Jan Harold Brunvand papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 1024

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Jan Harold Brunvand papers (1956-2004) consist of correspondence, news clippings, pamphlets, brochures, leaflets, research and teaching materials, talks and speech texts, manuscript drafts and galleys, and selected published materials. The papers document the thirty-year career of Jan Brunvand (b. 1933) as professor of English at the University of Utah (1966-1996), his involvement with the American Folklore Society and other professional associations, his numerous published articles and books, and his activities as a speaker at academic conferences, professional meetings, and social affairs. Brunvand made the initial donation of his papers to the library in July 1988, and has periodically deposited more material. Boxes 1-26 include correspondence, manuscripts, reports, several short (article) publications, materials for three of his urban legend books, and documents relating to his textbook, The Study of American Folklore. The correspondence with colleagues in the U.S., Norway, England, and Romania is arranged alphabetically. Also included are five boxes of records concerning meetings, papers, and presentations (including his presidential address to the American Folklore Society in 1985, in which he details changes in the positions folklorists began to hold outside of academe). Following are six boxes of articles, notes, book reviews, grants, and fellowships (which allowed Brunvand to study in Norway and Romania). There are four boxes of correspondence and notes pertaining to The Study of American Folklore and his three urban legend books. Five boxes of "dead matter" from the third edition of the textbook and two of the urban legend publications complete the initial donation. Brunvand made additions to his collection periodically through 1996 when he retired from the University. The chronological order of these donations has been maintained. Boxes 27 to 31 contain manuscripts, galleys, reviews, correspondence and notes for The Vanishing Hitchhiker, Curses! Broiled Again, The Choking Doberman, and The Mexican Pet. Box 32 contains miscellaneous publications by or about Brunvand. From 1986 to 1992 Brunvand wrote a syndicated column on folklore which appeared weekly in newspapers around the nation. Locally the column was carried by the Deseret News. Manuscripts for these columns are found in boxes 33 to 39. Brunvand also donated reviews, interviews, conference materials, speeches, correspondence, and files of Year's Work (1986-1992). These materials are found in boxes 40-45. Boxes 46-50 include personal papers, manuscripts and some research materials, correspondence, speeches, conference materials, and journals containing published articles by Brunvand. Boxes 51-64, contain correspondence and entry manuscripts for American Folklore: An Encyclopedia, published in 1996. Brunvand was the editor of this publication. Boxes 65-77 contain research documents and manuscripts for Brain Drain, Too Good To Be True, The Truth Never Stands in the Way of a Good Story, and the fourth edition of Brunvand's textbook. Boxes 78-81 contain conference information, research files, speeches, and manuscripts. Interested researchers may also see the Student Folklore Collection, Ms 488. The bulk of this collection was initially gathered and organized under Brunvand's direction. As a teacher of folklore, Brunvand's rapport with students is apparent in the comment sheets included with many of the projects completed by students in his classes.

Dates

1956-1999

Creator

Brunvand, Jan Harold (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

Jan Harold Brunvand was a professor of English at the University of Utah, an author, and an expert on urban U.S. folklore.

Extent

81 Box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Jan Harold Brunvand papers (1956-2004) consist of materials related to writing and publishing on various aspects of folklore and urban legends. Includes personal and professional correspondence, papers related to his involvement in professional folklore organizations, drafts and notes for published books, research files, reviews, and grant proposals. Jan Harold Brunvand was a professor of English at the University of Utah, an author, and an expert on urban U.S. folklore.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-26 were donated in 1988.

Boxes 27-32 were donated in 1990.

Boxes 33-45 were donated in 1993.

Boxes 46-50 were donated in 1996.

Boxes 51-64 were donated in 1998.

Boxes 65-77 were donated in 2000.

Boxes 78-81 were donated in 2005.

Related Materials

See also the Utah folklore collection (MS 0488) located in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

See also the Bill Ellis papers located in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections (ACCN 2441).