Retired Folk Studies and Anthropology Faculty

Happily retired in northeastern Wisconsin, Kerstin and I are enjoying family life- three generations worth with children and grandchildren close by. We welcome visitors whatever the season. (Special awards to those who visit us in February for sturgeon-spearing weekend on frozen Lake Winnebago.)

Three major projects occupy my attention these days: pursuing an undergraduate music history "degree" (mostly as an auditor) at the Lawrence University Conservatory and Academy here in Appleton; family history research which makes use of my folk studies because written personal documents do not exist; and my most recent project, a collection of personal essays tentatively titled "Tradition, Memory, and Nostalgia." The work concerns the meanings of folk traditions important in my life and their contradictory consequences--no footnotes, no bibliography, and self-published so I can have as much control over the book as possible. It is intended mostly for family and friends, though I expect it could be used as primary source material by folklorists, the kind of document that a hundred years distant would delight a researcher. Think of the extended illustrations of folk tradition from my personal life that I used in the classroom and you will get a sense of the essays: unapologetically confessional, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, but sometimes helpful and kind of interesting.

Teaching folklore at Western Kentucky was the most satisfying period in my professional life thanks to all, both students and colleagues. I'd be happy to hear from you:

Larry Danielson

330 West Prospect Ave.

Appleton, WI 54911