Category: American Folklore

Captain Kidd (1645–1701) In British and American history and folklore, popular name of William Kidd, privateer. Born in Scotland, Kidd came to New York City,…

Calamity Jane (1848–1903) In U.S. history and folklore, popular name for Martha Jane Canary, noted for her marksmanship, who dressed as a man. She got…

Buffalo Bill (1846–1917) In American history and folklore, the popular name of William Frederick Cody, scout and showman. Born in Iowa, Buffalo Bill’s family moved…

Uncle Sam In American folklore, personification of the United States, portrayed as a tall, lean Yankee with long white hair, chin whiskers, striped pants, swallow-tail…

Howe’s Masquerade: A Tale of Folklore and Defiance In the annals of U.S. history and Revolutionary folklore, the story of Howe’s Masquerade stands as a…

Tommyknockers are Cornish miners immigrated to the United States in the nineteenth century, initially working en masse in Pennsylvania’s coal mines and then, following the…

Stacker Lee (also Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stackalee) is in American folklore, a black man who entered into a Devil ’s pact and brought about his own…

The Devil’s Horse: A Symbol of Superstition in Ozark Folklore In the rich tapestry of Ozark folklore, the term “Devil’s horse” is a colloquial reference…