Roadside Crosses in Contemporary Memorial Culture

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
A fifteen-year-old high school cheerleader is killed while driving on a dangerous curve one afternoon. By that night, her classmates have erected a roadside cross decorated with silk flowers, not as a grim warning, but as a loving memorial. In this study of roadside crosses, the first of its kind, Holly Everett presents the history of these unique commemoratives and their relationship to contemporary memorial culture. The meaning of these markers is presented in the words of grieving parents, high school students, public officials, and private individuals whom the author interviewed during her fieldwork in Texas. Everett documents over thirty-five memorial sites with twenty-five photographs representing the wide range of creativity. Examining the complex interplay of politics, culture, and belief, she emphasizes the importance of religious expression in everyday life and analyzes responses to death that this tradition. Roadside crosses are a meeting place for communication, remembrance, and reflection, embodying on-going relationships between the living and the dead. They are a bridge between personal and communal pain–and one of the oldest forms of memorial culture. Scholars in folklore, American studies, cultural geography, cultural/social history, and material culture studies will be especially interested in this study.
Date: October 15, 2002
Creator: Everett, Holly
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 2, 1943-1971 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 2, 1943-1971

Book describing the Texas Folklore Society "includes the publishing history of the TFS books, anecdotes about the gatherings of the Society [...] and the emphasis on singing beginning at Society gatherings" (inside the front cover). The index begins on page 311.
Date: 1994
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 1, 1909-1943 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 1, 1909-1943

Book describing the history and publications of the Texas Folklore Society between the years of 1909 and 1943. It includes information about "public songs and ballads; superstitions, signs and omens; cures and peculiar customs; legends; dialects; games, plays and dances; riddles and proverbs" (inside front cover). The index begins on page 317.
Date: 1992
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 3, 1971-2000 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 3, 1971-2000

Book containing information about the publishing history of the Texas Folklore Society, as well as anecdotes about the gatherings of the Society, information about past presidents of the Society, and Society by-laws. The index begins on page 219.
Date: 2000
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 2, 1943-1971 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 2, 1943-1971

Book describing the Texas Folklore Society, "includes the publishing history of the TFS books, anecdotes about the gatherings of the Society [...] and the emphasis on singing beginning at Society gatherings" (inside the front cover). The index begins on page 311.
Date: 2017
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 1, 1909-1943 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 1, 1909-1943

Book describing the history and publications of the Texas Folklore Society between the years of 1909 and 1943. It includes information about "public songs and ballads; superstitions, signs and omens; cures and peculiar customs; legends; dialects; games, plays and dances; riddles and proverbs" (inside front cover). The index begins on page 317.
Date: 2017
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 3, 1971-2000 (open access)

The Texas Folklore Society: Volume 3, 1971-2000

Book containing information about the publishing history of the Texas Folklore Society, as well as anecdotes about the gatherings of the Society, information about past presidents of the Society, and Society by-laws. The index begins on page 219.
Date: 2017
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Man, Bird and Beast (open access)

Man, Bird and Beast

Collection of Texas and Mexican folklore, including stories about folk medicine and ranch remedies, folk songs, legends and other folklore. The index begins on page 176.
Date: 1930
Creator: Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964
System: The UNT Digital Library
What's Going On? (In Modern Texas Folklore) (open access)

What's Going On? (In Modern Texas Folklore)

Volume of "a collection of essays by contemporary folklorists who are writing about the customs and traditions and the songs and the stories that are going on now" (inside the front cover). It includes information about the folklore of cowboys, rodeos, chain letters and marijuana, as well as information about country, swing and gospel music. Index begins on page 301.
Date: 1976
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coffee in the Gourd (open access)

Coffee in the Gourd

Collection of miscellaneous folklore of Texas and Mexico, including folk songs, information about Indian pictographs, legends, superstitions, and weather lore. The index begins on page 105.
Date: 1923
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
Round the Levee (open access)

Round the Levee

Collection of Texas and Mexican folklore, including stories about folk songs and party games, religious beliefs of the Hasanias Indians, horse stories, and information about the history of the Texas Folklore Society. The index begins on page 108.
Date: 1916
Creator: Thompson, Stith
System: The Portal to Texas History
Man, Bird and Beast (open access)

Man, Bird and Beast

Collection of Texas and Mexican folklore, including stories about folk medicine and ranch remedies, folk songs, legends and other folklore. The index begins on page 176.
Date: 2017
Creator: Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964
System: The UNT Digital Library
Diamond Bessie & The Shepherds (open access)

Diamond Bessie & The Shepherds

This volume contains popular folklore of Texas, including folk dramas, myths, folk music, stories about farming and agriculture, religious folk stories, and information about folk customs, dances and folk art. The index begins on page 157.
Date: 1972
Creator: Hudson, Wilson M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk (open access)

Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk

This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society contains popular folklore of Texas and Mexico, including traveling anecdotes, folk ballads, folklore in natural history, as well as information about black and white magic, Western animals, and cattle brands. The index begins on page 259.
Date: 1953
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
In the Shadow of History (open access)

In the Shadow of History

Collection of Texan and Mexican folklore, including stories about the Navajo Indians, the Alamo, Jim Bowie, various folk characters, tortilla making, and other humorous anecdotes. The index begins on page 181.
Date: 1980
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coffee in the Gourd (open access)

Coffee in the Gourd

Collection of miscellaneous folklore of Texas and Mexico, including folk songs, information about Indian pictographs, legends, superstitions, and weather lore. The index begins on page 105.
Date: 2017
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Sunny Slopes of Long Ago (open access)

The Sunny Slopes of Long Ago

Volume of popular folklore of Western America, including ballads, cowboy stories, myths, folk songs and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 201.
Date: 1966
Creator: Hudson, Wilson M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Round the Levee (open access)

Round the Levee

Collection of Texas and Mexican folklore, including stories about folk songs and party games, religious beliefs of the Hasanias Indians, horse stories, and information about the history of the Texas Folklore Society. The index begins on page 108.
Date: 2017
Creator: Thompson, Stith
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hunters & Healers: Folklore Types & Topics (open access)

Hunters & Healers: Folklore Types & Topics

Volume of Texan and Mexican folklore, including stories about hunting, folk medicine, ballads, religion and other folklore. The index begins on page 169.
Date: 1971
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
In the Shadow of History (open access)

In the Shadow of History

Collection of Texan and Mexican folklore, including stories about the Navajo Indians, the Alamo, Jim Bowie, various folk characters, tortilla making, and other humorous anecdotes. The index begins on page 181.
Date: 2017
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Sunny Slopes of Long Ago (open access)

The Sunny Slopes of Long Ago

Volume of popular folklore of Western America, including ballads, cowboy stories, myths, folk songs and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 201.
Date: 2017
Creator: Hudson, Wilson M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk (open access)

Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk

This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society contains popular folklore of Texas and Mexico, including traveling anecdotes, folk ballads, folklore in natural history, as well as information about black and white magic, Western animals, and cattle brands. The index begins on page 259.
Date: 2017
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
Diamond Bessie & The Shepherds (open access)

Diamond Bessie & The Shepherds

This volume contains popular folklore of Texas, including folk dramas, myths, folk music, stories about farming and agriculture, religious folk stories, and information about folk customs, dances and folk art. The index begins on page 157.
Date: 2017
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texian Stomping Grounds (open access)

Texian Stomping Grounds

Collection containing sketches of post-war life in East Texas, including descriptions of early recreations and games, stories about Southern food and cooking, religious anecdotes, Negro folk tales, a first-hand account of a Negro folk play about the life of Christ, and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 159.
Date: 1941
Creator: Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964
System: The UNT Digital Library