BYU Library - Special Collections

Scope and Contents Numerous legends currently filed in this section do not actually describe the naming of a place. Those that remain include a substantial concentration in Utah and other parts of the intermountain West, including a great many from Star Valley, Wyoming (some brought into this collection by Nancy Kay Wolfley from a 1951 collection by a University of Wyoming extension). Some legends are in historic times, others prehistoric or legendary. Many center on puns, often employing nonstandard English...

Scope and Contents

Contains legends concerning stones, mountains, islands, rapids, and the black quartz pebbles known as Apache tears come into being. Traditions cited include Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Micronesian, Polynesian, Native American, post-contact American, Irish, Danish, and Nigerian. Items were collected by students in folklore classes at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Utah from 1961 to 1995.

Scope and Contents

Contains legends about the origin of products and names of products. Items were collected by students in folklore classes at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Utah from 2000-2004.

Scope and Contents

Contains miscellaenous etiological legends. Items were collected by students in folklore classes at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Utah from 1967 to 2001.