Baughman Folklore Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS-317-BC
Scope and Content
The Ernest Warren Baughman collection contains six boxes of folktales (boxes 1-5 and 12) and six boxes of index cards recording folk cures, proverbs, rhymes and games, riddles, superstitions, customs, jokes, and weather lore (boxes 6-11), all collected by his students, mostly at the University of New Mexico. Many of the stories were collected from New Mexican villages and towns, containing local content. The collection is arranged alphabetically by the name of the collector. Most of the index cards also contain the name of the informant. Box 18 contains folklore audio recordings (analog - one cassette tape, eight reel-to-reel tapes, seven non-commercial records). No digital files available.
Many of the students who collected the proverbs etc. in the index cards also collected the folktales. The most prominent of these students is Leslie Marmon Silko, now known as the author of Laguna Woman: Poems, Ceremony, Storyteller, Almanac of the Dead and others. In the original inventory she is listed under the name Leslie M. Chapman.
Many of the students who collected the proverbs etc. in the index cards also collected the folktales. The most prominent of these students is Leslie Marmon Silko, now known as the author of Laguna Woman: Poems, Ceremony, Storyteller, Almanac of the Dead and others. In the original inventory she is listed under the name Leslie M. Chapman.
Dates
- 1948-1981
Language of Materials
English Spanish
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research. Boxes 6-11 contain loose index cards, please handle carefully.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biographical Information
Ernest Warren Baughman (pronounced bauff-min) was born September 10, 1916, in Manson, Iowa, to Alpha E. and Martha (Zook) Baughman. Baughman graduated from Kouts High School, Kouts Indiana in 1934, received his B.A. degree from Ball State Teachers College in 1938, his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1939, and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1958.
In 1940, Baughman married Frances Jensen and moved to New Mexico in 1948 to teach at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He was promoted to assistant professor in 1951, associate professor in 1956, full professor in 1964, and retired from UNM in 1981. During his tenure at UNM, Baughman specialized in American literature and folklore, earning an international reputation in both fields. As a folklorist, Baughman is best known for his 1966 book, Type and Motif-Index of the Folk Tales of England and North America. His work in English literature focused on the novels of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Baughman was president of the New Mexico Folklore Society from 1972-1973, a member of the Society of Fellows of the American Folklore Society, and in 1976 was elected to the New Mexico Folklore Society Roll of Honor. Baughman was also a member of the Modern Language Association of American and the American Association of University Professors.
Baughman was a contributor to A Treasury of American Folklore, 1944, author of notes for Sticks in the Knapsack, 1958, and contributor to the New England Quarterly, Hoosier Folklore Bulletin, English Journal, New Mexico Folklore Record as well as other publications. In retirement Baughman continued to work on editing and classifying the hundreds of folktales collected by his students during the 33 years of teaching at UNM. Baughman died May 22, 1990 in Telluride Colorado; he was 74.
In 1940, Baughman married Frances Jensen and moved to New Mexico in 1948 to teach at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He was promoted to assistant professor in 1951, associate professor in 1956, full professor in 1964, and retired from UNM in 1981. During his tenure at UNM, Baughman specialized in American literature and folklore, earning an international reputation in both fields. As a folklorist, Baughman is best known for his 1966 book, Type and Motif-Index of the Folk Tales of England and North America. His work in English literature focused on the novels of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Baughman was president of the New Mexico Folklore Society from 1972-1973, a member of the Society of Fellows of the American Folklore Society, and in 1976 was elected to the New Mexico Folklore Society Roll of Honor. Baughman was also a member of the Modern Language Association of American and the American Association of University Professors.
Baughman was a contributor to A Treasury of American Folklore, 1944, author of notes for Sticks in the Knapsack, 1958, and contributor to the New England Quarterly, Hoosier Folklore Bulletin, English Journal, New Mexico Folklore Record as well as other publications. In retirement Baughman continued to work on editing and classifying the hundreds of folktales collected by his students during the 33 years of teaching at UNM. Baughman died May 22, 1990 in Telluride Colorado; he was 74.
Extent
18 Linear Feet
General
Complementing the five original boxes of folktales in the Baughman Folklore Collection is a later donation of additional tales and index cards recording folk cures, proverbs, rhymes and games, riddles, superstitions, customs, jokes, weather lore, and the like. These six boxes are arranged alphabetically by the name of collector. Most cards also bear a geographic notation and a second name, which is that of the informant.
Many of the students who collected the additional tales and index cards also collected the folktales contained in boxes 1-5.
Many of the students who collected the additional tales and index cards also collected the folktales contained in boxes 1-5.
Processing Information
Two additions have been made to the original accession.
- Baughman, Ernest Warren, 1916-1990
- Ethnic folklore - New Mexico
- Folklore -- New Mexico
- Folklore -- United States
- Proverbs, Spanish -- New Mexico
- Silko, Leslie Marmon, 1948-
- Tales -- New Mexico
- Tales -- United States
- Taylor, Archer, 1890-1973
- Thompson, Stith, 1885-1976
- Traditional medicine -- New Mexico
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Baughman Folklore Collection, 1948-1981
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by D. Trujillo
- Date
- ©2000; ©2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 317 BC::Baughman Folklore Collection)//EN" "nmu1mss317bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451