Altogether the students formally interviewed over 23 people, with nine fieldworkers submitting their documentation to the Folklore Program in fulfillment of their course requirements. This documentation forms the foundation of this collection, and covers an array of subject matter ranging from commercial fishing, fish marketing, fish foodways, hunting, and duck decoy carving, to stone building, religious shrine building and gardening, Italian-American foodways and gardening, wild food gathering, herb gardening and medicine, Hmong needlework and herbalism, rosemaling, ethnic identity at a Japanese market, and supernatural tales of the Ridgeway Ghost and other spirits. See below for further information. The collection does not include documentation from Amy Nord, who researched julebukking.
The material is organized by document type and thereunder alphabetically by fieldworker.
Theresa Brandl interviewed Kris Willfahrt, groundskeeper of the Grotto Gardens in Rudolph, Wood County, Wisconsin.
Katy Holmer interviewed Ron and Kathy Mootz about stone structures including the Primitive Methodist Church, a residence, a miner's cabin in Jenkynsville, Wisconsin, and a residence in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, owned by the Lead Region Historic Trust, and Mina Mauthe, a granddaughter of James Lindsay who worked as a stone mason on the church.
Angela Horn interviewed the late Pascalena Galle Dahl's daughter Vicki Dahl about canning and gardening; Pascalena's son Chuck Dahl about sausage-making and farming; Pascalena's sister Nelli Galle Nardi about canning, gardening, and changing foodways; and Nelli's husband Joe Nardi about wine making.
Rebecca Kavanagh interviewed Mike Valley, Prairie du Chien, about commercial fishing, his fish market, fish smoking, hunting, and woodcarvings, including waterfowl decoys.
Paulette Marty interviewed Helga Kammerud Moen of Argyle, Wisconsin, who told stories about the Ridgeway Ghost and other supernatural specters and phenomena she has experienced throughout her life. Jeannie Lewis and Melva Phillips shared several stories concerning the ghost, both historical and recent.
Margaret McEntire interviewed David Milbradt, who grows and gathers herbs; Francisco Dremsa, who grows herbs, collects berries, ginseng, and morel mushrooms, keeps bees, and gathers watercress; Virgil Anderson, gatherer of nuts, berries, and morels; and Dennis Pechan, morel gatherer and maker of maple syrup.
Tina Schinabeck interviewed Lois Mueller of Platteville, a Gold Medal rosemaler. She also photographed pieces rosemaled by Gold Medalist Susan Louthain of Platteville.
Hayet Sellami interviewed Kaonou Hang, a second-generation Hmong immigrant and student at UW-Madison, about her family history, Hmong culture, and needlework. May Thao served as translator for Sia Vue Thao who told about herbal medicines. Blia Lor Yang shared her knowledge of Hmong embroidery and needlework.
Ayako Yoshimura interviewed Tamaki and Kuang Wu, owners of the Oriental Shop, an Asian grocery in Madison. She also interviewed long-time customer Atie Prastowo.
