USU Folklore Partners With Grant Program to Highlight Utah Legends

Utah is known for many things: beautiful landscapes, exceptional skiing, unique culture, and its role in shaping the American West. But Utah is also home to a great number of tall tales and legends. Historical markers in the state already bring awareness to Native Americans, pioneer settlements, and the Pony Express, and a new partnership at Utah State University could mean a roadside marker for Bigfoot.

USU’s Department of English is partnering with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to celebrate Utah’s local folklore through the Legends & Lore Marker Grant Program, which helps communities promote cultural tourism through roadside markers.

To help preserve and elevate local cultural heritage across Utah, the folklore program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences has initiated an ongoing partnership with the Pomeroy Foundation — a private, philanthropic organization and the leading funder of historical markers — to provide grants for roadside signs celebrating Utah’s legends.

“Part of USU's mission is to provide outreach to communities throughout the state,” said Jeannie Thomas, folklorist and professor of English. “People want to tell their stories, and the USU folklore program is here to help with that.”

Thomas initiated the partnership and has agreed to serve as Utah’s folklore professional for the Legends & Lore Marker Grant Program, which will see her review applications from around the state. She will recuse herself from applications created by USU students and faculty, which are limited to 10 per year. Folklore students will assist in the application process, giving them “real-world experience with applied research and grant writing that will benefit local communities,” Thomas said.

Applications are open to 501(c)(3) organizations; nonprofit academic institutions; and local, state, and federal government entities within the United States. For this reason, interested individuals are encouraged to contact an eligible organization, such as an applicable historical society or a folklore society. Pomeroy Foundation grants cover the entire cost of the marker, pole and shipping. Since the program was launched in 2015, the foundation has funded more than 160 Legends & Lore markers nationwide.

Students in USU’s Folklore Program, which offers an undergraduate minor and a master's in folklore studies, are already working with Thomas to apply for grants.

“The students will decide what to document and will work with members of the community on the placement of the markers,” she said. “Given that the application process involves researching and documenting fascinating stories and local folklore for roadside markers, it's work that is also fun.”

The Pomeroy Foundation supports the celebration and preservation of community history while working to improve the probability of finding appropriate donor matches or other life-saving treatments for blood cancer patients. Located in Syracuse, New York, the foundation has awarded more than 2,100 grants to mark significant events in history, transportation, food, folklore and more with historical markers in 48 states and Washington, D.C.

To learn more, visit https://www.wgpfoundation.org/