By Kevin Grace

Molly Gullett is a fourth year History major at the University of Cincinnati and is the Archives & Rare Books Library intern for the 2012-2013 academic year.   Each year, ARB selects an intern to work on one specific project from its collections.  The intern must be an undergraduate of junior or senior standing or a graduate student, and must have taken courses relevant to the project.  Other qualifications include the earning of academic credit within the intern’s major field of study.  The project includes complete processing of a collection, the preparing of an Encoded Archival Description finding aid, and the design and preparation of a web exhibit that highlights the collection.  The project will be completed by the end of spring semester of 2013.

This year’s project is the Southwest Ohio Folklore Archive, donated to our Urban Studies Collection by Edgar Slotkin, professor emeritus of English here at the University of Cincinnati.  For over four decades, Dr. Slotkin guided UC students in the collection and analysis of folklore from Cincinnati and the surrounding region, everything from proverbs and tall tales to childbirth folklore and humor.  These rich materials are a major contribution to understanding the diverse culture of Greater Cincinnati and will be an outstanding source for research and teaching.

Molly’s interest in rare and archival materials began in high school when she worked in the Klau Library at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Her interest was furthered through her employment in Langsam Library’s Preservation Department, where she has repaired books and documents since coming to the UC in the autumn of 2009. During the spring of 2010, Molly co-founded the University of Cincinnati’s Preservation Action Network (PAN), which aims to involve UC students and the community in local architectural preservation projects throughout historic neighborhoods in the city. Upon graduation in 2013, Molly plans to travel and explore graduate programs in special collections and preservation.

From time to time, we will publish blogs by Molly and the ARB staff on what promises to be a fascinating and vibrant body of cultural material.