Some stories just won't stay buried… This October, Library-ish is getting a little spooky! Join Traci and January as we explore the fascinating world of ghost stories, folklore, and oral tradition. From a restless spirit demanding the return of a stolen treasure to a mysterious hitchhiker on a lonely Chicago road, these stories remind us why people have always loved a good scare. Tonight's four tales: 👻 The Golden Arm — A chilling traditional ghost story about greed, betrayal, and a spirit that refuses to rest. 🚗 Resurrection Mary — Chicago's legendary vanishing hitchhiker, whose mysterious appearances along Archer Avenue have captivated generations. 🦊 Mr. Fox — A centuries-old English folktale about a dangerous suitor, a courageous young woman, and a terrible secret. 🎃 Stingy Jack: The Legend of the Jack-o'-Lantern — An Irish folk legend about a clever trickster who outwits the Devil but pays an eternal price. After the stories, we'll explore their origins, the storytellers who helped preserve them, and the remarkable ways folklore travels across generations and cultures. We'll also discuss the connection between oral storytelling, literacy, and libraries—and why preserving these stories means preserving the voices, experiences, and traditions of the people who tell them. Whether you're a folklore enthusiast, a ghost-story lover, or just looking for a little Halloween atmosphere, pull up a chair and join us! 📚 ABOUT LIBRARY-ISH Library-ish is a monthly podcast hosted by Traci and January, where we explore books, libraries, literacy, and the stories that connect us. Subscribe and join us for new conversations every month! The stories featured in this episode are adaptations of traditional folklore, retold in our own words. We gratefully acknowledge the storytellers, folklorists, historians, and cultural institutions whose work helps preserve these traditions. 1. The Golden Arm Winick, Stephen. (2018, October 19). “Get Ready for Halloween with Jackie Torrence's ‘The Golden Arm.’” Folklife Today, Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2018/10/get-ready-for-halloween-with-jackie-torrences-the-golden-arm/ Twain, Mark. (1895). How to Tell a Story. A discussion of the art of oral storytelling using The Golden Arm as an example. 2. Resurrection Mary Galvan, Jojo. (2022, October 25). “Resurrection Mary, The Hitchhiking Ghost of Archer Avenue.” Chicago History Museum. https://www.chicagohistory.org/resurrection-mary/ Brunvand, Jan Harold. (1981). The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings. W. W. Norton & Company. Beardsley, Richard K., and Rosalie Hankey. (1942). “The Vanishing Hitchhiker.” California Folklore Quarterly. 3. Mr. Fox Winick, Stephen. (2019, October 30). “More Texts and Audio of ‘Mr. Fox’ for Halloween.” Folklife Today, Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2019/10/more-texts-and-audio-of-mr-fox-for-halloween/ Jacobs, Joseph. (1890). English Fairy Tales. Includes a traditional version of “Mr. Fox.” 4. Stingy Jack: The Legend of the Jack-o'-Lantern Library of Congress. (2021). “The Origins of Halloween Traditions.” Headlines and Heroes. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/ Winick, Stephen. (2022). “Spooky Stories for Halloween 2022 on the Folklife Today Podcast.” Folklife Today, Library of Congress. Discusses folklorist Jack Santino's telling of a traditional Jack-o'-lantern legend. https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2022/10/spooky-stories-for-halloween-2022-on-the-folklife-today-podcast/ A NOTE ABOUT FOLKLORE Traditional stories often exist in multiple versions, shaped by the communities and storytellers who pass them along. Our retellings are inspired by these traditions and are not intended as verbatim reproductions of archival performances. Historical references document the stories and their transmission, not the supernatural events they describe.
