Earl J. Stout

This is the sort of book that really makes you regret that you don't have three wishes.

Wish #1: More tunes.
Wish #2: More folktales.
Wish #3: Just plain MORE.

This was the first real attempt at a collection of Iowa folklore, and it has only two parts: folk songs and "folk wisdom," which is really a collection of short sayings and beliefs.

The first is a genuinely excellent collection, containing versions of many familiar folk songs, as well as information about the source and (usually) at least one or two other folk collections in which it can be found. This is truly an excellent resource. Unfortunately, almost none of the items have tunes; it's usually just texts. Hence the wish for more tunes.

The sayings are pretty typical of folk wisdom: cures for warts and colds and the like, most of which probably don't work but some of which might be worth trying. They are organized into categories, and there is an index of key items mentioned in the sayings (e.g. you can look up "carbolic acid" and find that it is connected to saying #937, "Use carbolic acid to keep infection out of a wound" -- advice which is, in fact, correct; carbolic acid was the first real disinfectant).

Sadly, although Iowa must have folktales of some sort, none of them are collected here; unless the item is a song, or is only a few lines long, it is omitted.

So this should not be treated as a collection of all types of folklore from Iowa. And it's a relatively thin book; it isn't absolutely comprehensive even for the two categories it includes. Still, it has the basics that should be found in all folklore collections (source information), and the songs at least are quite good. (There is no way you'll get me to try those folk remedies....) Those interested in midwestern folklore should have this book. They'll simply find themselves wishing for more.… (more)