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Carol Spellman Fund

Carol Spellman graduated from the UO Folklore Program in 2002 with a focus on documentary video, ethnomusicology, and Irish folklore. Carol traveled to Ireland during 2000 and 2001 where she conducted fieldwork on the topic of Irish women’s contribution to traditional song and music. Her work culminated in a documentary video and paper entitled “For the Love of the Tune: Irish Women and Traditional Music” (https://vimeo.com/201286239). In 2004, an article based on her research was published in “Beascna” through the University of Cork Press, Cork, Ireland.

Carol then joined the Oregon Folklife Program at Oregon Historical Society and immersed herself in work with traditional artists, teaching video production in schools, and recording traditional arts throughout Oregon. Carol was larger than life with a vibrant personality and intense curiosity about people. Her passion extended beyond family and work, to ceramics, Irish and Zydeco dance and music, volunteering in schools, traveling, playing soccer, learning Spanish and French, and art of many and varied kinds. Her life changed again in 2009 when she acquired her beloved Kiger mustang, Tesoro. Carol developed a whole new horse community through trail rides and cowboy/ western dressage while enjoying a deep emotional connection with Tesoro.

Carol Beth Spellman passed away on January 26, 2017. The Folklore and Public Culture Program at U of O has established a fund in Carol’s name to assist graduate students to work in the field that she loved so much.

Spellman Award Proposal Requirements

The Folklore and Public Culture Program invites Folklore and Public Culture Graduate Students and Core Faculty members to submit proposals for funding through the Carol Spellman Fund. Up to two proposals (one from a graduate student and one from a faculty member) of up to $1000.00 each will be funded. Multi-authored proposals are acceptable. In order to be eligible, all proposals must be public folklore oriented and be of direct benefit to graduate students. Funds may be used to support research expenses, conference participation by graduate students, and support of invited speakers among other possibilities. Preference will be given to those proposals that support or feature the use of video or film in public folklore.

Each fall term, proposals are invited from core faculty and graduate students detailing opportunities for utilizing this funding. Awards are for Fall – Summer of the academic year.

Proposals of not more than 1,000 words should follow the format below and will be reviewed by the Executive Committee plus one graduate student:

Title of Proposal:

Name(s):

Indicate Graduate Student or Core Faculty:

Email address:

Summary of Proposal (including public folklore connection):

Timeline and duration:

Budget:

Please direct questions to Director Martha Bayless, mjbayles@uoregon.edu or folkloregrad@uoregon.edu.