The International Society for Folk Narrative Research
The International Society for Folk Narrative Research is a scholarly and professional organization of international specialists in the areas of folk narrative, popular literature, folklore, and related fields. According to its statutes, the Society’s main goal is “to develop scholarly work in the field of folk narrative research and to stimulate contacts and the exchange of views among its members.” Acknowledging developments in the field, this goal has broadened in recent years covering all aspects of narrative as representing the pivotal category of human communication.
The idea of the ISFNR emerged during the first international congress of folk-narrative scholars in Kiel and Copenhagen in 1959, and the Society’s official foundation took place during the meeting in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1962. Since then the Society has convened for congresses and interim conferences, most recently in London in 2022.
Following founding president Kurt Ranke (1962–1974), professors Lauri Honko (1974–1989), Reimund Kvideland (1989–1998), Galit Hasan-Rokem (1998–2005), Ülo Valk (2005–2009), Ulrich Marzolph (2009-2016), and Sadhana Naithani (2016-2024) have presided over the ISFNR. In 2024, the Society elected Prof. Dr. Mirjam Mencej of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, as its current president.
The Society is proud of its truly international membership which includes some 700 members from about 80 different countries.
Honorary Members
Deceased Honorary members
Katharine M. Briggs (1979; died 1980)
Wayland D. Hand (1979; died 1986)
Max Lüthi (1979; died 1991)
Pomeranceva (1979; died 1980)
Tekla Dömötör (1984; died 1999)
Kirill V. Čistov (1989; died 2007)
Herbert Halpert (1989; died 2000)
Demetrious Loukatos (1989; died 2003)
Katharine Luomala (1989; died 1992)
Lutz Röhrich (1989; died 2006)
Linda Dégh (1995; died 2014)
Lauri Honko (1995; died 2002)
William F. H. Nicolaisen (1995; died 2016)
Dov Noy (1995; died 2013)
Jia Zhi (1995; died 2016)
Isidor Levin (1998; died 2018)
Toshio Ozawa (1998; died 2026)
Shirley Arora (2001; died 2021)
Roger D. Abrahams (2005; died 2017)
Arvo Krikmann (2005; died 2017)
Reimund Kvideland (2005; died 2006)
Anna-Leena Siikala (2005; died 2016)
Vilmos Voigt (2005; died 2025)
Viera Gašpáríková (2005; died 2023)
Jawaharlal Handoo (2005; died 2025)
Martha Blache (2009; died 2016)
Rolf W. Brednich (2009; died 2023)
Manuel Dannemann (2009; died 2021)
Dan Ben-Amos (2013; died 2023)
Honorary members
Pille Kippar (2005)
Gyula Paczolay (2005)
Mehri Bagheri (2009)
Robin Gwyndaf (2009)
Galit Hasan-Rokem (2009)
Stephanos Imellos (2009)
Annikki Kaivola-Bregenhøj (2009)
Michael Meraklis (2009)
Éva Pócs (2009)
Violeta Krawczyk-Wasilewska (2013)
Torunn Selberg (2013)
Wolfgang Mieder (2016)
Sigrid Schmidt (2016)
Hans-Jörg Uther (2021)
Bengt af Klintberg (2024)
Margaret Mills (2024)
Ulrich Marzolph (2024)
Ulf Palmenfelt (2024)
Kerstin Louise Johannsson