The records of the Badger State Folklore Society are organized into correspondence, folktales, and an artificial subject file containing all remaining papers.
The correspondence, 1946-1956, documents the Society's initial organization and its internal operation. Founding members discussed the intended scope and focus of the new organization, its affiliate relationship with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, whether to establish regional societies throughout the state or to initially concentrate on the parent organization, ways to solicit membership and to advertise the Society's existence, and the format of a publication program. The correspondence details the Society's efforts to publish Badger Folklore including requests for quality articles from the membership, the problems in soliciting a sufficient quantity of folk material to regularly publish the magazine, and subscription requests from members and other organizations. It also reveals the Society's efforts to popularize folklore by organizing ethnic exhibits and sponsoring speakers, folk plays, and folk dancing. Routine requests about membership are also included.
The folktales, written by University of Wisconsin students as class projects and by folklorists as entries submitted for possible use in the Society's publications, contain essays on various ethnic customs, local legends, place names, and cemetery inscriptions not only in Wisconsin but throughout the United States. They are arranged alphabetically by author.
The subject file is an alphabetical listing of the remaining records. Included are agenda and programs, ballots, clippings, financial records, lists of officers and general membership, minutes, newsletters, nomination forms, notes, organizational information, publications, questionnaires, reports, and writings pertaining to the Badger State Folklore Society.
