Jeannie Thomas

English

Professor


Jeannie Thomas

Contact Information

Office Location: Logan (RWST 302A)
Email: jeannie.thomas@usu.edu

Educational Background

PhD, English/Folkore and Ethnic Studies, (Ethnic Literature (Language: German)), University of Oregon, 1992
MS, American Studies, Utah State University, 1987
BS, American Studies, Utah State University, 1985

Biography

Dr. Jeannie Banks Thomas is a folklorist and a Fellow of the American Folklore Society. She is the author or co-author of several books including Putting the Supernatural in Its Place (2015); Haunting Experiences (2007); Naked Barbies, Warrior Joes, and Other Forms of Visible Gender (2003); and Featherless Chickens, Laughing Women, and Serious Stories (1997). Two of her books have won international prizes. She recently finished editing Creole Soul, a book on zydeco music in Texas and Louisiana written by the late folklorist Burt Feintuch.
She is the co-director of USU’s Digital Folklore Project, which names the #DigitalTrendoftheYear, and she is an award-winning teacher. Additionally, her scholarly work has appeared in the Journal of American Folklore, Western Folklore, Journal of Folklore Research, Midwestern Folklore, and Contemporary Legend, among other journals.

Teaching Interests

legend, the supernatural, digital folklore, American folklore, folklore theories and methods, folk narrative,

Research Interests

legend, the supernatural, supernatural tourism, digital folklore, material culture, gender

Awards

USU Administrator Diversity Award, 2015

Utah State University

Diversity Award, 2014

Department of English

Brian McConnell Book Award, 2008

Humanist of the Year, 2001

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Humanist of the Year, 2001

Department of English

Kongas-Miranda Award, 1998

American Folklore Society

Diversity Award, 1998

Indiana State University

Educational Excellence Teaching Award, 1997

Indiana State University College of Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Composition Teacher Award, 1991

University of Oregon Department of English

Service Award, 1991

University of Oregon School of Graduate Studies


Publications | Books

  • Thomas, J., (2015). Putting the Supernatural in Its Place: Folklore, the Hypermodern, and the Ethereal. University of Utah Press
  • Thomas, J., Goldstein, D., Grider, S., (2007). Haunting Experiences: Ghosts in Contemporary Folklore. Utah State University Press
  • Thomas, J., (2003). Naked Barbies, Warrior Joes, and Other Forms of Visible Gender. University of Illinois Press
  • Thomas, J., (1997). Featherless Chickens, Laughing Women, and Serious Stories. University of Virginia Press

    Publications | Book Chapters

  • Thomas, J., (2015). Introduction: Putting the Supernatural in Its Place. University of Utah Press
  • Thomas, J., (2015). Which Witch is Witch? Salem, Massachusetts: Putting the Supernatural in Its Place. University of Utah Press
  • Thomas, J., (2011). The Cemetery as Marketplace in Salem, Massachusetts: Fieldworking. Bedford/St. Martin’s
  • Thomas, J., (2007). Heckling Hillary: Jokes, Late-Night Television, and Hillary Rodham Clinton: Geek Chic: Smart Women in Popular Culture. Palgrave Macmillan
  • Thomas, J., (2006). Communicative Commemoration and Graveside Shrines: Jim Morrison, Princess Diana, My ‘Bro’ Max, and Boogs the Cat.: Spontaneous Shrines and Public Memorializations of Death. Palgrave Macmillan
  • Thomas, J., (2000). Ride 'Em, Barbie Girl: Commodifying Folklore, Place and the Exotic: Worldviews and the West.
  • Thomas, J., (1995). ISU's Barfing Ghost Legend: Special Edition of Study Skills for Today's College Student. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • Thomas, J., (2000). Stone Angels, Naked Mourners, and Various Virgins: Statues, Legends, and the Gendering of Intimacy. Contemporary Legend, 3, 127-160.
  • Thomas, J., (1995). Pickup Trucks, Horses, Women, and Foreplay: The Fluidity of Folklore. Western Folklore, 54.3, 213-228.
  • Thomas, J., (1994). Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Postmodern: Folklore and Contemporary Literary Theory. Southern Folklore, 51.2, 107-120.
  • Thomas, J., (1992). The Bighorn Medicine Wheel: When Native American Religion Becomes American History. Midwestern Folklore, 18.2, 56-63.
  • Thomas, J., (1991). Hecate in a Habit: Gender, Religion, and Legend. Northwest Folklore, 9.2, 14-27.
  • Thomas, J., (1991). Pain, Pleasure, and the Spectral: The Barfing Ghost of Burford Hall. Folklore Forum, 24.2, 27-38.

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

Magazine/Trade Publications

    Other

    • Thomas, J., (2009). Barbie Doll: Encyclopedia of Women’s Folklore and Folklife. Greenwood Press
    • Thomas, J., (2009). Ghosts: The Chicago Companion to the Child. The University of Chicago Press
    • Thomas, J., (2005). Gender: Encyclopedia of World Folkore. Greenwood Press
    • Thomas, J., (1998). Postmodernism: Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature. ABC-CLIO

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Teaching

    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Fall 2023
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Fall 2023
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 5700 - Folk Narrative, Spring 2023
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Spring 2023
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Fall 2022
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2720 - Survey of American Folklore, Fall 2022
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Spring 2022
    ANTH, ENGL, HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Spring 2022
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Fall 2021
    HIST, ANTH, ENGL 2720 - Survey of American Folklore, Fall 2021
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Spring 2020
    ENGL 6920 - Directed Study, Summer 2019
    ENGL 3700 - Regional Folklore, Spring 2019
    ENGL 7990 - Continuing Graduate Advisement, Spring 2018
    ENGL 4700, 6760 - Folk Material Culture, Spring 2018
    ENGL 7990 - Continuing Graduate Advisement, Fall 2017
    ENGL 6920 - Directed Study, Spring 2017
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Spring 2017
    ENGL 6920 - Directed Study, Summer 2016
    ENGL, HIST 3700 - Regional Folklore, Spring 2016
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Spring 2015
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Spring 2014
    ANTH,ENGL,HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Spring 2014
    ENGL 7990 - Continuing Graduate Advisement, Fall 2013
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Fall 2013
    ENGL 7990 - Continuing Graduate Advisement, Spring 2013
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Spring 2013
    ANTH,ENGL,HIST 2210 - Introduction to Folklore, Spring 2013
    ENGL 7990 - Continuing Graduate Advisement, Fall 2012
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Fall 2012
    ENGL 7920 - Directed Study, Fall 2012
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Summer 2012
    ENGL 7970 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH, Summer 2012
    ENGL 7990 - CONTINUING GRADUATE ADVISEMENT, Spring 2012
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Spring 2012
    ENGL 3710 - Folklore Colloquium, Spring 2012
    ENGL 6770 - Seminar in Folklore and Folklife, Spring 2012
    ENGL 7920 - Directed Study, Fall 2011
    ENGL,HIST 3070,6770 - Perspectives in Folklore, Summer 2011
    ENGL 7990 - CONT GRAD ADVISEMENT, Spring 2011
    ENGL 6990 - CONT GRAD REGISTR, Spring 2011
    ENGL 7970 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH, Spring 2011
    ENGL 6970 - THESIS, Spring 2011
    ENGL 7990 - CONTINUING GRADUATE ADVISEMENT, Fall 2010
    ENGL 6990 - Continuing Graduate Registration, Fall 2010
    ENGL 5920 - Directed Study, Fall 2010
    ENGL 7970 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH, Fall 2010
    ENGL 3070 - Perspectives in Folklore, Fall 2010
    HIST 3070 - Perspectives in Folklore, Fall 2010
    ENGL 7900 - RESEARCH INTERNSHIP, Fall 2010
    ENGL 6970 - Thesis, Fall 2010

    Creative Works | Other

    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: How It Started/How It's Going/How It Ended, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2020
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: How It Started/How It's Going/How It Ended, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2020
    • Burt Feintuch Library of Congress Collection, Other, Collection of 46,471 Fieldwork Items for the Library of Congress - 2019
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: Greta Thunberg vs. President Trump, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2019
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: Greta Thunberg vs. President Trump, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2019
    • #DigitalTrendofYear: #WhyIDidntReport, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2018
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #MeToo & @AltUSNatParkService (Tie), Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendofYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2017
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #MeToo & @AltUSNatParkService (Tie), Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendofYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2017
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: Creepy Clown Memes, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2016
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: Creepy Clown Memes, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2016
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #LoveWins, Other, Annual Naming of the #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2015
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #LoveWins, Other, Annual Naming of the #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2015
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #BlackLivesMatter, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2014
    • #DigitalTrendoftheYear: #BlackLivesMatter, Other, Annual Naming of #DigitalTrendoftheYear by Digital Folklore Project - 2014

    Graduate Students Mentored

    Steven Merrell, English, August 2021
    Gillian Coldesina-Schroeder, English, November 2022 - April 2023
    millie tullis, English, November 2022 - April 2023
    Steven Merrell, English - April 2022
    Deanna Allred, English 2016
    Tori Fica, English 2016
    Mary Kay Gabriel, English 2010
    Robert MacDonald, English 2009