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A Brief History of Folklore and Mythology at Harvard

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The formal awarding of degrees in Folklore and Mythology at Harvard dates to 7 March 1967, when the Faculty of Arts and Sciences unanimously voted in favor of a motion to establish the Committee on Degrees in Folklore and Mythology, the oldest American...

Senior Theses and Projects

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During the senior year, we expect students concentrating in Folklore & Mythology to demonstrate their command of cultural theory and analysis. All students will complete one of three potential senior capstone projects: 1.) an Analytical Thesis, 2.) a...

Special Fields

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Folklore and Mythology encourages close work with a faculty adviser and the Head Tutor in designing the Special Field . The goal of the collaboration is to determine a program of courses that focuses on an area, such as those listed below. These courses...

Secondary Field

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“Folklore is a body of traditional belief, custom, and expression, handed down largely by word of mouth and circulating chiefly outside of commercial and academic means of communication and instruction. Every group bound together by common interests and...

Choosing an Adviser

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An adviser can play a variety of roles in your work on the thesis. It may be more important to find someone who fulfills the roles that are essential to you than to have an adviser who is the leading light in his or her field. Among the roles an adviser...

About

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An Introduction to the Committee on Degrees in Folklore & Mythology The concentration in Folklore and Mythology is a liberal education in itself, and although most graduates of the program go on to successful careers in medicine, law, business, journalism...

The Committee on Degrees in Folklore & Mythology

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Welcome! The concentration in Folklore and Mythology is a liberal education in itself, and although most graduates of the program go on to successful careers in medicine, law, business, journalism, and other pursuits, an unusually large number of our...

Junior & Senior Tutorials

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The Junior Tutorial (FM 98b) The Senior Tutorial for the Senior Thesis (FM 99) The Junior Tutorial The Junior Tutorial, Folklore and Mythology 98b, is a one-on-one tutorial with a scholar specializing in the student’s Special Field; ordinarily, it is...

2025: Magic and Legend: An Homage to Stephen A. Mitchell

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This 2025 event honors the retirement of dedicated faculty member and frequent Chair of Folklore and Mythology, Professor Stephen A. Mitchell. An expert in Scandinavian and Old Norse folklore, Professor Mitchell’s contributions to historical folkloristics...

The Swapna Dev Memorial Book Prize

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The Swapna Dev Memorial Book Prize in Folklore & Mythology was established in 2007 according to the wishes of her husband, and supported by his generous gift. The prize honors the interest that Swapna Dev had in the field and her connection to the Harvard...

2010: Singers & Tales in the 21st Century

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Singers & Tales in the 21st Century: The Legacies of Milman Parry and Albert Lord December 3 - 5, 2010 Further information about the Symposium can be found on the Milman Parry Collection website , including an email address for registration (free) and...

David F. Elmer

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