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Research Guide to Folklore

The following is a selected list of resources for starting research in Folklore. For further assistance, contact Elizabeth Peterson, Literature Librarian, at emp@uoregon.edu.

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Starting Your Research

These sources are good for quick identification and background on people, concepts, and terms. Folklore topics can be found in many different subject areas and therefore your research should not be confined to those resources listed below.

There are several other folklore encyclopedias and dictionaries located in KNIGHT REFERENCE GR 35. 

Finding Articles

To look for articles in journals, newspapers, or magazines, you will need to start with a database, otherwise known as an index. An index will allow you to look by subject, author, or keywords that describe your topic. Use FindTextFindText iconto locate complete articles. Articles the UO does not own can be quickly obtained through Interlibrary Loan.

Because folklore research is so interdisciplinary, you will probably have to explore databases from various different disciplines to answer your research questions. To see databases listed by subject area, go the Databases by Category.

  • MLA International Bibliography 
    Although primarily an index to literary criticism, this database includes citations to articles in folklore journals, which make it one of the best indexes for folklore journals. Also indexes many film journals.
  • America: History and Life 
    Indexes and abstracts approximately 2,100 journals dealing with the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.
  • Anthropology Plus 
    Indexes articles and essays in all areas of anthropology and archaeology. Indexes works published in English and other European languages from the 19th century to the present.
  • Art Abstracts 
    Covers more than 400 leading art publications from around the world. Includes art history, city planning, crafts, computer graphics, folk art, graphic arts, sculpture, painting, and textiles.
  • ATLA Religion Database 
    Contains citations from journals and books in the field of religion.
  • Bibliography of Native North Americans 
    Contains citations to literature about native peoples of North America published from the sixteenth century to the present.
  • Historical Abstracts 
    Indexes and abstracts approximately 2,100 publications, covering countries other than the United States and Canada. The timeframe is history from 1450 to the present.
  • JSTOR
    A full-text database that contains the scanned images of hundreds of major research journals in a variety of academic disciplines, some of which began publication as early as the 1870s.
  • Sociological Abstracts 
    Provides access to the latest research in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. It includes citations for articles in journals, conference papers, books, and dissertations.

Finding Books

  • UO Library Catalog
  • Summit Catalog
    Summit is a consortium of libraries that more than doubles our collection. You can borrow books not owned by the UO Library by selecting the Request Item option. Summit works only for books.
  • WorldCat 
    WorldCat provides access to library catalogs from around the world. The database contains bibliographic records describing books, journals, maps, musical scores, manuscripts, etc.

People & Organizations

  • American Folklore Society
    Not-for-profit organization providing folklore research information including membership information, publications, upcoming events, conferences, jobs, internships, graduate and other degree programs, and related site links.
  • The American Folklife Center
    A division of the Library of Congress, the American Folklife Center collects information and objects related to music, photographs, arts and crafts, personal histories, games, rituals and traditions, and other things that make up the diversity of American life.

Web Resources

Maintained by: Elizabeth Peterson, emp@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 11/04/2008