwith w a s r e f e r r i n g t o t h e number
of times a motif occurred i n Thompson's sources. A s f o r
connections, Thompson s t a t e s i n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n t o the
indexes t h a t no g e n e t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p between m o t i f s
l i s t e d t o g e t h e r can be assumed without r e s e a r c h t o
support t h e hypothesis.

4.

The F o l k t a l e
-

When i t was published i n 1946 t h i s book w a s a l s o

well-received, though i t w a s s u b j e c t t o more c r i t i c i s m
than t h e indexes, mainly i n r e a c t i o n t o Thompsonts
own c r i t i c i s m s of f o l k l o r e t h e o r i e s . Roberts, one of
Thompson's own s t u d e n t s , h a i l e d i t a s t h e b e s t survey
of f o l k t a l e s c h o l a r s h i p y e t published ( a s of 1946) i n
English; i t was a unique and comprehensive approach t o
t h e f i e l d . 1 2 5 Sven L i l j e b l a d , whom Thompson had
supported i n coming t o the U.S:, and with whom he w a s
a p e r s o n a l f i r e n d , wrote especially p r a i s e f u l l y o f
Thompson's work;
I n h i s l a t e s t book, he r e l a t e s with c l a r i t y
and elegance t h e kaleidoscope h i s t o r y of
what has now become a duly c o n s t i t u t e d
s c i e n c e , and t h e i n d i s p u t a b l e f a c t s i t has
established.
Thompson has l e a r n e d from masters i n h i s f i e l d , s a i d
L i l j e b l a d ; h i s knowledge o f the f o l k t a l e i s unsur a s s e d ,
and h i s sound judgement i s a model f o r research.1 7

Though p r a i s e o f the book w a s g e n e r a l i z e d , the

c r i t i c i s m , a s u s u a l , was more s p e c i f i c . S . E . Hyman
i n a review e n t i t l e d , "Some Bankrupt T r e a s u r i e s , "126
made s c a t h i n g statements about Thompson's s t y l e , h i s
p o i n t of view, h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s . Thompson r e j e c t s
m a t e r i a l f o r u n s a t i s f a c t o r y r e a s o n s , Hyman a s s e r t e d ;
he " s t u d i e s so much and knows so l i t t l e . " Playing
upon Thompson's i n t e n t i o n s t o w r i t e f o r the g e n e r a l
r e a d e r , Hyman contended t h a t the book was badly w r i t t e n .
"The book s h a r e s a l l the s t e r i l i t y , p o i n t l e s s n e s s , and
Nordic-centered chauvinism of the B i n n i s h l school
( w i t h i t s bland assumption t h a t any i n t e r e s t i n g o r
complex t a l e must be of European, probably Northern,
o r i g i n ) . " l 2 9 The l a t t e r s t a t e m e n t , probably a
r e f e r e n c e t o Thompson's d i s c u s s i o n of t h e h i s t o r i c geographic method, cannot be taken too s e r i o u s l y ,

i n s o f a r as Hyman w a s a t t a c k i n g t h e s c h o l a r s who d i s c r e d i t e d
h i s own r i t u a l i s t t h e o r i e s and t h e i r methods a s much a s he
w a s c r i t i c i z i n g Thompson's work.
Alexander Krappe, l i k e Hyman, s h a r p l y c r i t i c i z e d
Thompson's s t y l e , which he f e l t underestimated t h e i n t e l l i gence of h i s r e a d e r s . I n h i s review, Krappe pointed o u t
mistakes i n a s s o c i a t i o n s , o r i g i n s , and d i s t r i b u t i o n s of
t a l e s , accused Thompson of d e l i v e r i n g a " s a l e s t a l k " f o r
t h e historic-geographic method, and a s s e r t e d t h a t Thompson
overlooked important i s s u e s of f o l k l o r e study ( i . e . ,
s t r u c t u r e , f u n c t i o n , meaning of t a l e s ) .I30 One must
remember, however, t h a t Thompson d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t
f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p was ready t o explore these i s s u e s ,
and f e l t i t was n o t h i s purpose t o d i s c u s s them.
I n summary, t h e following kinds of e v a l u a t i o n s have
been made of Thompson's book by h i s contemporaries;

1. H i s comprehensive, thorough r e s e a r c h w a s considered

t o be a model f o r s e r i o u s f o l k t a l e s c h o l a r s h i p .
2. He produced v a l u a b l e t o o l s f o r t h e more s c i e n t i f i c
folklore studies.
3. H i s books a r e guides f o r f u r t h e r f o l k t a l e study,
e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of f o l k t a l e s .
4. Thompson's s t y l e w a s c r i t i c i z e d as being
unscholarly i n some of h i s w r i t i n g s .
5. He r e j e c t e d a l l p o i n t s of view b u t h i s own.
6. He was n o t a c o l l e c t o r and was f a r removed from
h i s sources.
7 . He ignored f u n c t i o n , performance, meaning,
s t y l i s t i c s , and s t r u c t u r e of f o l k t a l e s i n f a v o r of
o r i g i n . and d i f f u s i o n .
8. There were mistakes and dmissions i n h i s books,
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e indexes.
9. H i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n system was a r b i t r a r y and
vaguer This i s one of the s t r o n g e s t , most v a l i d , and
most f r e q u e n t l y c i t e d c r i t i c i s m s . Indexing i s , as
Thompson admitted, a s u b j e c t i v e process.
10. The indexes have been shown t o have l i m i t e d
value t o s t u d e n t s who a r e n o t employing t h e h i s t o r i c geographic method.
11. The performance-minded f o l k l o r i s t s b e l i e v e
t h a t Thompson's emphasis on t r a d i t i o n i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n
of f o l k l o r e w a s too l i m i t e d ; he ignored f o l k l o r e as a
"performance event. "131
12. Because of h i s support of t h e historic-geographic
method, Thompson received numerous c r i t i c i s m s which were
a c t u a l l y d i r e c t e d a t t h e methodology: i t s l a c k of
s i g n i f i c a n t conclusions, i t s requirements f o r comprehensive d a t a c o l l e c t i o n ( I d e a l l y , a l l v e r s i o n s of a
t a l e should be c o l l e c t e d ) . , i t s mechanical n a t u r e ,

i t s l i m i t e d u s e f u l n e s s i n genres o t h e r than t h e c o ~ p l e x
t a l e and b a l l a d , i t s excessive l a b o r s and o f t e n
s e l f - e v i d e n t r e s u l t s . Thompson's study of "The S t a r Husband Tale" has been c r i t i c i z e d f o r t h e s e reasons.
Frank Young has accused Thompson of looking a t t h e
t a l e atomistically, f o r describing but not explaining
o r a l transmission and change. 132

Evaluation

h i s Work
and S t i t h Thompson -

One cannot f a i r l y c r i t i c i z e the s c h o l a r of t h e p a s t

on the b a s i s of new knowledge gained o r new methods
developed. S i m i l a r l y , one cannot a t t a c k him f o r n o t
doing what he never intended t o do. Thompson h i m s e l f ,
i n a l l h i s writings, w a s cautious i n h i s evaluations
and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of f o l k l o r e and f o l k l o r e researches.
He r e p e a t e d l y warned a g a i n s t reaching conclusions too
soon without examining a l l a v a i l a b l e d a t a . So, t o o ,
one cannot be too h a s t y i n c r i t i c i z i n g any but t h e most
o v e r t mistakes and omissions. Thompson s e t h i s own
s t a n d a r d s of s c h o l a r s h i p based on t h e accomplishments
of European masters and worked accordingly. One can
f i n d i n h i s a r t i c l e s and books f r e q u e n t r e c o g n i t i o n s
t h a t o t h e r types of f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s - - e mg., f u n c t i o n a l i s t studies--can and w i l l be made, be he d i d n o t
attempt t o d e a l with them. Admittedly, Thompson had
s t r o n g r e s e r v a t i o n s about some t h e o r i e s of f o l k l o r e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ; b u t i t w a s h i s hope t h a t e v e n t u a l l y ,
a f t e r y e a r s of c o l l e c t i n g , c l a s s i f y i n g , and analyzing
p a r t i c u l a r t a l e s , f o l k l o r e s c h o l a r s h i p would be a b l e
t o understand t h e a r t and f u n c t i o n of s t o r i e s and
s t o r y t e l l i n g - - p e r h a p s even t h e i r meaning. I n h i s 1964
l e t t e r t o Gayton, Thompson expressed t h e hope t h a t
f o l k l o r e would never c r y s t a l l i z e i n t o d i v e r g e n t schools,
b u t i n h i s l a t e r w r i t i n g s he acknowledged t h a t
f o l k l o r i s t s a r e developing s e p a r a t e p o i n t s of view,
and t h a t he could only reco,mend t h e b e s t examples
of p a s t s c h o l a r s h i p as g u i d e l i n e s .
S t i t h Thompson c o n t r i b u t e d t o the study of f o l k l o r e
i n a t l e a s t t h r e e important a s p e c t s . F i r s t , he s e t high
standards of r e s e a r c h and a n a l y s i s f o r himself, and
encouraged many o t h e r s t o follow. Second, he s e t precede n t s f o r f u t u r e comparative f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s , e s p e c i a l l y
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s t u d i e s . He followed Krohn's example i n
t h e United S t a t e s by helping t o b r i n g f o l k l o r e study
from a s p e c u l a t i v e i n t e r e s t t o a s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e
based on c o l l e c t i o n , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , and p u b l i c a t i o n of
e m p i r i c a l data--the foundation of r e s e a r c h i n any
d i s c i p l i n e . Third, Thompson's e n t h u s i a s t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n
of s t u d e n t s and s c h o l a r s of f o l k l o r e i n t h e United S t a t e s
and abroad brought a g r e a t e r u n i t y t o t h e i r i n t e r e s t s ,
enhanced cooperative e f f o r t s , and helped smooth t h e way
f o r world-wide comparative f o l k l o r e r e s e a r c h . I n s h o r t ,
one must acknowledge t h e scope and p r a c t i c a l value of
h i s work i n assembling f o l k l o r e m a t e r i a l ; and if f o l k l o r e
s c h o l a r s h i p has subsequently taken new d i r e c t i o n s , t h a t
i s no c r i t i c i s m of Thompson and h i s work i n h i s own time

and according t o h i s own purposes, i n which he seems t o

have succeded remarkably w e l l .
There a r e s e v e r a l more s p e c i f i c p o i n t s t o c o n s i d e r
i n accordance with t h e e v a l u a t i o n s of Thompson's work
given abover

1. Thompson's s t y l e i s u s u a l l y smooth, e f f o r t l e s s ,
l u c i d , sometimes modest, sometimes extravagant--perhaps
t h e r e s u l t of h i s work i n English composition. I t does
tend a t times t o be s i m p l i s t i c and s u p e r f i c i a l , p r i m a r i l y
i n l e c t u r e s and a r t i c l e s intended f o r a non-academic
audience.
2 . Thompson d i d n o t d e a l s u f f i c i e n t l y i n any of t h e
works surveyed with t h e i s s u e of s u r v i v a l s and r e v i v a l s .
H i s i d e a s on which f o l k l o r e items have survived, and
which should o r should n o t be revived, a r e u n c l e a r .
3. Thompson's b e l i e f t h a t s t o r y t e l l i n g i s e s s e n t i a l l y
a dead a r t i n Western s o c i e t y i s debatable. Some forms
of t r a d i t i o n a l f o l k t a l e s ( a s he defined them) may now
be l o s t , b u t s t o r y t e l l i n g i t s e l f i s a process independent
of any p a r t i c u l a r genre o r n a r r a t i v e form.
4. Thompson w a s a t times c a u t i o u s t o t h e p o i n t of
being i n c o n c l u s i v e , p r i m a r i l y i n h i s a r t i v l e s meant f o r
the g e n e r a l r e a d e r . One o f t e n has doubts a s t o t h e
n a t u r e o f t h e i d e a s behind h i s statements. Admittedly,
he w a s more a proponent of methodology (with an i m p l i c i t
t h e o r y ) than of theory i t s e l f .
5. Thompson o f t e n d i d ignore t h e i n d i v i d u a l t e l l e r
i n t r a d i t i o n , f a i l i n g t o ground h i s statements i n t h e
r e a l i t y of p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n s and c o n t e x t s . However,
he q u a l i f i e d himself as a s c h o l a r , n o t as a f i e l d w o r k e r
o r performer.
6. Thompson was i n t e r e s t e d i n almost anything new
he encountered, but h i s r e f u s a l t o take t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
of myth and f o l k t a l e beyond t h e m o s t obvious meaning
only would seem t o be a n avoidance of c r u c i a l a s p e c t s
of f o l k l o r e and f o l k l o r e i n v e s t i g a t i o n which need n o t
await t h e completion of d i f f u s i o n i s t s t u d i e s .
7. I n s p i t e of the g e n e r a l inconclusiveness of t h e
h i s t o r i c - g e o g r a p h i c method, t h e r i g o r o u s study i t
i n s p i r e d i n t h e f i r s t h a l f of t h i s century must be
admired. Nevertheless, the value of t h e method a s a
p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r o t h e r kinds of f o l k l o r e s t u d i e s has
been overestimated. Since t h e s e s t u d i e s a r e seldom
done anymore, Thompson's indexes no l o n g e r serve a s
a t o o l f o r t h a t methodology, b u t they do s e r v e as
r e f e r e n c e s f o r the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and l o c a t i o n of
f o l k l o r e items. S i m i l a r l y , The F o l k t a l e i s outdated
i n i t s approach and t h e o r e t i c a l b i a s , b u t the informat i o n and bibliography contained i n i t a r e s t i l l v a l u a b l e
i n a review of t h e p a s t and--to a l e s s e r extent--present
scholarship.
..

NOTES

Notes
The following j o u r n a l a b b r e v i a t i o n s a r e used i n t h e n o t e s :
JAF
PMLA
-

ski

of ~ m e r i c a nF o l k l o r e
P u b l i c a t i o n s of the Modern Language A s s o c i a t i o n

Journal

of America
-

Southern F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y

1.

S t i t h Thompson, F o l k l o r i t ' s P r o g r e s s (Bloomington:

P r i v a t e l y Multigraphed, 195 , pp. 3-13.

2.

I b i d . , p. 20.

3.

I b i d . , p.23.

4.

I b i d . , p. 26.

5.

I b i d . , p. 29.

6.

I b i d . , pp. 34-35.

7.

H a r i Upadhyaya, "Reminiscences of a n Octogenarian

F o l k l o r i s t , " Asian F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s 27 (1968), 227.
Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , p. 39.

9.
10.

Autobiographical Manuscript, L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .
S t i t h Thompson, "Paul Bunyan i n 1910, " JAF 59 (1946),

134-35.
11.

Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , p. 48.

12.

See "A Humanist's Creed," Bloomington: U n i t a r i a n

U n i v e r s a l i s t Church, Sermon S e r i e s .

13.

Upadhyaya, "Reminiscences," p. 109.

I n a l e t t e r t o Clyde Hyder, October 8 , 1955 ( L i l l y

C o l l e c t i o n ) , Thompson expressed dismay t h a t
K i t t r e d g e had n o t been aware of Aarne's work
and had n o t informed him of it.

S t i t h Thompson, " R e c o l l e c t i o n s o f a n I t i n e r a n t
Willow, eds. M.C.
F o l k l o r i s t , " i n Mesquite
B o a t r i g h t , W.M. Hudson, and A . Maxwell (Dallas8

Southern Methodist U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ) ~pp. 118-19.

S t i t h Thompson, Manual & Notebook for E n g l i s h
Composition (with J . F. R o y s ~ i c a g r oS c o t t Foresman, 1916); P r a c t i c e S h e e t s for E n g l i s h
Composition ( w i t h J . F. Roy-(chicago
r ScottForesman, 1918) ;
E n g l i s h Poems ( w i t h C o s e t t e
~ a u s t )(Chicago t Sco tt-Foresman, 1918) ; Guide t o
Composition ( w i t h J.F. Royster) (Chicago : ~ c o t F
Foresman, 1918).
Laurens J . M i l l s , " S t i t h Thompsonr A u t h o r i t y on t h e
H a b i t s of t h e Kwakiutl and t h e Tsimshians," The
Rainbow of D e l t a Tau D e l t a 60 (1937), 227.
Thompson, " R e c o l l e c t i o n s , " pp. 122-23.
Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o ~ r e s s ,p. 79.
I b i d . , p . 81.
Statement found i n a MS i n t h e L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .
Robert E. Harris, "Archdeacon of Coma Hounds: M
F r i e n d S t i t h Thompson, "
Vagabond 3 r 3-4 (19263, 70.
Undated l e t t e r from Archer Taylor i n 1925, and a
l e t t e r from Taylor d a t e d A p r i l 8 , 1925 ( L i l l y
Collection).
Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , p a 105.
I b i d . , pp. 112-18.
P r i n c i p a l l y h i s t o r i c - g e o g r a p h i c me thodology and
i n d e x i n g techniques.
Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , p a 120.
I b i d . , p. 29.
L e t t e r t o Archer Taylor d a t e d A p r i l 11, 1939 ( L i l l y
collection).

S t i t h Thompson, The F o l k t a l e (New York: Dryden P r e s s ,

1 9 4 6 ) . Lecture n o t e s f o r t h i s seminar were p u b l i s h e d
as "Informal Notes on T r a n s a c t i o n s and L e c t u r e s of
Second F o l k l o r e I n s t i t u t e of America" (Bloomington:
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y , P r i v a t e l y Multigraphed, 1946 )

31.

S t i t h Thompson, "Folklore i n South America," JAF 61

(1948), 256-60; "Visits t o South American F o l k l o r i s t s , "
JAF 74 (1961)s 391-9'7.

32.

The L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n c o n t a i n s a f o l d e r of correspondences and documents concerning t h e establishment of

t h e Indiana U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s .

33.

Warren Roberts was the f i r s t s t u d e n t t o o b t a i n a

Ph.D. i n Folklore. He l a t e r taught Thompson's
course on "The F o l k t a l e and A l l i e d Forms" when
Thompson r e t i r e d .

34.

S t i t h Thompson, Four S m p o s i a on F o l k l o r e , Indiana

University P u b l i c a t i o n s Folklore S e r i e s , no. 8
(Bloomington: Indiana University P r e s s , 1953).

35.

Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s Progress, p. 278.

36.

Upadhyaya, "Reminiscences," 125-26.

37.

Thompson a l s o had Honorary Doctor of L e t t e r s degrees

from t h e U n i v e r s i t y of North Carolina a t Chapel H i l l ,
Colorado College, Indiana C e n t r a l College, and t h e
University of Kentucky. Information contained i n
MS i n L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .

38.

John T. Flanagan, "Review of One Hundred F a v o r i t e

F o l k t a l e s , " Comparative L i t e r a t u r e S t u d i e s 6 (1969),
342-43

39.

Manuscript, L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .

40.

S t i t h Thompson, "The I d e a of t h e Soul i n Teutonic

Popular Tales and Popular B a l l a d s w (Master of A r t s
Thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a , 1912), p. 44.

41.

S t i t h Thompson, European Tales Among t h e North

American I dians: A Study i n t h e Migration of
F o l k t a l e s Colorado Springsr Colorado College
P u b l i c a t i o n s , no. 54, 1 9 1 9 ) ; "Sunday School
S t o r i e s Amon Savages," Texas Review 3 (January,
1918)s 109-1

"

F
%

42.

43.

S t i t h Thompson, "The Transmission of F o l k t a l e s , " i n

M i l l s Gayley Anniversary Papers (New
Yorkr Haskell House P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 2 2 ) , p. 136.

The Charles
-

Warren E. Roberts, " S t i t h Thompson: H i s Major Works

and a Bibliography,'' m
a T i d s k r i f t for Nordisk
Folkminnesforskning 21 (1965), 5.

44.

I b i d . , p. 7.

Archer Taylor, "Review of T a l e s of t h e North ~ m e r i c a n

' ~ n d i a n sIF, American
. 4 5 - L9i t5e r1a t' u r,em1
9~

46.

Erna Gunther, "American I n d i a n L i t e r a t u r e ," FolkSay' (1930), 408-10; Franz Boas, "Review of T a l e s
of t h e North American I n d i a n s , " JAF 43, 223-

--

47.

S t i t h Thompson, "The Challenge of F o l k l o r e , 'I PMLA

79, 359.

48.

Taped i n t e r v i e w l o c a t e d i n t h e I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y
F o l k l o r e Archives.

49.

S t i t h Thompson, " F o l k t a l e , " i n D i c t i o n a r y of World

L i t e r a t u r e , ed. J . S h i l e y (New York: The P h i l o s o p h i c a l L i b r a r y , 1943 , p. 246. Also from a
l e t t e r t o A.L. Kroeber, January 20, 1959 ( L i l l y
Collection).

50

S t i t h Thompson, "The P r e h i s t o r i c Development of

S a t i r e , " P u b l i c a t i o n of t h e F o l k l o r e S o c i e t y of
Texas 1

51.

(1916),.
Margaret M. B r a n t , "Review of The F o l k t a l e , Western
F o l k l o r e 7 (19$8 ) , 311-121 S t i t h Thompson, "Myths
and F o l k t a l e s , " JAF 68 ( 1 9 5 5 ) , 485.

52.

Thompson, "Myths and F o l k t a l e s , " 487.

53.

Thompson, " I n f o r m a l N o t e s , " pp. 8-9.

54.

S t i t h Thompson, "Type, " i n Standard D i c t i o n a r y of

F o l k l o r e , my tho lo^^, and Legend, v o l . 2, ed. ~ a x a
-ew
York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1 9 5 0 ) , pp. 1137-38.

55.

S t i t h Thompson, "Advances i n F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s , " i n

A n t h r o ~ o l o ~Today:
v
Encyclopaedic I n v e n t o r y ,
ed. A.L. Kroeber (Chicago: U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago
P r e s s , 19531, P * 594.

56.

S t i t h Thompson, " I n f o r m a l N o t e s , " p . 9 ; S t i t h

Thompson, "Purpose and Importance of an Index of
Types and M o t i f s , " Folk-Liv 1 ( 1 9 3 8 ) , 107-8.

57.

Thompsonl "Purpose and Importance,

58,

S t i t h Thompson, "Motif, " i n Standard D i c t i o n a r y of

F o l k l o r e , Mythology, and Legend, v o l . 2, p. 753.

p. 103.

L e t t e r dated April 12,

1955.

S t i t h Thompson, "Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " i n

Introd u c t i o n to Research in English L i t e r a r y H i s t o r , ed.
Chauncey Sanders (New Yorkr Macmillan, 1952
pp. 25960.

7TY

Upadhyaya, "Reminiscences, " pp. 125-26

L e t t e r d a t e d October 1 2 , 1965.
S t i t h Thompson, " F o l k l o r e , " Standard Dic t i o n a r of
and Legend, v o l . -1,
7T
p $.F o l k l o r e , Mythology, S t i t h Thompson, "American Folk T r a d i t i o n , "
Review 6286 ( 1 9 6 4 ) , 7-8.

The

S t i t h Thompson, "Comparative Problems i n Oral

L i t e r a t u r e , " Yearbook of Comparative
General
L i t e r a t u r e 7821 (1958), 10-11.
Thompson, "Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " pp. 275-76.
S t i t h Thompson, " N a r r a t i v e Motif A n a l y s i s as a
F o l k l o r e Method," F o l k l o r e Fellows C o ~ m u n i c a t i o n s
161 (19551, 4.

(m)

Thompson, "The Challenge of F o l k l o r e , " pp. 357-58.

Sven L i l j e b l a d , "Review of
(1947), 158.

The F o l k t a l e , "

Alexander Krappe, "Review of The F o l k t a l e , "

(1947)s 428.
Thompson,

The F o l k t a l e ,

11

JAF

60

p - 388-

Thom son, " F o l k t a l e , " D i c t i o n a r y of World L i t e r a t u r e ,

p. 2 7.

S t i t h Thompson, " F o l k l o r e and Folk F e s t i v a l s , "

Midwest F o l k l o r e 4 ( 1 9 5 4 ) , 10.
These l e t t e r s a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e L i l l y C o l l e c t i o n .
S t i t h Thompson, "The F o l k t a l e Since B a s i l e , " i n

The Pentamerone of G i a m b a t t i s t e B a s i l e , ed. N.M.

Penzer (New Yorkr E.P. Dutton, lmPp.
290-91.
Thompson, "Folklore and Folk F e s t i v a l s , " pp. 6-7.

Thompson,

The F o l k t a l e ,

p . 407.

Thompson, "Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " pp. 257-58.

I b i d . , ppa 258-59.
I b i d . , p. 272; Thompson, " I n f o r m a l Notes," p . 99.
Thompson,

The F o l k t a l e ,

p. 433.

S t i t h Thompson, " H y p o t h e t i c a l Forms i n F o l k t a l e S t u d y , "

i n VolksUberlieferungc F e s t s c h r i f t f u r K u r t Ranke
( G b t t i n g e n r Verlag O t t o Schwartz, l m ) , p . 370.
Thompson, " H y p o t h e t i c a l Forms, " p. 371 ; Thompson,
"Comparative Problems i n Oral L i t e r a t u r e ," p 14.

Thompson, Four Symposia

on F o l k l o r e ,

p . 299.

Thompson, "Comparative Problems i n Oral L i t e r a t u r e , "

pp. 13-14.
I b i d . , p. 12.
S t i t h Thompson, "The Star-Husband T a l e , " S t u d i a
S e p t e n t r i o n a l i a 4 (19 5 3 ) , 93-163; S t i t h Thompson,
Review of C.W. von Sydow, S e l e c t e d P a p e r s on
F o l k l o r e , JAF 64 ( 1 9 5 1 ) , 332; S t i t h Thompson,
" F o l k l o r e and L i t e r a t u r e , " PMLA 55 ( 1 9 4 0 ) , 873.
Thompson, "Informal Notes, " p a 14.
S t i t h Thompson, "The Study o f P r i m i t i v e S t o r y t e l l i n g :
I t s P r e s e n t S t a t u s and F u t u r e D i r e c t i o n s , " Folk-Liv
21-22 (1957-5819 1 8 8 Thompson, "The F o l k t a l e S i n c e B a s i l e , " p. 294.
Thompson, " F a i r y T a l e , " S t a n d a r d D i c t i o n a r y of
F o l k l o r e , M y t h o l o ~ y ,and Leaend, v o l . 1, p. 3 6 .
Thompson, "American Folk T r a d i t i o n , " pp. 1-13 ;
S t i t h Thompson, "The F o l k t a l e i n t h e Middle West,"
Hoosier Folklore B u l l e t i n 1 t 2 (1942), 39; S t i t h
Thompson, "Prepared Comment on 'A Theory o f
American F o l k l o r e ' by Richard M . Dorson," JAF
72 ( 1 9 5 9 ) f 232Thompson, "Advances i n F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s , " pp. 59293; Thompson, " I n f o r m a l N o t e s , " pp. 103-5.

94.

Thompson, F o u r Symposia on F o l k l o r e , pp. 4-5, 46-47; S t i t h

Thompson, " F o l k l o r e a t M i d c e n t u r y , " Midwest F o l k l o r e 1
(1951 ) , 1 0 ; Thompson, l'Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " p p . 256-57.

95.

Thompson, F o u r Symposia, pp. 183-84; Thompson, "Advances

i n F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s , " p . 590.

96.

Thompson, "Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " pp. 258-59; S t i t h

Thompson, "American F o l k l o r e A f t e r 50 Y e a r s , JAF
51 ( 1 9 3 8 ) , 4-5; Thompson, " F o l k l o r e a n d F o l k
F e s t i v a l s , " p. 8.

97.

Thompson, F o u r Symposia, p p . 95-96; S t i t h Thompson,

" F o l k l o r e i n S o u t h America, " p. 260.

98.

Thompson, " F o l k l o r e a n d F o l k F e s t i v a l s , " pp. 11-15.

99.

Thompson, " I n f o r m a l N o t e s , " p. 203.

7.

100.

Thompson, " F o l k l o r e a t M i d c e n t u r y , " p.

101.

Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , p . 1 5 6 .

102.

Thompson, "American F o l k l o r e A f t e r 50 Y e a r s , "

103.

S t i t h Thompson, e d . ! F o l k l o r e I n s t i t u t e of America:
F i r s t R e p o r t (Bloomlngton: I n d i a n a u n i v e r s i ' m 3 )

104.

Thompson, " I n f o r m a l N ~ t e s . ~

105.

S t i t h Thompson, "Congress f o r t h e S t u d y o f t h e
F o l k t a l e a t Lund, " American A n t h r o p o l o g i s t 38
( 1 9 3 6 ) , 687.

106.

S t i t h Thompson, " P e r s o n a l N o t e s o n a F o l k t a l e C o n g r e s s , "

I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y Alumni Q u a r t e r l y 23 (19 3 6 ) , 6-13.

107.

I b i d . , p. 9.

108.

S t i t h Thompson, " F o l k l o r e News,

109.

S t i t h Thompson, "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l O r g a n i z a t i o n of
Folklore,"
2 ( 1 9 3 8 ) ; 196.

110.

I b i d . , p a 1 9 8 ; Thompson, " F o l k l o r e News," 95-96.

111.

Upadhyaya,

112.

Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s , pp. 165-66, 182.

" JAF

( 1 9 3 8 ) , 98-99.

reminiscence^,^ 1 2 9 .

1-6.

Thompson, "Folklore i n South America," 256-60; Thompson

" V i s i t s t o South American F o l k l o r i s t s , " 391-97.
Boas, "Review of Tales of t h e North American I n d i a n s , "
223-24.

A.H. Gayton, "Review of T a l e s of t h e North American

I n d i a n s , " American ~ n t h r o p o l o ~ i s '
t 3( 1 9 3 4 ) r
Gunther, "American I n d i a n L i t e r a t u r e , " 408-9; Boas,
"Review of T a l e s of the North American I n d i a n s , "
223-24; Taylor, "Review of Tales of t h e North
American I n d i a n s , " 453-54.
John W. Spar
(1930

JAF 43
-

O,

"Review of Types of t h e F o l k t a l e , "

'j, 443-44.

Roberts, " S t i t h Thompson," 9.

Bengt Holbek, "On t h e C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of F o l k t a l e s , "
i n IVth I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conpress for Folk-Narrative
Research in Athens: L e c t u r e s and Re o r t s , ed.
Georgios Megas (Athens : Laographia, 1 9 5 ) ,
pp. 158-61; Bengt Holbek, "Review of Types of the
F o l k t a l e , " ARV: T i d s k r i f t f o r Nordisk Folkminnesf o r s k n i n g 18-19 (1962-63), 408-15.

-+

Kurt Ranke, "Review of Motif-Index

2nd e d i t i o n , " JAF 71 ( 1 9 5 8 ) , 81.

of F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e ,

G.H. Gerould, "Review of Motif-Index of FolkL i t e r a t u r e , " JAF 49 (19361, 275-76.

A.H. Gayton, "Review of Motif-Index of FolkL i t e r a t u r e , " American Anthropologist 36(1934),

480.

S.E. Hyman, "Some Bankrupt T r e a s u r i e s , " Kenyon

Review 1 0 ( 1 9 4 8 ) , 495.
Ranke, "Review of Motif-Index," pp. 81-82.
Roberts, " S t i t h Thompson," p. 11.
Margaret M . Bryant, "Review of The F o l k t a l e , "
Western F o l k l o r e 7 ( 1 9 4 8 ) , 308.
Sven L i l j e b l a d , "Review of

The F o l k t a l e , "

Hyman, "Some Bankrupt T r e a s u r i e s , " 495-96.

pp. 161-62.

129.

I b i d . , 495.

130.

Krappe, "Review o f -

131.

Americo Paredes and Richard Baman, eds.! Toward

New P e r s p e c t i v e s i n F o l k l o r e (Austin: University of
Texas P r e s s , 1 9 7 2 r pp. i x , x i , 8.

132.

Frank W. Young, "A F i f t h A n a l y s i s of t h e Star-Husband

T a l e , " E t h n o l o a 9 (1970), 405-10.

F o l k t a l e , " 426-28.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
THE PRINCIPAL WRITINGS OF STITH THOMPSON
CONCERNING FOLKLORE

The P r i n c i p a l Writings of S t i t h Thmpson Concerning

Folklore
References a r e l i s t e d c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y f o r convenience. They a r e s e p a r a t e d
i n t o Books, A r t i c l e s , Reviews by S t i t h Thompson, Reviews of Thompson's
Writings, and Secondary Sources. Sources n o t a v a i l a b l e i n Indiana Univers i t y Main L i b r a r y a r e i n d i c a t e d by Cs'r).

Thesis
"The Return from t h e Dead i n Popular T a l e s and R a l l a d ~ . ~Bachelor
'
of A r t s Thesis, U n i v e r s i t y of Wisconsin. 1 t a b l e . Bibliography.
154 pp.

Thesis
"The Idea of t h e Soul i n Teutonic Popular T a l e s and Popular Ballads."
Master of Arts T h e s i s , U n l v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a . 3 t a b l e s . Bibliography. 113 pp.

Article

':Local Meeting o f t h e Texas Polk-Lore Society." J o u r n a l of American

F o l k l o r e 28: 307.

Book
( E d i t o r ) P u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e F o l k l o r e S o c i e t r of Texas. No. 1.
Reprinted a s ~ o u n d t h e ' ' 1 ; e v e e . F u b l i c a t i o n ~ o ?t h k Texas F o l k l o r e
S o c i e t y 1, 1935. Preface. Tndex. 111 pp.

---

Article

--

"The P r e h i s t o r i c Development of S a t i r e . t t P u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e F o l k l o r e
S o c i e t of T e a s 1 : 78-95.
A--

(managing E d i t o r ) Texas Review, 1917-1918.

8918
Article

"Sunday School S t o r i e s among Savages." Texas Review 3 {January):

109-16.

Book

---.

European T a l e s amdng t h e North American I n d i a n s : A Study i n t h e Migration

* " bf P o l k i T a l e s
Colorado S p r i n g s : Colorado c o l l e g e P u b l i c a t i o n s ,no. 54.
2 T a b l e s , Tntroduction. Bibliography. Index. 152 pp.

Articles

--

nThe r n d i a n Legend o f Hiawatha." P u b l i c a t i o n s o f t h e Modern Language

- A s s o c i a t i o n 37:,126-40.

"The Transmission o f Folk Tales," i n The Charles M i l l s GayLey Anniversary

Papers. New York: Haskell House P u b l i s h e r s , Ltd. , pp.131-36.
1926
Secondary Source
H a r r i s , Robert E. "Archdeacon of Comma Hounds: My Friend S t i t h Thompson."
The Vagabond 3(34I :68-73.

Book
A n t t i Aarne's "Verzeichnis der ~ z r c h e n t ~ ~ e n , "
The Types o f t h e F o l k t a l e : ---Translated ae-d.
ellow^ Caws~ammnnl"cati o n s ,
No. 74. Preface. L i s t o f Abbreviations. Bibliography. lhdex. 279 pp.

Book
T a l e s of t h e North American I n d i a n s . Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard
---U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s . P r e f a c e . I h t r o d u c t i o n . Notes. Bibliography. Map

of T r i b e s and C u l t u r e Areas. 386 pp.

Reviews

"Jan d e V r i e s , Volksverhalen u i t 0ost-1ndi;.

42: 79-80.

J o u r n a l o f American F o l k l o r e

"Jan d e Yries, D l e ~ g r c h e nvon -klugen

~ a " t s e l l 8 s e r n .J ~
o u~r n a l of
.
Amepican F o l k l o r e 42: 7 c 8 0 .

Review

---

--

--

"Archer Taylor, The Black Ox: A Study i n t h e H i s t o r y of a Polk-Tale."

J o u r n a l of Piinerican P o l k l o r e 43 : 122-25.
Reviews o f Thompson's Writings

----

Boas, Franz. " S t i t h Thompson, T a l e s of t h e North American Indians."

J o a r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 43: 223-24.

Gunther , Erna. "American I n d i a n L i t e r a t u r e . " Folk-Say 0 9 3 0 1 : 408-10.

--

Spargo, John Webster. " S t i t h Thompson, The Types of t h e F o l k t a l e . "

J o u r n a l o f American F o l k l o r e 43: 443-44.

----

Taylor, Archer. " S t i t h Thompson,Tales of t h e North American Indians."

American L i t e r a t u r e 1: 453-54.

Books
Motif-Index o f F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e : A C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f N a r r a t i v e Elements
T k y a l e s , B a l l a d s , ~y-txs
, F a b l e s , fled f e z 1 Romances, Exempla,
Fabliaux , Jest-Books , and Local Legends. 6 v o l s . m i , Finland :
F o l k l o r e Fellows Communications. 1932-1937. Also ~ u b l i s h e dsimult a n e o u s l y Bloominton, rndiana: I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y S t u d i e s . I n t r o d u c t i o n . General Synopses. L i s t o f Abbreviations. Bibliography.
Vol. 6 is General mdex.

--

Articles

"The F o l k t a l e S i n c e B a s i l e Y n i n The Pentamerone o f G i a m b a t t i s t e B a s i l e ,

ed. by N.M. Penzer. New York: E.P. Dutton AZ
Co., pp. 286-304.
"Motifs i n t h e P e n t a m e r ~ n e , i~b~i d . ,

pp. 305-19.

"Tale Types i n t h e P e n t a m e r ~ n e , ~i'b i d . , pp. 320-21.

Articles

Beginning o f a series o f twelve a r t i c l e s i n ~ a n d w 8 r t e r b u c hd e s -deutschen

~ z r c h e n s , ed by Lutz Mackenson. 2 v o l . B e r l i n and LeQzi'g: Walter D e
Gruyter and Co., 1930-1933.

Reviews of Thompson s Writings

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Gayton, A. H. " S t i t h Thompson, ' T a l e s of t h e North American I n d i a n s .'I

American Anthropologist 36: 479-80.

Articles
"Congress f o r t h e Study o f t h e Folk-Tale a t Lund." American Anthrop o l o g i s t 38: 687.
'Folklore 49: 171.
" F o l k t a l e Congress i n Sweden." J o u r n a l -of American
.
"Personal Notes on a F o l k t a l e Congress." Ihdiana U n i v e r s i t y Alumni
O u a r t e r l v 23 (Winter. 19361: 1-17.
Reviews of Thompsonts H r i t i n g s
Gerould, G.H. " S t i t h Thompson, Mctif-Index of P o l k - L i t e r a t u r e . "
J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 49: 275-76.

Reviews

"Walter Anderson, Studien z u r H o r t s i l b e n s t a t i s t i k d e r g l t e r e n e s t n i s c h e n

~01kslieder.~~American F o l k l o r e 50: 102.

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"Walter Anderson, Zu Albert V e s s e l s k i s Angriffen auf d i e f i n n i s c h e

f o l k l o r i s t i s c z Forschungsmethode. I t J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e
50: 102.

"Ruth Benedict, Zuni Mythology."

American Anthropologist 39: 337-38.

" F r i e d r i c h Ranke, Volkssagenforschung." J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 50:

103.
Secondary Sources
Mills, Laurens J. " S t i t h Thompson: Authority on t h e H a b i t s of t h e
Kwakiutl and t h e T s i m s h i a n ~ .The
~ Rainbow of D e l t a Tau D e l t a
60: 227.

----

Articles
"American F o l k l o r e a f t e r 50 Years." J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 51:
1-9. P r e s i d e n t i a l Address t o t h e ~ m eic=
r
Folklore Society 50th
Anniversary Meeting

'fFolklore C o l l e c t i n g i n I r e l a n d e n Southern F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y 2: 53-58.

"Folklore News.* J o u r n a l o f American F o l k l o r e 51: 95-99.

" I n t e r n a t i o n a l Organization of F o l k l o r e . " Southern F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y
2: 195-98.
"Purpose and Importance o f an Index of Types and Motifs." Folk-Liv 1:
103-8.
Review of Thompsonrs Writings

, Joseph R. "St i t h Thompson, The Mot i f -Index of F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e .

H i s ~ a n i cReview 6: 361.

Ci llet

"

Review
"Arnold van Gennep, Manuel d e F o l k l o r e Y r a n ~ a i sC ~ n t e m p o r a L n . i
~~
J o u r n a l of American ~oifI;Z'ork 52: 325-26.

--

Articles
l l F o l k l o r e and L i t e r a t u r e . ' ' P u b l i c a t i o n s o f t h e Modern Language
A s s o c i a t i o n o f America 55 : 866-74.
7

Articles
"Folklore of t h e Americas: An Opportunity and a Challenge.n T r a n s a c t i o n s
o f t h e Eighth American S c i e n t i f i c Congress 2: 245-51.

--

"The M i l l e r ' s Tale." r n Sources and Analogues o f C h a u c e r r s C a n t e r b u r y

T a l e s , ed by W. F. Bryan and Germaine ~ e m F t e r .Chicago: The
U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago Press,pp. 106-23.
Reviews
"H.M.

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Belden, B a l l a d s and Songs C o l l e c t e d % t h e M i s s o u r i Folklore

Society." J o u r n a l o f English and Germanic ~ h l o l o g y40: 576-77.
7

"W.H. E n t w i s t l e , European B a l l a d r ~ .J~o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 54:

54: 207-8.
"Some Recent P u b l i c a t i o n s
54: 86.

Articles

from Argentina." J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e

Books
The F o l k t a l e . New
i n New York:

York: Dryden P r e s s . Also published simultaneously

H o l t , R i n e h a r t , and Winston. P r e f a c e . Four P a r t s .
Two Appendices: Important Works on t h e F o l k t a l e , and P r i n c i p a l
C o l l e c t i o n s of F o l k t a l e s . Index of T a l e Types. Index of Motifs.
General Index. Three Tables acd Two Text F i g u r e s . 510 pp.

Articles

"Motif-Index o f Kota Tales."

U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a P u b l i c a t i o n s
i n L i n g u i s t i c s 3: 336-58.

"Type and Mot i f Analysis of Kota T a l e s . t' U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a

P u b l i c a t i o n s i n L i n g u i s t i c s 3 : 359-73.

"Paul Eunyan i n 191OYt'with Edward 0 . Tabor. J o u r n a l of Pmerican

F o l k l o r e 59: 134-35.

----

"The S c h o l a r i n a New World." Rainbow of D e l t a Tau D e l t a 69: 59.

( E d i t o r ) "Informal Notes on Tpansactions and Lectures of the Scccind
F o l k l o r e I n s t i t u t e of America. Nimeographed Bloomington:
Indiana University.

t t D e s a r r o l l o s Recientes de 10s e s t u d i o s F o l k l o r i c o s en 10s Estados

Unidos." R e v i s t a Venezolana de F o l k l o r e 1 ( 2 ) .

"El Cuento F o l k l o r i c o . " R e v i s t a de l a Universidad de Buenos l i i r e s ,

( A p r i l - December, l S ~ ' % ~ 7 ~ ~
Reviews of Thompson's Writings

Krappe , Alexander H. t l S t i t h Thompson, The ~ o l k t a l e" Jou7na.l

American
F o l k l o r e 60: 426-29.
--

cjf

L i l j e b l a d , Sven. " S t i t h Thompson, The F o l k t a l e . " Southern Folklore

Q u a r t e r l y 11: 157-62.

Articles

" F o l k l o r e i n South America." J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 61: 256-60.

"John Avery Lomax, 1867-1948.'t

Journal

of

American F o l k l o r e 61: 305-6.

Reviews

" C h r i s t i a n s e n , Lid, and Liestgfl, STudia Norvegica: E t h o l o g i c a et

P o l k l ~ r i s t i c a .J~o u~r n a l of Americarl F o l k l o r e 61: 404.

t'Os Melhores Contes Populares d e P o r t u g a l . * J o u r n a l of American

F o l k l o r e 61: 235-37.

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----

"Rhys Carpenter, Folk T a l e , F i c t i o n , and Saga i n t h e Homeric Epics."

Western F o l k l o r e 7: 313-14.
Reviews o f Thompson's Writings
Bryant, Margaret M.
7: 308-13.

" S t i t h Thompson, The F o l k t a l e .

Western F o l k l o r e

Hyman,Stanley Edgar. "Some Bankrupt T r e a s u r i e ~ . ' Kenyon

~
Review 1 0 :
484-97.
Secondary Source
" I n d i a n a ' s New Dean i s Florld-Famous Scholar."
D e l t a 71: 217, 226.

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Rainbow o f D e l t a Tau

Articles
"Fairy Tale," " F i n n i s h P o l k l o r e w Cwith Jonas B a l y s l , " F ~ l k l o r e , ~ ~
l l F o l k t a l e . l l I n Funk and Wagnall's Standard D i c t i o n a r y o f Folklore,
Mythoiogy, and Legend, e d . hy Maria Leach. New York: F G and
~
Kagnalls Company, pp. 365-66, 380-87, 403, 408-9.

--

"Folklore- C l a s s i f i c a ~ i o nand Then What?" J o u r n a l ef American F o l k l o r e

62: 423.

2kt1The Fuhure of F o l k l o r e Research i n t h e United S t a t e s . " Proceedings o f

t h e American P h i l o s o p h i c a l S o c i e t y 93: 244-47.

"Story Writers and S t o ~ yTellers,"' I n P h i l o l o g i c a : The Malone Anniversary

S t u d i e s , ed b ~ T.
r A Kerley and H.B. Woolf, Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins Press, pp.228-34.

Articles

''

Folklore c o n f e r e n c e s a t Indiana U n i v e r s i t y . "Journal o f American

Folklore 63: 459.

--

"Motif," "Type."
I n Funk and Wagnallls Standard D i c t i o n a r y of F o l k l o r e ,
Mvthology, and Legend, V O ~ . 2, e d i t e d by Maria Leach, NGYork:
Funk and Wagnalls Company, pp, 753, 1137-138.

---

"Milton Rugoff, A Harvest of World Folk T a l e s . "

181.

Western F o l k l o r e 9:

Articles
" F o l k l o r e a t Midcentury,"

Midwest F o l k l o r e 1: 5-12.

"La M i t o l o g i c a . " F o l k l o r e Americas 11 ( 1 ) : 1-15.

Reviews
"C.W.

von Sydow, S e l e c t e d Papers on F o l k l o r e . " J o u r n a l o f American

F o l k l o r e 64: 332-33.

--

"Charles Haywood, A Bibliography -o f North American F o l k l o r e and Folksong. " ~ m e r i c a nAnthropologist 53 : 553-54.

"E.M.

B u t l e r , R i t u a l Magic." Modern Language Q u a r t e r l y 1 2 : 361.

--

-- -

t o t h e F o l k l o r e of C h r i s "Grant Loomis, White Magic: An I n t r o d u c t i o n -t i a n Legend." Modern Language Q u a r t e r l y 1 2 : 108.

---

"Seamas MacManus, Heavy Hangs t h e Golden Grain.

343-44.
"T.H.

Western F o l k l o r e 1 0 :

G a s t e r , T h e s p i s : R i t u a l and Drama i n t h e Ancient Near E a s t . "

American J o u r n a l of Archaeology 55: 412.

Articles
" E l Cuento F o l k l o r i c o . " F o l k l o r e Americas 12 ( 2 ) : 113-33.

The Frank C. Brown C o l l e c t i o n -of North

In " F o l k t a l e s and Legends."
C a r o l i n a F o l k l o r e , v o l . 1, e d . Paul G . Brewster, A . T a y l o r , B . J .
Whiting, G.P. Wilson, and S. Thompson, Durham: Duke U n i v e r s i t y
P r e s s , pp. 619-708.
!'Killed Up."

American Speech 27: 235.

"La Leyenda." F o l k l o r e Americas 1 2 ( 1 ) : 3-11.

"Problems i n F o l k l o r e , " I n An I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Research i n E n g l i s h
L i t e r a r y H i s t o r y , ed Chauncey s a n d e r s T ~ e wYork: K c m i l l a n Co
pp. 253-76.
Reviews

--

"Archer T a y l o r , E n g l i s h R i d d l e s from O r a l T r a d i t i o n . "

E n g l i s h and Germanic P h i l o l o g y 51: 242-44.

J o u r n a l of

"W. Liungman, S v e r i g e s Samtliga Folksagor ---i ord och B i l d . "

Journal

o f American F o l k l o r e 65: 324.

Articles

--

"Advances i n F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s . " I n Anthropology Today: An Encyclopedic

I n v e n t o r y , ed A . L . Kroeber, Chicago: U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago P r e s s ,
pp. 587-96.
"The S t a r Husband Tale." S t u d i a S e p t e n t r i o n a l i a 4: 93-163.
I n t r o d u c t i o n . Conclusion. Maps.
Obituary
"Knut L i e s t g l , 1881-1952."

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 66: 332.

Books

( E d i t o r ) Four Symposia on F o l k l o r e . I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P u b l i c a t i o n s ,
F o l k l o r e S e r i e s , no, 8. Bloomington: I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s .
Foreword. Notes.
Index. 340 pp.
Reviews
"N.

----

"R.

M. Penzer, Poison Damsels and o t h e r Essays i n F o l k l o r e and Anthrop ~ l o g y . ~ lJ o u r n a l o f American F o l k l o r e 66: 275.

P e t t a z o n i , -M i t i e Leggenda."

Midwest F o l k l o r e 3: 252.

Articles
l f F o l k l o r e and Folk F e s t i v a l s . "

Midwest F o l k l o r e 4: 5-12.

llFolk T a l e s from Korea, Modern Greek F o l k t a l e s , A f r i c a n F o l k t a l e s and

S c u l p t u r e . " Southern F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y 1 8 : 194-97.
"Una Mirada R e t r o s p e c t i v a a l a cooperacio/n I n t e r n a c i o n a l en F o l k l o r e .
F o l k l o r e Americano 2: 147-50.
Reviews

"John Greenway, American Folksongs of P r o t e s t . I r

Review 59: 454.
"T.

---

H. G a s t e r , The O l d e s t S t o r i e s i n t h e World.
F o l k l o r e 67: 225.

American H i s t o r i c a l

J o u r n a l o f American

Books

--

Motif-Index of Folk L i t e r a t u r e : A C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f N a r r a t i v e Elements

i n k t a l e s , B a l l a d s , ~ ~ t h Fz a,b l e s , ~ e d i e v xRomances, Exempla,
Fabliaux. Jest-Books. and Local Legends. 2nd r e v i s e d e d i t i o n . 6
v o l s . Bloomington: r n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1955-58.
Also publ i s h e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger. P r e f a c e .
I n t r o d u c t i o n . L i s t of A b b r e v i a t i o n s . General Synopsis. B i b l i o graphy. Vol. 6 a General Index.

L,

Articles
"The Importance of F o l k l o r e Study i n t h e Near E a s t and i n I s r a e l . "
Yeda'am 3: 3-4.
"The I n d i a n Legends S i n c e Hiawatha."
"Myths and F o l k t a l e s . "

Michigan H i s t o r y 39: 462-63.

J o u r n a l o f American F o l k l o r e 68: 482-88.

" N a r r a t i v e Motif A n a l y s i s a s a F o l k l o r e Method."

Communications, no. 161, pp. 3-9.

F o l k l o r e Fellows

Obituary
I1Sigurd B. Hustvedt, 1882-1954,"

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 68: 200.

Books
" F o l k l o r i s t ' s P r o g r e s s . P r i v a t e l y Multigraphed.
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y . 320 pp.

Bloomington, I n d i a n a :

Reviews

"F. Coluccio, F o l k l o r e -d e l a s Americas."

Erasmus 9: 43.

"Wilson D. W a l l i s and Ruth S. W a l l i s , The Micmac I n d i a n s of E a s t e r n

Canada." J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 69: 398.

Articles

I n Mesquite and Willow, ed.

" R e c o l l e c t i o n s of a n I t i n e r a n t F o l k l o r i s t . "
M.C. B o a t r i g h t , W . M . Hudson, A. Maxwell, P u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e Texas
F o l k l o r e S o c i e t y , no. 27. D a l l a s : Southern Methodist U n i v e r s i t y
P r e s s , pp. 118-28.
"The Study of P r i m i t i v e S t o r y t e l l i n g : I t s P r e s e n t S t a t u s and F u t u r e
Folk-Liv 21-22: 185-90.
Directions."

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Secondary Source

---

Richmand, W. Edson, ed. S t u d i e s i n F o l k l o r e : I n Honor of D i s t i n Indiana University

guished S e r v i c e P r o f e s s o r ~ t T Thompson.
h
P u b l i c a t i o n s F o l k l o r e S e r i e s , no. 9 . Bloomington: I n d i a n a
University Press.

Books

----

Thompson, S t i t h , and J o n a s Balys, The Oral T a l e s of I n d i a . I n d i a n a

P u b l i c a t i o n s F o l k l o r e S e r i e s , no. 1 0 . Bloomington: I n d i a n a
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s . P r e f a c e . Map of I n d i a . Regional and General
B i b l i o g r a p h i e s . Index. 448 pp.
Articles
"Comparative Problems i n O r a l L i t e r a t u r e . "
and General L i t e r a t u r e 7 ( 2 1 ) : 6-16.

Yearbook of Comparative

Reviews of Thompson ' s Writings

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Coffin, T r i s t r a m . " S t i t h Thompson, The O r a l T a l e s of I n d i a . "

F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y 22: 206-7.

Southern

K e l l e r , John E. " S t i t h Thompson, The Motif-Index o f F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e ,

2nd e d i t i o n . Southern F o l k l o r e Q u a r t e r l y 22 : 2 0 1 - 2 .

Ranke, Kurt. " S t i t h Thompson, The Motif-Index of F o l k - L i t e r a t u r e ,

2nd e d i t i o n .
J o u r n a l of American ~ o l k l o r e 7 1 : 81-83.

Articles
"Prepared Comment on ' A Theory of American F o l k l o r e ' by R. M. Dorson."
J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 72: 232.

Review o f Thompson's W r i t i n g s

----

" S t i t h Thompson, The O r a l T a l e s of I n d i a . "

Emeneau, M.B.
American F o l k l o r e 72: 252-53.

J o u r n a l of

Books
Thompson, S t i t h , and Warren Roberts. Types of I n d i c F o l k t a l e s : I n d i a ,
and Ceylon. F o l k l o r e Fellows Communications, no. 180.
P a k i s t a n , -.
H e l s i n k i : Suomalainen ~ i e d e a k a t m c a d e m i Si c i e n t i t a r i u m Fennica )
O u t l i n e of C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f T a l e s , Regional and General B i b l i o g r a p h i e s . 1 8 1 pp.

Articles
" F i f t y Yea-of
F o l k t a l e Indexing."
I n Humaniora: Essays i n L i t e r a t u r e , F o l k l o r e , B i b l i o g r a p h y ( F e s t s c h r i f t f o r Archer
Locust V a l l e y , N.Y.: J . J . Augustin, pp. 49-57.

am

"The S i g n i f i c a n c e o f Near E a s t e r n F o l k l o r e . " I n S t u d i e s i n B i b l i c a l

and Jewish F o l k l o r e , ed R. P a t a i , F.L. U t l e y , Dov
Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y P u b l i c a t i o n s F o l k l o r e S e r i e s , no. 1 3 . Bloomington:
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , pp. 5-7.

NG,

Reviews

"Arthur M . Young, Legend B u i l d e r s of t h e West."

55: 192.

"Katherine B r i g g s , The Anatomy -of Puck."

367.

Classical Journal

Shakespeare Q u a r t e r l y 11:

Books
The Types of
---Aarne ' s

t h e F o l k t a l e : A C l a s s i f i c a t i o n and Bibliography: A n t t i
"Verzeichnis d e r Marchentypen" T r a n s l a t e d and Enlarged.
2nd r e v i s i o n . H e l s i n k i : F o l k l o r e Fellows C o m u n i c a t i o n s , no. 184.
P r e f a c e . L i s t o f A b b r e v i a t i o n s . O u t l i n e of C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of
T a l e s . Bibliography. L i s t of Changes. Index. 588 pp.

Articles
" F o l k l o r e Trends i n Scandinavia."
313-19.

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 74:

-----

"Report on t h e Revision of The Types of t h e Fol k t a l e . " I n I n t e r n a t i o n a : Le

d e r Volkzerzahlungsforscher. -i n_ K- i e-l und Kopenhagen,
Kongress S u p p l e s e r i e zu Fabula, ed Kurt Ranke, pp. 428-31.

" V i s i t s t o South American folklorist^.^'

74: 391-97.

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e

Reviews
"Susana C h e r t u d i , Cuentos F o l k l o r i c o s -d e l a Argentina," and "Yolando
Pino-Saavedra, Cuentos F o l k l o r i c o s d e C h i l e , -Tomo I." J o u r n a l of
American F o l k l o r e 74: 173-74.

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Articles
fiwArnerican F o l k l o r e " and " F o l k t a l e s and Legends."
Encyclopaedia.

I n Oxford J u n i o r

"M.

L u t h i , Volksmklrchen und Volkssage."

P h i l o l o g y 62: 889.

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J o u r n a l o f E n g l i s h and Germanic

Reviews of Thompson's Writings

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Holbek, Bengt. " S t i t h Thompson, The Types of t h e F o l k t a l e , 2d r e v i s i o n . "

ARV:
T i d s k r i f t f o r Nordisk Folkminnesforskning 18-19 (1962-1963):
408-15.

Articles
"American Folk T r a d i t i o n . " The Review: I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y B u l l e t i n s
62 ( 6 ) : 1-15. ~ e ~ r i n t e Fd oxl k l o r e n
a-Council of Teachers
o f E n g l i s h - T e r r e Haute), 1966.

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P u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e Modern Language A s s o c i a t i o n
"The Challenge of F o l k l o r e . "
of America 79: 357-65.
T r a n s l a t e d i n t o Portuguese i n R e v i s t a
B r a s i l i e r a d e F o l k l o r e 5 ( 1 1 ) : 33-48, and i n t o Flemish i n Volkskunda,
1966.

"Folklore. I'
pp. 989-93.

I n New C a t h o l i c Encyclopaedia, New York: McGraw H i l l , v o l .

Reviews

--

" L a u r i t s BQdker, C h r i s t i n a Hole, G . DtAronco ( e d s ) , European Folk T a l e s . "

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 77: 273-74.

"Zaide Macul d e C a s t r o , D a n ~ a sdo Norte e do S u l a t ' Western F o l k l o r e 23: 59.

Articles

---

I n F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s i n Honor of
$k"Folklore Typology and t h e P a c i f i c Area."
Arthur Palmer Hudson, Chapel H i l l : U n i v e r s i t y o f North C a r o l i n a P r e s s ,
pp. 11-18.
Obituary
"J. Frank Dobie, 1888-1964."

J o u r n a l of American F o l k l o r e 78: 62.

Reviews o f Thompson's W r i t i n g s
I n Fourth S n t e r n a t i o n a l
Holbek, Bengt. "On t h e C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f F o l k t a l e s . "
Congress f o r Folk-Narrative Research i n Athens: L e c t u r e s and R e p o r t s , ed
Georgios Megas, L a o ~ r a p h i a2%: 1 5 8 - 6 1 y

R o b e r t s , Warren E. " S t i t h Thompson: H i s Major Works and a Bibliography."

ARV: T i d s k r i f t f o r Nordisk Folkminnesforskning 21: 5-20.

Books

----

Second Wind: A Sequel a f t e r 1 0 Years t o F o l k l o r i s t t s P r o g r e s s .

~ u ligraphgd.
t
Bloomington: r d d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y .
59 pp.

Privately

T a l e s of t h e North American I n d i a n s . 2d e d i t i o n . Bloomington:

---U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s . Midland Book E d i t i o n (Paperback). 386 pp.

Indiana

'4

Articles
"A Humanist's Creed."
Series.

Bloomington: U n i t a r i a n U n i v e r s a l i s t Church, Sermon

Articles
" I c e l a n d i c P a r a l l e l s among t h e N o r t h e a s t e r n Algonquians." I n Nordica e t
Anglica: S t u d i e s i n Honor of S t e f a n E i n a r s s o n , ed Allan H. orrick:
The Hague: Mouton, pp. 133-39.

---

I n Motif-Index -of E a r l y I c e l a n d i c L i t e r a t u r e by
" I n g e r Margret Boberg."
I . M . Boberg, Copenhagen: Munksgaard.
" L i t e r a t u r e f o r t h e Unlettered.'!
I n Comparative L i t e r a t u r e , ed N .
S t a l l k n e c h t and Horst Frenz, Carbondale, I l l i n o i s : Southern I l l i n o i s
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , pp. 201-17.
"Planes P r e l i m i n a r e s p a r a un S e r v i c i o de F o l k l o r e i n Venezuela," Archivos
Venezolanos d e F o l k l o r e 8 : 339-67.

"An O f f i c e Boy Remembers 1902.11 I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y Bookman 8 (March,

1967): 7-9.

Books
One Hundred F a v o r i t e F o l k t a l e s .
I l l u s . by Franz A l t s c h u l e r .

Bloomington: I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s .
Foreword. Notes and Sources. 8 i l l u s .

439 pp.
Articles
" H y p o t h e t i c a l Forms i n F o l k t a l e Study." I n Volksllberlieferung:
Festschrift
f u r Kurt Ranke, Gbttifigen:: Verlag O t t o Schwartz and Co., pp. 269-72.

---

Upadhyaya, Hari $. " ~ e m i n i s c e n c e s of an Octogenarian F o l k l o r i s t . "

F o l k l o r e S t u d i e s 27 ( 2 ) : 107-45.

Asian

Reviews

"H.

Bausinger, Formen d e r Volkspoesie."

P h i l o l o g y 68: 373.

J o u r n a l o f E n g l i s h and Germanic

Review of Thompson's W r i t i n g s
Flanagan, John T.
" S t i t h Thompson, One Hundred F a v o r i t e folktale^.^^
Comparative L i t e r a t u r e S t u d i e s 6 ( 3 ) : 342-43.
Secondary Source
" S t i t h Thompson."

D i r e c t o r y of American S c h o l a r s , v o l . 2, 5 t h e d , p. 540.

Articles
"Analogues and Borrowings i n North and South American I n d i a n T a l e s . " I n
Languages and C u l t u r e s of Western North America: Sven L i l j e b l a d
F e s t s c h r i f t , ed by ~ a r l y .Swanson, P o c a t e l l o , Idaho: I.daho S t a t e
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , pp. 277-88.

"Gordon Wilson."

Kentucky F o l k l o r e Record 1 6 ( 3 ) : 41-45.

"Unfinished Business: The F o l k t a l e . "

I n Medieval L i t e r a t u r e and F o l k l o r e
S t u d i e s , ed by Jerome Mandel and Bruce Rosenberg, New Brunswick, N . J . :
Rutgers U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , pp. 213-21.
Review o f Thompson ' s W r i t i n g s
"A F i f t h A n a l y s i s o f t h e Star-Husband Tale,"
Young, Frank W.
9 ( 4 ) : 389-413.

Ethnology

Articles
"Folk L i t e r a t u r e . "
454-61.

I n Encyclopaedia Macropaedia B r i t t a n i c a , v o l . 7 , pp.

Review o f Thompson's W r i t i n g s

P a r e d e s , Americo, and Richard Bauman, e d s . Toward N e w P e r s p e c t i v e s i n

F o l k l o r e . Austin: U n i v e r s i t y of Texas P r e s s , pp. ix, x i , 8 .

Secondary Souyces
" S t i t h Thompson, F a t h e r of F o l k l o r e . "
1976, p. 23.
" S t i t h Thompson, F o l k l o r i s t , Dies."

Indianapolis S t a r , January 12,

New York Times,
---

January 1 2 , 1976, p. 30.

Unpublished M a t e r i a l
Papers o f S t i t h Thompson, 1911-1964, i n c l u d i n g correspondence, f a m i l y
genealogy, a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l m a t e r i a l , m a n u s c r i p t s , d i a r i e s , photographs.
G i f t t o L i l l y L i b r a r y , I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y , Bloomington, I n d i a n a , i n
1972.

Page 10, paragraph 2:

"universityies" should read "universities1'

Page 13, paragraph 2:

''demans1'should read "demands"

Page 22, paragraph 3:

"of folktales" should read "of folktales"

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