"Folklore of Student Life" holds the accumulated wisdom and wit of several IU undergraduate classes and of a good many IU undergraduates, all focused upon the folklore -- those shared avenues of creativity and expression -- that is part of the college experience at Indiana University. This website is a joint production of Prof John McDowell and his students in a number of undergraduate classes
Conversation 2: “The Showalter Fountain” Tracy: “I need to find some legends about this campus.” Tanya: “Tell about the legend of the mermaid in the fountain. You’ve heard the story right?” Tracy: Um, refresh my memory.” Tanya: “My friend told Continue Reading …
Today, people in my classes were talking about a ghost that haunts the Career Development Center. They were saying that if you basement late night you can hear him moving around upstairs. Another student then said there is a ghost Continue Reading …
Tracy’s campus legends Conversation 1: “The Chapel” Tracy: “Hey guys, have any of you heard any IU campus legends?” Suzanne: “Um, yeah I’ve heard some but I can’t think of any right now”. Mike: “There is one about the heating Continue Reading …
Collected from Larry Williams, an 18-year-old native of Central Indiana. The interview was collected outside at night with one other person besides the collector present. The tale was originally learned on a hayride around Stepp Cemetery along with a collection Continue Reading …
Collected from Sandy Greesby, a 22-year-old female who lives near Stepp Cemetery. The interview transcribed below was conducted in the informant’s house by Lorne Aubin and published in 1983. Accessed from https://f351jmcd.sitehost.iu.edu/legends.html#l2.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Text: The second text is Continue Reading …
In late August I was contacted by a reporter with a query about this campus legend: “I am a reporter with the IDS and am working on a story about the tree that the chemistry annex building was built around. Continue Reading …
Title #3: No Sturdy Ground (I interviewed my friend Abby Zale, a senior, regarding rumors that the library has been sinking since it was first erected on campus) JF: Hi Abby, how’ve you been doing lately? AZ: Oh I’m ok, Continue Reading …
(The following was taken from parts of an interview between Jonathan Rewe and Kathy Lewis in 1993) JR: … I was sitting in class yesterday when I heard another guy talking about what his friend had done last night. I Continue Reading …
Collected from Yaël Ksander[Text Wrapping Break]October 22, 2007[Text Wrapping Break]Performed for the WFIU Public Radio program “Moment of Indiana History” [Text Wrapping Break]Transcription: While ghost-trackers in Evansville keep on the lookout for the Lady in Grey, an apparition in different Continue Reading …
Title #2: Just Beyond the Elevator (The following was an interview I conducted with my friend Ray Friedman, a senior) JF: Ray, I have been asking my friends about funny or weird legends about the library. However, I wanted to Continue Reading …