FOLK COLLECTION 6

Hector Lee Fieldwork Recording Collection

Date of Items:	1945-1947
Collection Processed by:	Randy Williams
Register Prepared by:	Susan Gross and Randy Williams, April 2004
Linear Feet:	.75

Historical Note & Provenance

Folk Coll 6 consists of Hector Lee's fieldwork collection (acetate disc recordings), which he donated to Utah State University. The collection is closed.

Hector Lee completed his MA from Berkeley in the 1930s and became an instructor at the University of Utah. In the early 1940s, Lee, along with Austin Fife and Wayland Hand, conducted extensive fieldwork on the Mormon legend of the Three Nephites, which is why Lee, Fife, and Hand were jokingly called "The Three Nephites" by their friends. In a 1985 Newsletter of the Folklore Society of Utah article, Dave Stanley wrote: " In 1942, Lee published an article: "The Three Nephites: A Disappearing Legend." Lee, continued his interest in the Three Nephite legends when he enrolled in the doctoral program in American Civilization at the University of New Mexico. His dissertation, published by the University of New Mexico Press in 1949, was entitled The Three Nephites: The Substance and Significance of the Legend in Folklore, was the first large-scale scholarly treatment of Mormon folklore. Perhaps as important as his scholarship was Lee's organizational ability. In 1944, he landed a grant for the University of Utah from the Rockefeller Foundation. With this grant, Lee established the Utah Humanities Research Foundation and sponsored research projects by such well-known Utah scholars as Juanita Brooks, Helen Papanikolas, Lester Hubbard, Don D. Walker, and William Mulder. Lee also established the Utah Humanities Review, a quarterly journal that devoted much space and attention to Western folklore in its first few years. Lee's enthusiasm for Western folkways must have been contagious, for a number of writers and scholars throughout the state turned to folklore as an important and vital part of their pursuits. Hector Lee, then, was central as a collector and analyst of Mormon folklore, but he was also an early influence on many other writers who helped establish folklore as a subject worthy of public attention and of professional scholarship. Dr. Lee left Utah in 1947 to accept a position as Dean of Instruction at Chico State College in California; later, he moved to a similar position at Sonoma State College north of San Francisco."

Hector Lee's major publications include The Three Nephites: The Substance and Significance of the Legend in Folklore (University of New Mexico Press, 1949; republished by Arno Press, 1977); Tales of California (Utah State University Press, 1974); and Heroes, Villains and Ghosts: Folklore of Old California(Capra Press, 1984). A well known storyteller, Lee recorded hundreds of folktales and legends for radio broadcasts and other purposes. His storytelling abilities are recorded on Folklore of the Mormon Country (Folk Legacy Records, 1964), which contains stories about J. Golden Kimball and Brother Petersen yarns.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 20 field recordings collected on acetate disc. Inventory information includes title, informant (tradition bearer), and if noted, place and date of interview. The collection can be accessed through USU Libraries online catalog.

Inventory

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 1

Side A: Danish Folk Song (Story of Old Man Courting), sung by Erastus Petersen, December 6, 1945

Side B: Game Songs in Danish, sung by Erastus Petersen, December 6, 1945

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 2

Side A: 1: "Sioux Indians," sung by William H. Staples

2: "Sioux Indians"

3: "The Lonesome Roving Wolves," sung by Noah Steve, Fillmore, Utah, 1945

Side B: 1: "The Sheriff's Sale," performed by Zeke Johnson

2: "I'll Remember You, Love, in My Prayers," sung Mrs. Ernest Theobald, Fillmore, Utah, 1945

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 3

Side A: "The Sheriff's Sale," performed by Zeke Johnson, July 10, 1946

Side B: "I'll Remember You, Love, in My Prayers," performed by Mrs. Ernest Theobald, Fillmore, Utah, December 6, 1945

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 4

Sides A & B: Nephite Stories told by Mrs. Irwin (Lydia) Fisher, Bountiful, Utah, February 10, 1946 (CD transfer of record avaialbe for listening)

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 5

Side A & B: Nephite Stories told by Mrs. Irwin (Lydia) Fisher, Bountiful, Utah, February 10, 1946 (CD transfer of record avaialbe for listening)

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 6

Side A: 1: "The Jealous Lover," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah, 1946

2: "Sweet Betsy from Pike," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah, 1946

Side B: 1: "Poker Bill," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah, 1946

2: "Delicious," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah, 1946

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 7

Side A: 1: "Sioux Indians," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah

2: "Sweet Betsy from Pike," sung by Will H. Staples, Kanosh, Utah

Side B: 1: "Yavapai Pete," sung by Joe Baker, Green River, Utah

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 8

Side A: 1: "The Farmer's Cursed Wife," sung by Joe Baker, Green River, Utah

2: "When the Work's All Done This Fall," performed by Joe Baker, Green River, Utah

Side B: 1: "Barbara Allen," sung by Joy Mays

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 9

Side A: 1: Danish Courting Song, sung by Erastus Petersen, December 6, 1945

Side B: 1: Continuation of Danish Courting Song, sung by Erastus Petersen, December 6, 1945

2: Game Song: "Tievan, Tievan…" performed by Erastus Petersen, December 6, 1945

FOLK COLL 6, Box 1, no. 10

Side A: Nephite Story, told by Mrs. Jesse L. Barker, May 12, 1946

Side B: Nephite Story, told by Mrs. Jesse L. Barker: May 12, 1946

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 11

Side A: 1: "The Mistletoe Bough," sung by Mrs. Caroline Jensen (86), Logan, Utah, May 15, 1946

2: "Brigham is Our Leader," sung by Mrs. Caroline Jensen, Logan, Utah, May 15, 1946

Side B: 1: "The Seven Kings' Daughters," sung by Mrs. Caroline Jensen, Logan, Utah, May 15, 1946

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 12

Side A: "The Little Pleader," sung by Mrs. Caroline Jensen, Logan, Utah, May 15, 1946

Side B: "Our Boys Have Served In Their Country's Call," written and performed by Erastus Petersen, 1947

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 13

Side A: Nephite Story, told by Mary B. Lowe, May 18, 1946

Side B: Nephite Story, told by Margaret C. Nielsen, Logan, Utah, May 18, 1946

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 14

Side A: Scandinavian dialect stories: Ole Olsen story about a "literal descendant," told by Petie Bishop

Side B: Scandinavian dialect stories: "Planning a funeral," told by Petie Bishop

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 15

Side A: Tall Tales from Moab, Utah, told by Joe Tassoni, April, 1947

Side B: "Barbara Allen," sung by Joy S. Mays, April, 1947

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 16 (Also duplicated to CD)

Side A: "Danish Courting Song," sung by Erastus H. Petersen, May 2, 1947

Side B: 1: Danish Lullaby, sung by Erastus H. Petersen, May 2, 1947

2: Chimney Sweep Song, sung by Erastus H. Peterson, May 2, 1947

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 17

Side A: Introduction to "Blue Mountain" song, by Judge F.W. Keller

Side B: "Blue Mountain," sung by Judge F.W. Keller

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 18

Side A: "Blue Mountain," sung by Judge F.W. Keller

Side B: "Blue Mountain," sung by Judge F.W. Keller

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 19

Side A & B: Juegos de Niños (children's Games), performed by Elena Torres, recorded by Ned Davison

FOLK COLL 6, Box 2, no. 20

Side A: Canciones de Cuna (lullabies), sung by Elena Torres, recorded by Ned Davison

Side B: Fray Ambrosia (counting out rhymes), performed by Elena Torres, recorded by Ned Davison

Fife Folklore Archives Home

For reference questions: randy.williams@usu.edu or phone (435) 797-3493.
Fife Folklore Archives, Utah State University Libraries, Logan Utah 84322-3000