Oral Histories

Interview of Wayland D. Hand

UCLA professor of folklore and director of the UCLA Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore and Mythology.
Subtitle:
The Development of Folklore Studies at UCLA
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
UCLA and University of California History
UCLA Faculty
Biographical Note:
UCLA professor of folklore and director of the UCLA Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore and Mythology.
Interviewer:
Moser, J. Irene
Interviewee:
Hand, Wayland D.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Abstract:
Birth during family's stay in New Zealand; childhood in Utah after family's return to United States; devout Mormon upbringing; mission to Germany, 1927-29; study at University of Utah and University of Chicago; work in German literature and folklore under Archer Taylor; Gustave O. Arlt; teaching at UCLA, 1937-74; development of Folklore and Mythology Group; cofounder Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore and Mythology, 1961; D. K. Wilgus; relations with music and anthropology departments; Walter Starkie; support from Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy; future of folklore studies; analysis of approaches to study of folklore; involvement in associations of international folklorists; building folklore collection in UCLA library; comparison of UCLA library collection in folklore with other collections in United States and Europe; Wilbur J. Smith; Brown collection of North Carolina folklore; political interests; Helen Gahagan Douglas campaign; Woody Guthrie; students and politics on campus; Angela Davis case; relations with Arlt.