The University of Detroit Mercy Digital Folklore Archive, founded in 1964 by Professors Frank M. Paulson and James T. Callow was donated to the University of Detroit Mercy Libraries /Instructional Design Studio in 2009. The archives is comprised at this point of over 42,000 folklore traditions taken from field notes gathered by UDM (formerly University of Detroit) students as part of their course work in "Introduction to Folklore," Studies in Folklore," "Folk Groups," and "Folklore Archiving. The folklore archive covers traditions gathered between 1964 and 1993. Included in the Archive is the Peabody field note collection containing approximately 12,000 entries from Tennessee and the Southeast.

The online Folklore Archive is searchable by text, title, keyword, location, subject and Boggs number and contains such subjects as: urban legends, ethnic jokes, songs from fraternities, sororities, and scouts, drinking games, graffiti, initiation pranks, superstitions, gestures, riddles, proverbs, customs, festivals and elder lore. Researchers wishing to use the physical collection should contact the UDM McNichols Campus Library research desk at 313-993-1071 to make an appointment.

Grant support for this project was provided by the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET)