William Ellis

Bill Ellis (Col ’72 CM) has received The American Folklore Society’s Lifetime Scholarly Achievement Award for 2023.  The Society’s highest accolade, this award is bestowed annually to a living senior scholar in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments over the course of a career.  In presenting the award, the AFS noted Dr. Ellis’s important contributions to the understanding of contemporary (or urban) legends, of rumor-panics, and of conspiracy theories, as well as his application of traditional folklore concepts to Internet-based discourse.  In addition to his four books, the society recognized his very wide range of publications on topics including American folk and popular song, Appalachian folktales, UFO lore, foodways, Internet games, and Japanese anime.  Ellis also edited or co-edited six volumes of the standard edition of the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, dealing with the author’s letters and private notebooks.