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FOLK COLL 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; updated by Randy Williams, 22 December 2009
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.


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 is cataloged in the Merrill-Cazier Library 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