Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
Norine Dresser Folklore collection
Dresser, Norine
UUS_Folk Coll 079
3.5 linear feet
6 boxes
1967-2024
This collection contains photographic images and other objects related to folklore and popular culture.
English
.
Libraries and archives collect and preserve a broad spectrum of material. Some materials in the USU Libraries' collections contain sensitive or harmful content. This collection has been identified as having such content. You may submit feedback on such content here. For USU Libraries' full statement on sensitive or harmful, content, please visit this page.
This collection includes a lifetime collection of about 3,000 folklore slides, 4 DVDs, 1 film, scrapbook, wooden box of Roman nails (83-87 AD), and 1 book authored by Ms. Dresser. Major subject areas of the slides include wedding rituals and traditions, new year celebrations, coming of age rituals, grief and mourning rituals, healing and luck rituals, world sacred music, festivals, harvest traditions, Kwanzaa celebrations, memorials, ceremonies, folk art, family celebrations, tools for peace, altars, dance festivals, and vampire memorabilia from all over the world. There is an index of the slides.
Norine Dresser received a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA, then taught for 20 years at California State University, Los Angeles. She authored numerous published books and articles and wrote the 8-year award-winning Los Angeles Times column, Multicultural Manners. She is a member of the American Folklore Society, the Authors Guild, Western States Folklore Society, Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, International Society for Anthrozoology, International Society for Contemporary Legend Research, Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, and Writers Guild of America, West.
Norine Dresser is a noted vampire scholar, writing several books on the topic and participating as a guest scholar of the Ministry of Tourism at the groundbreaking 1995 First World Dracula Congress in Romania. She also became a committee member for "Dracula 97," celebrating the centennial publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula. As a recognized authority on vampires and a card-carrying member of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula and Patron of the Vampire Empire, Dresser consulted and made many media appearances about the phenomenon on such venues as HBO, KCBS, The Learning Channel, Fox Family TV, UPN-TV, KNBC-TV, the Sci-Fi Channel and the Women's Entertainment Channel.
She also helped organize and curate the Gallery of Folklore & Popular Culture, highlighting aspects of folklore through objects, art, and material culture of many places and times. (Information gathered from norinedresser.com and flpcgallery.org)
This collection is arranged in three series determined by the type of material. Series I, comprising the bulk of the collection, contains photographic images on slides, organized by the Dresser's original numbering system. Series II includes physical materials and artifacts. Series III includes digital files on USB drives and CDs.
No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Norine Dresser Collection must be obtained from the Folklore Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Initial Citation: Norine Dresser Folklore collection UUS_Folk Coll 079. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations: UUS_Folk Coll 079, USUSCA.
These materials were donated to USU Special Collections by Norine Dresser in 2024.
Folklore and Folklife
Multiculturalism
Series I: Norine Dresser Slide Photographs
1967-2014
A: Chinese Food in L.A. CA
1967
1
A1-A25
B: Festival of American Folklife Wash. D.C.
1973
1
B1-B83
C: LOVE-IN L.A. CA
1967
1
C1-C33
missing C3, C6
D: Candelas Guitar Makers
1967
1
D1-D16
E: Chilean Empanadas made in L.A.
1967
1
E1-E13
F: Blessing of the Animals 1967 L.A.
1967
1
F1-F38
missing F34
G: Scottish Highland Games Santa Monica L.A. 1971
1971
1
G1-G35
H: Bar Mitzvah Mark Dresser 1965
1965
1
H1-H74
missing H7, H25
I: Bulgarian Yogurt Making in L.A.
1967
1
I1-I14
J(1): Mary's day at Immaculate Heart College L.A. 1967
1967
1
J(1)1-J(1)35
J: Vampire Memorabilia
1978-1990, bulk 1990
1
J1-J97
K: Japanese Children's Music Lessons in L.A.
1967
1
K2-K28
L: Japanese Martial Arts Classes
1967
1
L1-L13
M: Japanese Barber Shop
1967
1
M1-M7
N: Japanese Acupuncture Office of Dr. Yamane
1967
1
N1-N11
O: Chinese Drum + Bugle Corp on Parade
1967
1
O1-O16
P: Greek Independence Day 1967 Celebration
1967
1
P1-P16
Q: Greek Deli 1967
1967
1
Q1-Q11
R: Greek Gift Shop 1967
1967
1
R1-R10
S: Mexican Children's Dance Class
undated
1
S1-S11
T: Botanica (Mexican herb shop)
undated
1
T1-T11
U: Mexican Gang Graffiti
undated
1
U1-U17
missing U2
V: Jewish Passover Seder 1967
1967
1
V1-V9
W: Celebrating U.S. Citizenship of Amir Sharefi(?) from Iran
undated
1
W1-W33
X: Mariachi Band Rehearsal 1967 E. Los Angeles, CA
1967
1
X1-X13
Y: Hawaiian Dance 1967
1967
1
Y1-Y5
Z: Hawaiian-Themed Party
undated
1
Z1-Z12
AA: Southeast Indian Music Lessons on Sitar
undated
1
AA1-AA9
BB: Jan Steward - Studio - Specializes in art of S.E. Asia
undated
1
BB1-BB5
CC: Middle Eastern Musicians
undated
1
CC1-CC5
DD: Children's Birthday Party Native American Theme
1962
1
DD1-DD11
EE: Haym Solomon Statue
2003
1
EE1-EE21
missing EE18, includes EE8A and EE8B
FF: Mask Collection of Norine Dresser (Partial)
2000
1
FF1-FF35
GG: I Love L.A. - Suprise party for Virginia Crane - 2002
2002
1
GG1-GG8
II: Norine Dresser + Kay Hardman Enell Signing Contract for Uptown - w/ Bob Goldfardt agent - 1979
1979
1
II1-II4
JJ: 100th birthday party of Joseph (Joe) Besbeck Jeweler 2002
2002
1
JJ1-JJ18
JJJ: Friday Night Sings
1967
1
JJJ1-JJJ8
KK: Korean Drummer at home w/ traditional drum (late 1960s)
undated
1
KK1-KK5
LL: Wedding of Lita Rocha (former nun) + Ken __? (Former protest art seminarian)
1967
1
LL1-LL6
MM: Mexican food caterers - Santa Barbara Tom + Mary Camarqo
1967
1
MM1-MM6
NN: Renaissance Fair San Fernando Valley (suburb of Los Angeles)
1967-1968
1
NN1-NN11
OO: Smithsonian Foodways Research Town in CA
1967-1974
1
OO1-OO16
PP: Grand Central Market L.A. 1967
1967
1
PP1-PP3
QQ: Black Speech Project
1971
1
QQ1-QQ58
RR: Myanmar DAY Pasadena, CA, Pacific Asia Museum 2003
2003
1
RR1-RR24
SS: Friendship Day Camp Los Angeles
1967
1
SS5-SS21
TT: Mexican Dance Class of Ms. Pulido UCLA 1970(?)
1970
1
TT1-TT10
UU: Teenage Fair - Mar. 67
1967
1
UU1-UU22
missing UU14, UU15, UU18
VV: May Festival 1967 Ivanhoe School Los Angeles
1967
1
VV1-VV14
WW: Christmas Eve Ritual Began - 1969 Lasted 20 years +-
1982
1
WW1-WW11
missing WW3-WW5
XX: Chinese American Pins + Patches (WWII)
1984
1
XX1-XX12
YY: Porphyria Symptoms
undated
1
YY1-YY20
also might want to add a warning to this collection that some slides might be disturbing
Belly Masks
1989-1992
1
100-112
Indian Bangle Bracelets
1998-1999
1
113, 333-334
Birth Rituals
1998-1999
1
114-119, 294-296
Coming of Age Rituals
1998
1
120-134
Weddings Multi-Cultural
1998-1999
1
135-148
Hmong, New Year's Celebration
1998-1999
1
149-169
Mendhi
1998
1
170
Natural Death Care Project
undated
1
171-187
AIDS Quilt
1999
1
188-197
Day of the Dead
1998-1999
1
198-204
GRIEF Rituals + Artifacts
1998-1999
1
205-220
Healing, Luck, Protection
1998-1999
1
221-253
HMONG New Year Traditions Wooden Top Competitions
1998-1999
1
254-262
Hmong New Years Dancers
1998
1
263-268
Hmong Needlework Story Cloths
1998
1
269-271
Goddess of Hip - Collection of Affirmations + Artifacts from well-wished prior to left hip replacement
1999
1
272-293
CHINESE CHING Ming Festival (To Honor THE Dead)
1999
1
279-308
Surfer Shack
1999
1
309-315
Jewish Death Rituals
1999
1
317-327
Yellow Ribbons (for Latino hostages in Serbia)
1999
1
328-332
Japanese Organic Cranes
1999
1
335-336
Iranian Artifacts
1999
1
339-341
Amish
1999
1
342-358
Orthodox Jewish Neighborhood Boro Park Brooklyn, NY
1999
1
359-366
Balinese Festival of Music
undated
1
367-369
Cook Islands Festival of World Sacred Music
undated
1
370-381
Samoa - Festival of Sacred Music
undated
1
382-387
Hawaiian Crafts on Display in L.A., CA
undated
1
389-408
IRANIAN Mehregan (Harvest Festival)
1999
1
409-453
South Pacific Island Dancers
undated
1
456-460
Guelaguetza in (LA)
1999
1
461-479
Sephardic(?) Arts Festival
1999
1
480-484
Guelaguetza Oaxaca (continued)
1999
1
485
Jewish Sephardic Arts Festival (continued)
1999
1
486-491
Guelaguetza (continued)
1999
1
492-497
Tibetan New Year
1999
1
498-506
Hmong New Year
1999
1
507
MAUI, HI
1999
1
508-518
Iranian Mehregan
1999
1
519-539
Iranian New Year
1999
1
540-541
KWANZAA
1999
1
542-656
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
1999
1
566-597
Japanese Lucky Cats Maneki-Neko
2000
1
598-605
Epiphany, 3 Kings 12th Night
2000
1
606-620
Japanese Kenneki Hal - 60th Birthday
2000
1
621-623
Mexican Quinceanera Mural
2000
1
624-626
Millenium Party Artifacts
2000
1
627-629
Hawaiian Maui Christmas
2000
1
630-667
Cambodian Folk Medicine - Scratch the Wind
undated
1
668-669
Scottish Bobby Burns Birthday
2000
1
670-691
Thailand Town
2000
1
692-715
Vietnamese Altar in Manicure Shop
2000
1
716-719
Yaqui Easter Cascarones
2000
1
720-721
Chinese + Vietnamese Pummelos
2000
1
723-725
Chinese Artifacts
2000
1
726-732
Croning Ceremony
2000
1
733-744
Armenian Agra Hadig First Tooth Ceremony
2000
1
745-746
Croning Ceremony (continued)
2000
1
747-766
Chinese Year of the Dragon
2000
1
767-768
Mexican American flower making for Quinceanera
2000
1
768a-797
Mormon Glass Grapes
2000
1
798-800
Japanese Daruma Doll
2000
1
801-803
Chinese Moon Festival
2000
1
804-819
Chinese (Taiwanese) Creature Strings Shop
2000
1
820-837
Japanese New Year Oshogatsu
2001
1
838-878
Japanese New Year Shikishi
2001
1
879-920
Tibetan Mandala for Peace
2001
1
921-934
Hanukkah Beany Babies of Chinese Zodiac Dolls
2001
1
935-950
Jewish Hanukah Party - Ohr Hatorah
2001
1
951-967
Jewish Hanukkah Gingerbread House
2001
1
968-972
Japanese New Year Celebration + Sake Ceremony
2001
1
973-983
Spanish Wax Milagros (leg?)
2001
1
984-986
Orthodox Jewish ERUV Pennant
2001
1
987-988
Vietnamese Lunar New Year Display Tet
2001
1
989-992
Muslim Public Sign for Ramadan
2001
1
993
Memorial Ceremony for Vilma Machette
2001
1
994-1002
Catholic Blessing of the Running Shoes
2001
1
1003-1069
Mexican/Latino Quinceanera Decorations for Sale
2001
1
1070-1080
Pinatas - Mexican + Cuban
2001
1
1081-1100
missing 1089-1098 from both slides and index
Chinese Amulet with Jesus
2001
1
1101
Little India in California
2001
1
1102-1124
Little India Bangle Bracelet Bazaar
2001
1
1125-1136
Little India Signs
2001
1
1137-1147
Iranian Threading Method of Hair Removal
2001
1
1148-1158
Chinese Artifacts from 80/81st Birthday Celebration
2001
1
1159-1162
Japanese Traditions Korean Food Gyu Kaku
2001
1
1163-1182
Tibetan Sand Mandala for Peace
2001
2
1183-1285
missing 1188
Chinese 8th Decade Party - Judge + Mrs. Wong
2001
2
1286-1289
Cambodian Mock Wedding @ Skirball Museum
2001
2
1290-1306
AFRO-CUBAN ALTARS
2001
2
1307-1330
TAIWANESE HSI LAI Buddhist Temple
2001
2
1331-1354
Blessing of the Animal St. Francis of Assisi
2001
2
1355-1399
TAIWANESE Hsi Lai Temple (continued)
2001
2
1400-1412
Tibetan Mandala for peace disposal area
2001
2
1413-1414
Vietnamese Confucianism Altars @ home of Nanette + Dan Chan
2001
2
1415-1437
Blessing of Animals @ St. Francis (continued)
2001
2
1438-1443
Armenian Festival
2001
2
1444-1479
Lithuanian Fair
2001
2
1480-1532
missing 1488
Day of the Dead - Olvera Street
2001
2
1533-1599
George Harrison Memorial, Hollywood Blvd
2001
2
1600-1638
Tamale Making
2001-2002
2
1639-1708
missing 1690-1691
Rose Parade 2002
2002
2
1709-1724
Blessing of the Animals 2002
2002
2
1725-1795
Armenian Coffee Grounds Reading
2002
2
1796-1811
Ethiopian Food
2002
2
1812-1819
Memorial Celebration for Herb Steward
2002
2
1820-1957
Jewish Klezmer Music
2002
2
1958-1960
Romanian Festival
2002
2
1961-1971
Dutch Truck
2002
2
1972-2034
Dutch Market Jaynel
2002
2
2035-2084
Sinterklaas Dutch Santa
2002
2
2085-3133
Dutch Food Truck @ Sinterklaas Erich
2002
2
3134-3140
Dutch Artesia Bakery
2002
2
3141-3147
Persian Wedding
2002
2
3148-3249
Dog Tattoo
2002
2
3250-3251
Japanese Rice Festival
2002
2
3252-3275
Unity Festival
2002
2
3276-3287
Anniversary of 9/11
2002
2
3288-3316
Japanese Rice Festival (continued)
2002
2
3317-3338
Norine Dresser Office Artifacts
2002
2
3339-3350
Slide Photographs Index
2014
3
1-2
Series II: Collected Artifacts and Materials
"Language is Alive" scrapbook
1971
4
Libraries and archives collect and preserve a broad spectrum of material. Some materials in the USU Libraries' collections contain sensitive or harmful content. This item has been identified as having such content. You may submit feedback on such content here. For USU Libraries' full statement on sensitive or harmful, content, please visit this page.
A collection of examples of "black language" gathered from students/children of uncertain ages who made visual vignettes.
Case containing "Iron Nails from Roman Legionary Fortress at Inchtuthil Perthshire, Scotland, A.D. 83-87"
circa 83 AD
5
Articles related to iron nails
1963, 2024
6
1
"In Search of the Perforated Page"
1980 October
6
2
Selections from the 39th volume of Western Folklore, with a short comment written by Norine Dresser & Theodor Schuchat
"Confessions of a Vampire Calendar Girl"
2011
6
3
Published book containing the memoirs of Norine Dresser
Untitled 8mm film reel
undated
6
4
Series III: Digital Materials
2013-2019
CD: Dutch Traditions in Southern California or Too Much Hay on My Fork
2017
6
5
CD: A Gathering of the Clan (Fraser) 1976
2013
6
5
CD: Tamale Making at Christmas(2 copies)
2018
6
5
Flash drive 1 (grey)
2017-2018
6
6
Files include Norine Dresser, folklorist and Dr Julia Smith of NMSU discussing vampires, viewing Orville Wanzer's The Devil's Mistress, Tamale Making Tradition at Christmas, That's Divorcee: vocal and ukulele (audio only), Too Much Hay on My Fork
Flash drive 2 (yellow)
2013-2019
6
6
Flash drive contains digitized versions of slides from series I but is not comprehensive nor organized by topic or date.