‘The many indications that the study and collection of Folk-lore is now engaging the attention of most countries in Europe make it necessary that this Society, being the first to introduce a systematic study of Folk-lore, should as far as possible work in unison and confederation with similar organizations abroad, and should draw within its … Continue reading Facets of Transnationalism in the Late Nineteenth Century: New Perspectives on the History of Folklore Studies

A.P. Sylvia has long had an interest in supernatural beliefs, with a particular focus on vampire folklore. In his book, Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions, he explores how our modern notions about vampires compare to the folkloric beliefs of the past. His writing has appeared in the Journal of Vampire Studies and the popular Rhode Island blog, Small State Big History. He has been a guest on local and nationally syndicated radio programs, as well as a variety of podcasts. He also runs the website LocationsOfLore.com, where talks about his visits to unique places.

Mason Winfield was raised in the suburbs near Buffalo, NY, the only child of a middle-class family. He was an active, energetic kid. Except for an inquisitive streak, an early predilection for reading and drawing, and that “only child”-thing, he showed few signs of a future author, storyteller, and paranormalist. He did like monsters, though. Books, movies, comics. Except that it could have used a few more monsters, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad would have been his idea of a perfect movie at age seven. Mason’s first brush with psychic phenomena – psi – came during junior high school. A little cult of neighborhood kids played – we do mean “played” – with the ouija board. A gifted amateur psychic taught them about Spiritualism. Mason witnessed several convincing incidents of psi, though he had then, as now, no firm theory about its causes and mechanisms.

A.P. Sylvia has long had an interest in supernatural beliefs, with a particular focus on vampire folklore. In his book, Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions, he explores how our modern notions about vampires compare to the folkloric beliefs of the past. His writing has appeared in the Journal of Vampire Studies and the popular Rhode Island blog, Small State Big History. He has been a guest on local and nationally syndicated radio programs, as well as a variety of podcasts. He also runs the website LocationsOfLore.com, where talks about his visits to unique places.

The American Folklife Center is excited to announce the launch of its new, easy-to-use Botkin Lecture Resource Guide, which gives users direct access to hundreds of hours of world-class lectures on fo...

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