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Elaine Thatcher collection, 1799-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Thatcher, Elaine
Title
Elaine Thatcher collection
Dates
1799-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 linear feet, (20 boxes)
Collection Number
UUS_FOLK COLL 081
Summary
This collection contains papers, correspondence, and publications pertaining to the research and career of folklorist Elaine Thatcher.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan. Some slides require a slide viewer to view. Some records may include information such as physical or email addresses for people other than the collection subject, which should be treated with caution.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

In 1983, Elaine Thatcher was the first student to graduate from USU with a master's degree focused on folklore. Since that time she has worked throughout the country, including contracts with the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. She also worked for many years with the Western Folklife Center, which produces the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.

In 1993, Thatcher became the first regional folklorist for the 12 Western states, working through the Western States Arts Federation, then based in Santa Fe, N.M., and providing services and support to folk arts programs and artists throughout the West. She operated a consulting firm, Heritage Arts Services, from Santa Fe for five years before joining the staff of the Mountain West Center at USU in 2001, eventually becoming director of the Mountain West Center for Regional Studies at Utah State University.

In 2006, the American Folklore Society presented her with the Benjamin A. Botkin Prize in recognition of her outstanding achievement in public folklore.

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Content Description

Materials contain interviews and field notes for oral history projects Elaine Thatcher participated in, correspondence relating to multiple folklore conferences she helped operate, official publications relating to folklife in the western states, and some personal records.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Elaine Thatcher Collection must be obtained from the Folklore Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Elaine Thatcher Collection UUS_Folk Coll 081. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill- Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: UUS_Folk Coll 081, USUSCA.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

These materials were donated in batches to USU Special Collections by Elaine Thatcher between 2011 and 2024.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Finding aid created by Samuel Rowles and Joe Kinzer
2025

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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