Legends and Life in Texas: Folklore from the Lone Star State, in Stories and Song

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Collection of Texas folklore and historical anecdotes split into three main sections: "Legendary" Texans; Texas Folk Song and Dance; and Life in Texas -- As We Remember It. Index starts on page 311.
Date: December 2017
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Thirty-three Years, Thirty-three Works: Celebrating the Contributions of F. E. Abernethy, Texas Folklore Society Secretary-Editor, 1971-2004

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Francis Edward “Ab” Abernethy served as the Secretary-Editor of the Texas Folklore Society for over three decades, managing the organization’s daily operations and helping it grow. He edited two dozen volumes of the PTFS series and wrote the three volumes of the Society’s history. This Publication of the Texas Folklore Society celebrates Ab Abernethy’s years of leadership in collecting, preserving, and presenting the folklore of Texas and the Southwest. The prefaces to some of the more memorable edited volumes are included, along with articles he wrote on music, teaching, anecdotes about historical figures and events, and “cultural” examinations of the things we hold dear. In all, these pieces tell us what was important to Ab. In part, these topics are also what was—and still is—important to the Texas Folklore Society. The contents include: Beginnings: the why and the how -- The way things were -- I'll sing you a song -- Reflections.
Date: December 2016
Creator: Untiedt , Kenneth L.; Mort, Kira E. & Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library

Tales of Texas Cooking: Stories and Recipes from the Trans-Pecos to the Piney Woods and High Plains to the Gulf Prairies

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According to Renaissance woman and Pepper Lady Jean Andrews, although food is eaten as a response to hunger, it is much more than filling one's stomach. It also provides emotional fulfillment. This is borne out by the joy many of us feel as a family when we get in the kitchen and cook together and then share in our labors at the dinner table. Food is comfort, yet it is also political and contested because we often are what we eat--meaning what is available and familiar and allowed. Texas is fortunate in having a bountiful supply of ethnic groups influencing its foodways, and Texas food is the perfect metaphor for the blending of diverse cultures and native resources. Food is a symbol of our success and our communion, and whenever possible, Texans tend to do food in a big way. This latest publication from the Texas Folklore Society contains stories and more than 120 recipes, from long ago and just yesterday, organized by the 10 vegetation regions of the state. Herein you'll find Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson's Family Cake, memories of beef jerky and sassafras tea from John Erickson of Hank the Cowdog fame, Sam Houston's barbecue sauce, and stories …
Date: December 2015
Creator: Vick, Frances Brannen, 1935-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Family Saga: A Collection of Texas Family Legends (open access)

The Family Saga: A Collection of Texas Family Legends

Series of family anecdotes, collected from authors across the state of Texas describing general family history, how families arrived in Texas, and experiences related to the Civil War, Indians, animals, religion, ghosts, feuds, historic figures, and various other topics. Index starts on page 349.
Date: 2003
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward; Lincecum, Jerry Bryan & Vick, Frances Brannen, 1935-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Folklore: in All of Us, in All We Do (open access)

Folklore: in All of Us, in All We Do

Compilation of articles about various topics related to folklore organized into five chapters by subject: "The first tackles this issue of folklore and its relationship to history, with some of the articles trying to provide some of that folkloric filler to historical facts. Another chapter focuses on women; one features various types of occupational lore; and another is a tongue-in-cheek look at 'shady characters' such as police officers, politicians, and horsetraders. A final chapter has no theme; it is a catch-all, containing a few interesting articles you may remember from some of our [Texas Folklore Society's] most recent meetings" (p. viii).
Date: December 15, 2006
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Death Lore: Texas Rituals, Superstitions, and Legends of the Hereafter

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Death provides us with some of our very best folklore. Some fear it, some embrace it, and most have pretty firm ideas about what happens when we die. Although some people may not want to talk about dying, it’s the only thing that happens to all of us–and there’s no way to get around it. This Publication of the Texas Folklore Society examines the lore of death and whatever happens afterward. The first chapter examines places where people are buried, either permanently or temporarily. Chapter Two features articles about how people die and the rituals associated with funerals and burials. The third chapter explores some of the stranger stories about what happens after we’re gone, and the last chapter offers some philosophical musings about death in general, as well as our connection to those who have gone before.
Date: December 15, 2008
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library

Hide, Horn, Fish, and Fowl: Texas Hunting and Fishing Lore

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What would cause someone to withstand freezing temperatures in a cramped wooden box for hours on end, or stand in waist-high rushing waters, flicking a pole back and forth over and over—in many cases with nothing whatsoever to show for his efforts? Why is it that, into the twenty-first century, with the convenience of practically any type of red meat or fish available at the local supermarket, we continue to hunt game and fish on open waters? The answer is that no matter how sophisticated we think we are, no matter how technologically advanced we become, there is still something deep within us that beckons us to “the hunt.” This desire creates the customs, beliefs, and rituals related to hunting—for deer, hogs, and other four-legged critters, as well as fish and snakes, and other things that perhaps aren’t physically alive, but capture our interest as much as the prey mentioned above. These rituals and customs lead to some of our most treasured stories, legends, and practices. This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society includes serious, introspective articles on hunting and fishing, as well as humorous tall tales and “windies” about the big ones that got away—all lore …
Date: December 15, 2011
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Both Sides of the Border: A Scattering of Texas Folklore (open access)

Both Sides of the Border: A Scattering of Texas Folklore

Collection of Tex-Mex folklore and related essays, including papers presented at Texas Folklore Society meetings. The book is organized into four topical categories: I. Remembering Our Ancestors, II. Texas-Mexican Folklore, III. Miscellaneous Memorabilia, and IV. The Family Saga (Cont'd).
Date: November 15, 2004
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward & Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Inside the Classroom (And Out): How We Learn Through Folklore (open access)

Inside the Classroom (And Out): How We Learn Through Folklore

Collection of folklore that specifically relate to education, including pieces about rural school houses, day care and scout programs, high school sports and activities, Paul Patterson's contributions to teaching, university campuses and traditions, academic scholarship regarding folklore studies, and many other relevant topics. Index starts on page 307.
Date: November 2005
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
First Timers and Old Timers: the Texas Folklore Society Fire Burns On (open access)

First Timers and Old Timers: the Texas Folklore Society Fire Burns On

The Texas Folklore Society has been alive and kicking for over one hundred years now, and I don’t really think there’s any mystery as to what keeps the organization going strong. The secret to our longevity is simply the constant replenishment of our body of contributors. We are especially fortunate in recent years to have had papers given at our annual meetings by new members—young members, many of whom are college or even high school students. These presentations are oftentimes given during sessions right alongside some of our oldest members. We’ve also had long-time members who’ve been around for years but had never yet given papers; thankfully, they finally took the opportunity to present their research, fulfilling the mission of the TFS: to collect, preserve, and present the lore of Texas and the Southwest. You’ll find in this book some of the best articles from those presentations. The first fruits of our youngest or newest members include Acayla Haile on the folklore of plants. Familiar and well-respected names like J. Rhett Rushing and Kenneth W. Davis discuss folklore about monsters and the classic “widow’s revenge” tale. These works—and the people who produced them—represent the secret behind the history of the …
Date: December 15, 2012
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Celebrating 100 Years of the Texas Folklore Society, 1909-2009 (open access)

Celebrating 100 Years of the Texas Folklore Society, 1909-2009

The Texas Folklore Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious organizations in the state. Its secret for longevity lies in those things that make it unique, such as its annual meeting that seems more like a social event or family reunion than a formal academic gathering. This book examines the Society’s members and their substantial contributions to the field of folklore over the last century. Some articles focus on the research that was done in the past, while others offer studies that continue today. For example, L. Patrick Hughes explores historical folk music, while Meredith Abarca focuses on Mexican American folk healers and the potential direction of research on them today. Other articles are more personal reflections about why our members have been drawn to the TFS for fellowship and fun. This book does more than present a history of the Texas Folklore Society: it explains why the TFS has lasted so long, and why it will continue.
Date: December 15, 2009
Creator: Texas Folklore Society
System: The UNT Digital Library
Folklore in Motion: Texas Travel Lore (open access)

Folklore in Motion: Texas Travel Lore

Collection of folklore stories and personal anecdotes that relate to travel in Texas, grouped into broad topics that include historic and modern modes of transportation. Index starts on page 281.
Date: December 15, 2007
Creator: Untiedt, Kenneth L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analytical Index to Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, Volumes 1-36 (open access)

Analytical Index to Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, Volumes 1-36

Index to the first thirty six volumes of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society. The book is broken up into three parts: Specialized Indexes, Tale Synopses and an Alphabetical Index.
Date: 1973
Creator: Bratcher, James T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Observations & Reflections on Texas Folklore (open access)

Observations & Reflections on Texas Folklore

Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including stories about hunting, warfare, religion, Texas traditions, and other miscellaneous folk tales. The index begins on page 149.
Date: 1972
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
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
Singers and Storytellers (open access)

Singers and Storytellers

Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including personal anecdotes about storytellers and singers, as well as folk songs, myths, and ghost stories. The index begins on page 295.
Date: 1961
Creator: Boatright, Mody C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Singin' Texas (open access)

Singin' Texas

Collected information about popular folk music of Texas, including songs about hunting, love, nature, dancing, and religion, as well as information about the history of folk music in the state. The index begins on page 181.
Date: 1983
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sonovagun Stew: A Folklore Miscellany (open access)

Sonovagun Stew: A Folklore Miscellany

This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society contains popular Texas folklore, including cowboy and gaucho songs, information about boat-making and other folk crafts, religious anecdotes, and other miscellaneous stories of early cowboy life in Texas. The index begins on page 165.
Date: 1985
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
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
Straight Texas (open access)

Straight Texas

Volume of popular folklore of Texas, including tales about the origins of various cities and towns, personal anecdotes, songs, superstitions and other miscellaneous legends. The index begins on page 341.
Date: 1966
Creator: Dobie, J. Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
T for Texas: a State Full of Folklore (open access)

T for Texas: a State Full of Folklore

Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including information about crafts, stories about vampires, stories about peyote ceremonies, prison folklore, folk songs, and other miscellaneous folk tales.
Date: 1982
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Toys and Games (open access)

Texas Toys and Games

Collected information about popular toys and games relevant to the state of Texas, including folk toys, folk games, sports, dances, songs and other recreations. The index of contributors begins on page 245 and the index of toys and games begins on page 249.
Date: 1989
Creator: Abernethy, Francis Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legends of Texas (open access)

Legends of Texas

Collection of popular Texas legends, including tales about buried treasure, the supernatural, pirates, origins of Texas flowers, and other miscellaneous legends. The index begins on page 271.
Date: 1984
Creator: Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mexican Border Ballads and Other Lore (open access)

Mexican Border Ballads and Other Lore

Collection of popular folklore from Mexico and Texas, including ballads, personal anecdotes, folktales of the Alabama-Coushatta Indians and other miscellaneous legends. The index begins on page 141.
Date: 1946
Creator: Boatright, Mody C.
System: The UNT Digital Library