Don Yoder
Don Yoder was an American folklorist specializing in the study of Pennsylvania Dutch folk life who wrote at least 15 books on the subject. He was a professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. He specialized in religious folklife. He is known for his teaching, field trips, recording, lectures, and books. He also co-founded a folk festival in Pennsylvania.
Yoder was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.A. in history from Franklin and Marshall College in 1942. He received a Ph.D in American church history from University of Chicago in 1947.
Taught at Union Theological Seminary, Muhlenberg College, and Franklin and Marshall College before joining the University of Pennsylvania faculty. He is a fellow and former president of the American Folklore Society.
He has written about folklofe studies. He co-founded the Pennsylvania Folklife Society in 1949. In 1951 he was scheduled to lead a 46-day tour of Europe offered through Franklin and Marshall College.
An annual lecture at the American Folklore Society named in his honor as well as a graduate award.
The Folk Cultural Approach of study is associated with Yoder. The University of North Carolina has a Don Yoder Collection of American Hymnody.
