Photograph of a house that is the main offices of the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University

Located at Indiana University Bloomington, the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology is an academic department that promotes the study of vernacular arts and their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Previously, the Folklore Institute and the Ethnomusicology Institute functioned as two separate units but were brought together into one academic department in the early 2000s due to their closely aligned disciplines. Students who are part of this department can take classes that highlight topics such as cultural diversity, different mythologies, and also the types of music that are enjoyed by different cultures around the globe.

White text on a blue background

Since 1791, Washington, D.C. has served as the nation’s capital. It was named after Revolutionary War hero and first U.S. president George Washington, and created by combining donated land from Virginia and Maryland. It continues to represent the hub of U.S. government and remains the central location where American politics is handled. Today, Washington, D.C. is the sixth most populous metropolitan area in the country and has a sizeable African-American population.

Along with the White House and U.S. Capitol, a number of national monuments and museums call Washington, D.C. home, including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington National Cathedral. The city is also responsible for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is celebrated every spring. The event commemorates the March 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees extended by Tokyo’s mayor Yukio Ozaki. The gift was offered to strengthen the budding friendship between the United States and Japan. Interestingly, the first batch of cherry blossom trees sent over in 1910 had to be burnt after they were found to be infested with agricultural pests.

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The American Folklore Society was created in 1888 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by students of folklore. Members of the Society consist of scholars, anthropologists, teachers, librarians, and private citizens from all over the world. The society provides resources to its members to assist them in endeavors that involve curriculum development, museum exhibitions, festivals, and other educational programs.   

Illustration of a woman in a bonnet on a blue background with blue text above and below on a white background

The Sisters of the Swish was an organization that primarily supported the celebration of any given town's anniversary. Members traditionally dressed in the clothing from the time period from when the town was established. It was a social sorority that worked in conjunction with the Brothers of the Brush to coordinate celebration events. Mrs. J.W. Hooker was the leader of the Abilene, Texas Sisters of the Swish. Any woman in Abilene was able to join. Membership was free but members were all required to purchase membership buttons. 

Black and white photography of a cat with black text above and below on a silver background

USBE stands for the United States Book Exchange, which is a 60-year-old nonprofit organization that provides back issues of scholarly journals, periodicals, and popular magazines to libraries across the world. Their website launched in 1995, and in 1997, included information about their at mascot at the time, a grey cat named Greystoke. Unfortunately there is only one solid reference to Greystoke, and it is unclear when the cat stopped serving as mascot. 

Five characters from the movie on a blue background

Star Trek is a 2009 science fiction film that is the 11th film for the Star Trek film franchise, which originated in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The 2009 movie stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, and Zoe Saldana, and focuses on the prevention of Earth's destruction after the planet Vulcan is destroyed.  

Photograph and illustrations of the characters of Star Trek on a black background with white text

The Star Trek Collector's Edition VHS series was released from 1986 to 1991. Consumers could purchase the videos two episodes at a time through a subscription service. There was also a Betamax version that was released of the same collection.

Color photography of Marilyn Monroe in a gold dress in front of a black background

The gold dress shown on this photograph was designed by William Travilla, who was a leading costume designer for 20th Century Fox in the 1950s. This dress was specifically designed for Marilyn Monroe’s role in the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It was a pleated halter-dress made out a single piece of gold lame featuring an opening going down almost to the navel. Marilyn had to be sewn into it as the dress did not have any buttons or a zipper. She was only shown wearing it onscreen for several seconds but she convinced the head of 20th Century Fox to allow her to wear it again to the 1953 Photoplay Awards.

Black and white photograph of Marilyn Monroe

One of the most iconic sex symbols of the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood actress and model who was commonly known for her dumb blonde roles in popular comedies such as "As Young as You Feel" and "Monkey Business." When she had solidified her presence on the silver screen, she decided to take a shot at production, which encouraged her to establish Marilyn Monroe Productions in 1954. "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957) was one of the first pictures produced under her production company. Although Monroe was a well-known success in the public's eye, behind closed doors, she was battling a drug addiction due to depression; which she unfortunately succumbed to on August 5, 1962 when she was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles residence due to an overdose.

Illustration of three animal like creatures celebrating on an orange background with white text above and black text below

Caroline Feller Bauer (1935-2013) was a New York public librarian and children’s author with a passion for literacy and storytelling. “Celebrations,” published in 1985 by H.W. Wilson Company, is an interactive handbook for promoting reading through activities, including games and music. Sixteen celebrations were selected for the book, including Halloween and Grandparent’s Day.