Traditions of the Tinguian: a Study in Philippine Folk-Lore

"Traditions of the Tinguian: A Study in Philippine Folk-Lore" by Fay-Cooper Cole is a scholarly examination of the folklore belonging to the Tinguian people of the Philippines, written in the early 20th century. The book delves into the myths, stories, and cultural practices of the Tinguian tribe, highlighting their complex beliefs and traditions. Cole's work provides a comprehensive understanding of Tinguian life, intertwining their mythology with their socio-cultural practices and the significance of these narratives within their community. The opening of the text introduces the author’s purpose and methodology, based on his extensive fieldwork with the Tinguian tribe in the early 1900s. Fay-Cooper Cole shares how he collected and translated the myths and tales during his stay, emphasizing his intent to preserve the authentic forms of storytelling by closely following the language of Tinguian storytellers. The preface outlines the division of the tales into categories such as mythical narratives, ritualistic myths associated with ceremonies, and ordinary stories told for entertainment. This introduction sets the stage for a deeper dive into the rich tapestry of Tinguian culture, as it reveals their beliefs, everyday life, and the importance of storytelling as a medium for conveying values and identity within their society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fay-Cooper Cole was a professor of anthropology and founder of the anthropology department at the University of Chicago; he was a student of Franz Boas. Most famously, he was a witness for the defense for John Scopes at the Scopes Trial. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1903 and became Assistant Curator of Anthropology of at the Field Museum of Natural History the following year. He led the museum's Philippine expeditions, collecting more than 5,000 objects, traveling together with his wife, Mabel Cook Cole, with whom he co-authored The Story of Man. He helped establish the University of Chicago's graduate program in Anthropology and started an archeological survey of Illinois. Cole also played a central role in planning the anthropology exhibits for the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair. He was elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society in 1941.