Alan Dundes

Alan Dundes married Carolyn with whom he had three children namely David, Lauren and Alison. His son David is an information technology manager, Lauren works as a professor of Sociology and Alison is a professor of political science and anthropology.

In 2001, he became the first folklorist to be elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Prior to his death, he was interviewed by Brian Flemming, the maker of the documentary, The God Who Wasn't There.

While delivering a lecture at the University of California, Berkeley, he collapsed suddenly on account of a heart attack. He passed away at the age of 70.

Born in New York City, Alan Dundes was the son of a lawyer and a musician. He completed his bachelor and master degree in English literature from Yale University.

After completing his education, he received training to become a naval communications officer. After completing two years of service maintaining artillery guns on a ship in the Mediterranean, he attended Indiana University and received a Ph.D. in folklore in 1962.

Starting his career as a teacher at the University of Kansas, he joined the University of California, Berkeley, in 1963. Here he taught folklore as a part of anthropology. He remained in the same role for 42 years.

In the folklore course which he taught, students were introduced to varied forms of folklore such as legends, myths, folk speech, folk belief and so on. He also gave lectures on American folklore and Psychoanalytic approach to folklore and its history on an international perspective.

He earned popularity at the university for his wide knowledge of cultures. For his expertise in teaching and for his wit and charm, he became a favorite among his students and the media as well.

He also supported New Student Orientation Program at Berkeley University and often gave opening address during the summer orientation programs where students’ opinion about the type of instruction was sought.

Due to his initiative, Berkeley Universities’ Anthropology department set up a master’s degree in folklore program. As part of this program, an archive, which consists of more than 500,000 folklore items, was arranged.

He published his book Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing in 1991. In this book, he discussed about modern folklore which includes T-shirt slogans, ethnic sexual remarks and various types of exchanges shared through office photocopy machines.