Joel Rudinger collection
Collection Organization
The bulk of the collection is comprised of student folklore collections. These contain a variety of folklore and folk life resources and vary in size and scope. Many of the projects appear to be complete, while others may be missing some of their original content. Not all of the student projects have the same types of information, but in general they present examples of material culture, foodways, folk culture, folk tales, family lore, and humor. In addition to the organized collections, there are also approximately 15,000 to 16,000 index cards from 1972 to 2003, each with a single example of beliefs, traditions, sayings, legends, jokes, and riddles.
As the majority of the contents were collected and reported by students living in the Firelands area of the Western Reserve region, they represent folklore transmission and variation on a micro level. The inclusion of student essays from 1970, 1986, and 2001 allow researchers to trace changes in lore that may have occurred during the thirty-one year time span. Most popular amongst the essays is the legend of Gore Orphanage, a tale that is well known by many who grew up in the Vermilion, Ohio area. Regional legends also include the Castalia Blue Hole, the Oak Harbor “Spook Light,” and the Maple Grove Cemetery Angel. Other essays track common superstitions about subjects like death, marriage, childhood, and health.
There are forty-five audio recordings included in the collection, primarily of folk tales and folk music. Many were recorded by students as part of their collections, and a number were recorded by Dr. Rudinger himself. In some cases, it was difficult to determine the origin of the recordings and so they are listed under “general audio.” The majority of the recordings are on reel-to-reel tapes, though there are a small number of cassettes. Due to the format, most of the audio recordings are currently not fully accessible to researchers.
Office files, 1982-1999, undated
Assorted syllabi, assignments, and exam information for classes taught by Dr. Rudinger.
- Arrangement
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Five folders, arranged chronologically by type.
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- Creation: 1982-1999, undated
Assorted syllabi for classes taught by Dr. Joel Rudinger, 1982 – 1985, undated
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- Creation: 1982 – 1985, undated
Popular Culture 250 (Firelands Campus) exam study guide, undated
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- Creation: undated
Popular Culture 220 (Firelands Campus) final exam, Fall 1983
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- Creation: Fall 1983
Popular Culture 220 (Firelands Campus) Student Collection Project assignment sheet, September 8, 1999
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- Creation: September 8, 1999
Handwritten assignment sheet, undated
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- Creation: undated
Literary productions, 1968-2003, undated
MANUSCRIPTS – DR. JOEL RUDINGER;
1971, undated;
Two folders, arranged chronologically by type.
First chapter of dissertation, “Wandering the Garden” article.
MANUSCRIPTS – STUDENT ESSAYS;
1970 – 2001, undated;
Fourteen folders, arranged chronologically by subject.
Assorted student written essays on a variety of folklore related topics.
MANUSCRIPTS – COLLECTING PROJECTS;
1968 – 2003, undated;
Eighty folders, arranged alphabetically by date.
Assorted student collection materials.
RESEARCH NOTES;
1972 – 2003, undated;
Thirteen boxes, arranged by year.
Approximately 15,000 – 16,000 index cards containing examples of beliefs, traditions, sayings, legends, jokes, and riddles.
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- Creation: 1968-2003, undated
Table of Contents and first chapter of Joel Rudinger dissertation, August, 1971
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- Creation: August, 1971
“Wandering the Garden” article by Joel Rudinger, undated
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- Creation: undated
Assorted student essays used as examples for later classes, 1970 – 1972
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- Creation: 1970 – 1972
“Believe in a Higher Being” handwritten student essay, March 4, 1975
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- Creation: March 4, 1975
Student essays - Death and funeral customs traditions, 1986, undated
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- Creation: 1986, undated
Student essays - Pregnancy and childhood superstitions, 1986, undated
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- Creation: 1986, undated
Student essays - Gore Orphanage Legend, 1986, 2001
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- Creation: 1986, 2001
Student essays - Headless Motorcycle Rider/Spook Light legend, 1986, 2001
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- Creation: 1986, 2001
Student essays - Health and healing superstitions, 1986, 2001
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- Creation: 1986, 2001
Student essays - Marriage and courtship superstitions and tradition, 1986, 2001, undated
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- Creation: 1986, 2001, undated
Student essays – Assorted Superstitions and traditions, 1986, 2001, undated
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- Creation: 1986, 2001, undated
Student essays – Castalia, Ohio “Blue Hole” legend, 2001
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- Creation: 2001
Student essays – Ouija Board legends, 2001
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- Creation: 2001
Student essays – Urban Legends, 2001
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- Creation: 2001
Student essays – Folk Games, 2001
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- Creation: 2001
Student essays – Assorted ghost and spirit legends, 2001
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- Creation: 2001
Student essays – Assorted Western Reserve regional legends, 2001, undated
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- Creation: 2001, undated
Student Collecting Project – Various pen and paper game instruction sheets, 1968, undated
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- Creation: 1968, undated
Student Collecting Project – Joan Reely Lash, July 24, 1970
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- Creation: July 24, 1970
Student Collecting Project – Ruth Kraus, July 21, 1972
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- Creation: July 21, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Nanci Sani, July 21, 1972
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- Creation: July 21, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Mary Schaaf, July 21, 1972
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- Creation: July 21, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Mary Schaaf, July 21, 1972 (Folder 2)
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- Creation: July 21, 1972 (Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – Kathy Smothers, July 21, 1972
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- Creation: July 21, 1972
Student Collection Project – Jane Wensink, July 21, 1972
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- Creation: July 21, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Debby and Margaret Wakefield, July 23, 1972
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- Creation: July 23, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Debby and Margaret Wakefield, July 23, 1972 (Folder 2)
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- Creation: July 23, 1972 (Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – Dorothy Golden, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Larry Lepard, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Ann Mock, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Ann Mock, July 24, 1972 ( Folder 2)
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- Creation: July 24, 1972 ( Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – Diane Opfer, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Marjorie Rehark, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Marjorie Rehark, July 24, 1972
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- Creation: July 24, 1972
Student Collecting Project – Cathy Hohman, June 9, 1975
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- Creation: June 9, 1975
Student Collecting Project – Winn Biglin, September 20, 1983
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- Creation: September 20, 1983
Student Collecting Project – Tina Ackerman, December 6, 1983
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- Creation: December 6, 1983
Student Collecting Project – Eric Lieber, December 6, 1983
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- Creation: December 6, 1983
Student Collecting Project – Michael Shover, December 6, 1983
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- Creation: December 6, 1983
Student Collecting Project – Lynn Brandts, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Patt Bricker, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Patti Dennis, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Ellen Dubbert, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Debra Logan, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Harrison Smith, 1983
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- Creation: 1983
Student Collecting Project – Donna Katrincsak, December 9, 1984
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- Creation: December 9, 1984
Student Collecting Project – Bonita DeLuca, December 10, 1984
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- Creation: December 10, 1984
Student Collecting Project – Christine Linder, December 10, 1984
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- Creation: December 10, 1984
Student Collecting Project – Jolie Reising, December 10, 1984
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- Creation: December 10, 1984
Student Collecting Project – Carol Wiesenauer, December 1984
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- Creation: December 1984
Student Collecting Project – Catherine Cox, 1984
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- Creation: 1984
Student Collecting Project – Bert and Noreen Fitzgerald, 1984
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- Creation: 1984
Student Collecting Project – Dorothy Konst, 1984
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- Creation: 1984
Student Collecting Project – Unknown, 1984
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- Creation: 1984
Student Collecting Project – Jennifer Kelly, August 15, 1985
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- Creation: August 15, 1985
Student Collecting Project – Sharon Olmstead, December 10, 1986
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- Creation: December 10, 1986
Student Collecting Project – Bart Procter, December 17, 1986
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- Creation: December 17, 1986
Student Collecting Project – Peter Sterk, 1986
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- Creation: 1986
Student Collecting Project – Kathi Butler, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – Lori Kiser, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – Pamela Kuban, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – Jill Nemitz, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – BJ Rowland, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – Dan Traczek, December 7, 1987
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- Creation: December 7, 1987
Student Collecting Project – Michael Bradley, 1987
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- Creation: 1987
Student Collecting Project – Joan Lasky, 1987
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- Creation: 1987
Student Collecting Project – Joan Lasky, 1987 (Folder 2)
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- Creation: 1987 (Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – C. McNally, 1987
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- Creation: 1987
Student Collecting Project – Pamela King, 1990
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- Creation: 1990
Student Collecting Project – Suzanne Cowan, 1992
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- Creation: 1992
Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996
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- Creation: December 9, 1996
Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996 (Folder 2)
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- Creation: December 9, 1996 (Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – Jay Thornhill, December 9, 1996 (Folder 3)
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- Creation: December 9, 1996 (Folder 3)
Student Collecting Project – Marcia Blue, December 7, 1999
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- Creation: December 7, 1999
Student Collecting Project – Terri Jones, December 7, 1999
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- Creation: December 7, 1999
Student Collecting Project – Dustin Meyers, December 7, 1999
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- Creation: December 7, 1999
Student Collecting Project – Branden Wiley, December 7, 1999
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- Creation: December 7, 1999
Student Collecting Project – Valeria Bennet, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – Kristen Dennison, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – S. Joy, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – Tara Peck Timar, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – Marlisa Young, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – Assorted Progress Reports, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Student Collecting Project – Kimberlee Valentine, April 18, 2003
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- Creation: April 18, 2003
Student Collecting Project – Chris Pean, April 25, 2003
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- Creation: April 25, 2003
Student Collecting Project – Chris Pean, April 25, 2003 (Folder 2)
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- Creation: April 25, 2003 (Folder 2)
Student Collecting Project – Kelly Thurston, April 28, 2003
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- Creation: April 28, 2003
Student Collecting Project – Marilyn Turner, April 2003
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- Creation: April 2003
Student Collecting Project – Rebecca Myers, 2003
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- Creation: 2003
Student Collecting Project – Mark Noftz, 2003
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- Creation: 2003
Student Collecting Project – Carla Ontko
Student Collecting Project – Elizabeth Sowecke, 2003
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- Creation: 2003
Student Collecting Project – Thomas Frey, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project – Valorie Osbun, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project –Claudia Whyde, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project – Unknown, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project – Uknown, undated
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- Creation: undated
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1972 – 1983
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- Creation: 1972 – 1983
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1983 – 1984
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- Creation: 1983 – 1984
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1984
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- Creation: 1984
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1985 – 1986
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- Creation: 1985 – 1986
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1986
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- Creation: 1986
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1986 - 1987
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- Creation: 1986 - 1987
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1987 – 1990
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- Creation: 1987 – 1990
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1990 – 1992
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- Creation: 1990 – 1992
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1992 – 1999
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- Creation: 1992 – 1999
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1999
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- Creation: 1999
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 1999 – 2003
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- Creation: 1999 – 2003
Assorted beliefs, traditions, sayings, and legends index cards, 2003, undated
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- Creation: 2003, undated
Jokes and riddles index cards, 1983 – 1996
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- Creation: 1983 – 1996
Jokes and riddles index cards, 1996 – 2003, undated
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- Creation: 1996 – 2003, undated
Handmade paper “Fortune Teller”/”Cootie Catcher", undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project – Various tape recording data sheets, 1968
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- Creation: 1968
Student Collecting Project – Various tape recording data sheets, 1970 – 1990, undated
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- Creation: 1970 – 1990, undated
News clippings, 1999 – 2003
Two news articles and one collection of news sources used as folklore examples by Dr. Rudinger.
- Arrangement
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Three folders, arranged chronologically.
- Dates
- Creation: 1999 – 2003
“False E-mail Promises Free Cars, Credit” Sandusky Register article with attached e-mail example, October 17, 1999
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- Creation: October 17, 1999
“Pearl’s Last Ride” Sandusky Register with typed annotations, March 23, 2003
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- Creation: March 23, 2003
Collection “Kidney Snatcher” folklore sources, 2003
- Dates
- Creation: 2003
Newsletters, 1963 – 1964
Two newsletters, from Huron Junior High School and from unknown camp.
- Arrangement
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Two folders, arranged chronologically.
- Dates
- Creation: 1963 – 1964
Huron Junior High School “Kitten Kapers” newsletter
“Camper’s Chronicle” newsletter, [1964?]
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- Creation: [1964?]
Photographs, 1968 – 1984, undated
Photographs of examples of folk and material culture, assorted sizes.
- Arrangement
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Eight folders, arranged chronologically by subject.
- Dates
- Creation: 1968 – 1984, undated
Material culture (quilting) photo, May 1968
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- Creation: May 1968
Religious iconography photo, June 1979
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- Creation: June 1979
Folk art and material culture photos, October 1984
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- Creation: October 1984
Assorted stone marker photos, October 1984
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- Creation: October 1984
Gore Orphanage area photos, October 1984
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- Creation: October 1984
Photo of “Old House” near Fitchville, Ohio, October 1984
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- Creation: October 1984
Photo of “Toilet Papered” house, October 1984
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- Creation: October 1984
Modern photos of assorted one-room schoolhouses, undated
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- Creation: undated
Audio recordings, 1968 – 1990, undated
Forty-six recordings, primarily folk songs and tales recorded by students and by Dr. Rudinger.
- Arrangement
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Arranged chronologically by type.
- Dates
- Creation: 1968 – 1990, undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Peg Vance, May 15, 1968
- Dates
- Creation: May 15, 1968
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Mary Ledwin, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Sheila Smith, October 2, 1968
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- Creation: October 2, 1968
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Mary Ledwin, December, 1968
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- Creation: December, 1968
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Marji Hazen, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Chuck Junoo, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, December 11, 1990
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- Creation: December 11, 1990
Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, undated
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- Creation: undated
Student Collecting Project Audio – Cassette, undated
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- Creation: undated
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, March 6, 1968
- Dates
- Creation: March 6, 1968
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, 1968
- Dates
- Creation: 1968
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, 1968
- Dates
- Creation: 1968
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, June, 1970
- Dates
- Creation: June, 1970
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, August, 1970
- Dates
- Creation: August, 1970
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, October, 1970
- Dates
- Creation: October, 1970
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, November 11, 1970
- Dates
- Creation: November 11, 1970
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, undated
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, undated
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- Creation: undated
Folklore audio collected by Joel Rudinger, 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Lana Blythe, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Marji Hazen, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Holtzhauser, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, No name listed, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, No name listed, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 600 ft reel, Dave McDonald, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Martha Johnson, December 19, 1966
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- Creation: December 19, 1966
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ben Young and Family, March 16, 1970
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- Creation: March 16, 1970
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Truscott Family, April 19, 1970
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- Creation: April 19, 1970
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jan Ellen Weske, October 30, 1970
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- Creation: October 30, 1970
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Henry Timman, November 11, 1970
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- Creation: November 11, 1970
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jeanine Williams, December 6, 1970
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- Creation: December 6, 1970
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ruth Bartley and Diane Henderson, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jess Begley, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Paula Belch, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jack Beuschlein, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Richard Chase, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Dershewitz, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Dershewitz, undated (Second Tape)
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- Creation: undated (Second Tape)
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Hawks, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Martha Johnson, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Ken Neuenschwander, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, David Peterson, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Gwen Sprau, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, Jane Young and Connie Wright, undated
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- Creation: undated
General Folklore Audio – 1 ½ mm, 1200 ft reel, No name listed, undated
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- Creation: undated