Who Is the Mother of Folklore? Charlotte Sophia Burne’s Legacy Explained

You clicked because you want a straight answer you can trust and repeat without second-guessing yourself. Here it is: if someone asks who’s called the mother of folklore, the accepted, globally safe answer is Charlotte Sophia Burne. Below, I’ll give you the quick version, the reasoning, how to use it in exams or quizzes, what to watch for (regional quirks), and the backup facts you can cite if challenged.

TL;DR: The Short, Search-Friendly Answer

• Answer: Charlotte Sophia Burne (1850-1923) is widely regarded as the “mother of folklore.”
• Why her: First woman to edit the journal Folk-Lore (1890-1908), first woman President of the Folklore Society (1909-10), and author/editor of The Handbook of Folklore and Shropshire Folk-Lore.
• Authority: Check the Folklore Society’s official history and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entries for Burne and William John Thoms (who coined “folklore” in 1846).
• Context tip: If your course or region uses a different honorary title, follow your syllabus. For general knowledge and pub quizzes, Burne is the safe pick.

Step-by-Step: How to Nail This in Any Context

1. Start with the default answer. If the question is global or not tied to a region, say “Charlotte Sophia Burne.” That aligns with how the UK-based Folklore Society and standard reference works frame the field’s history.
2. Check the context for regional exceptions. Some instructors or local texts informally assign “mother” or “father” titles to national pioneers. Look for phrasing like “in Indian folklore” or “in American folklore.” If a region is named, verify with that region’s standard text or lecture notes.
3. Be ready with a one-line justification. “She led the Folklore Society, edited the journal Folk-Lore for nearly two decades, and systematised method via The Handbook of Folklore.” That one sentence usually settles it.
4. Remember the paired fact for bonus points. If they ask for the “mother,” they might also ask for the “father.” The widely accepted “father of folklore” is William John Thoms, who coined the word “folklore” in 1846 (letter to The Athenaeum).
5. Back it with credible names. Cite: “Folklore Society (UK) records,” “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,” and “history of the journal Folk-Lore.” You don’t need links in an exam; naming the sources shows you did your homework.

Examples: What to Say in Exams, Interviews, and Quizzes

Exam short-answer (global context): “Charlotte Sophia Burne. She edited Folk-Lore (1890-1908), became the first woman President of the Folklore Society (1909-10), and helped codify methods in The Handbook of Folklore.”

Essay sentence you can drop in confidently: “As widely recognized by the Folklore Society’s own institutional history and the ODNB, Charlotte Sophia Burne’s editorial leadership and methodological guidance make her the field’s ‘mother of folklore.’”

Pub quiz one-liner: “Charlotte Sophia Burne.” If they push for more: “British folklorist; edited Folk-Lore; led the Folklore Society.”

Interview or viva (add context without waffling): “Charlotte Sophia Burne is often called the ‘mother of folklore’ because she not only curated and edited Folk-Lore for close to twenty years but also formalised collection and analysis practices-work that gave the field professional backbone.”

If the question hints at a region: “If you mean globally, it’s Charlotte Sophia Burne. If you’re asking about a regional tradition, which region or curriculum are we using?” That shows you understand both the global history and local traditions.

Here are quick-reference details if you need to demonstrate knowledge beyond the name:

Why the emphasis on institutions? Because folklore’s shift from “interesting tales” to a serious discipline needed infrastructure-journals, societies, and methods. Burne operated at all three levels: she gathered material (Shropshire Folk-Lore), refined how to collect and classify (The Handbook of Folklore), and shepherded the field through editorial and presidential leadership. That combo is rare and explains the “mother” label.

Cheat Sheet: Burne Facts, Memory Hooks, and Pitfalls

• Name + dates: Charlotte Sophia Burne (1850-1923).
• Posts: Editor of Folk-Lore (1890-1908); President of the Folklore Society (1909-10)-first woman in both roles.
• Books/works: The Handbook of Folklore (Folk-Lore Society handbook; major influence on field methods), Shropshire Folk-Lore (documentation of beliefs, customs, and traditions).
• Core idea to remember: “Methods + journal + society = ‘mother of folklore.’” If you can recall those three, you can reconstruct her importance.
• Father pair: William John Thoms coined “folklore” (1846, The Athenaeum). Handy duo for two-mark questions.
• Pitfall: Mother Goose ≠ mother of folklore. Mother Goose is a character associated with nursery rhymes and fairy tales, not a historian or editor.
• Pitfall: Don’t invent regional titles. Unless your curriculum names a regional “mother,” stick with Burne for global context.
• Source cue words to drop in an answer: “Folklore Society,” “journal Folk-Lore,” “Handbook,” “ODNB.” They sound precise because they are.

Mini-FAQ: Likely Follow-Ups

Who is known as the mother of folklore?
Charlotte Sophia Burne.

Why is Charlotte Sophia Burne given that title?
She combined fieldwork, editorial leadership of the journal Folk-Lore, presidency of the Folklore Society, and authorship/editorship of The Handbook of Folklore, which shaped methods used by collectors and scholars.

Who is the father of folklore?
William John Thoms. He coined the word “folklore” in 1846 in a letter to The Athenaeum, proposing a replacement for “popular antiquities.”

Is “mother of folklore” an official title?
No formal award confers it. It’s a historically grounded honorific used in teaching and reference contexts, backed by the Folklore Society’s own record of Burne’s roles.

How do I cite this in an academic piece?
Name-check the Folklore Society (UK) institutional history, the editorial mastheads of the journal Folk-Lore, and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entries for Burne and Thoms. If you can access a university library, those are standard references.

Does the answer change by country?
For general knowledge: no-use Burne. Some national curricula informally adopt their own pioneers for local teaching; if your exam or coursework specifies a region, follow that syllabus.

Is Mother Goose the same as the mother of folklore?
No. Mother Goose is a fictional figure tied to nursery rhymes; she isn’t a scholar or institution builder.

Next Steps and Troubleshooting

If you’re prepping for an exam: Memorise the pair: “Charlotte Sophia Burne - mother; William John Thoms - father.” Add one reason for each (Burne: Folklore Society/Handbook; Thoms: coined the term in 1846). That covers short-answer and multiple-choice.

If you need a one-paragraph academic note: Write: “Charlotte Sophia Burne (1850-1923) is widely regarded as the ‘mother of folklore’ owing to her long editorial tenure at the journal Folk-Lore (1890-1908), her presidency of the Folklore Society (1909-10) as its first woman leader, and her role in codifying collection and classification methods through The Handbook of Folklore. Together, these contributions consolidated folklore as a disciplined field.”

If your teacher expects a different name: Ask for the source or specific curriculum reference. Reply politely: “Globally, the Folklore Society and ODNB support Burne as ‘mother of folklore,’ but I’m happy to use the course’s regional framework if there’s a defined local figure.” That shows you’re informed, not combative.

If you’re writing a longer essay: Use Burne as your anchor and pivot to how institutional roles (journals, societies, handbooks) professionalise a field. Contrast with Thoms’s role in naming the field. If relevant, include a short case on how other disciplines use similar honorifics (e.g., “father of sociology”) to teach origin stories.

For quick recall under pressure: Use the mnemonic “B-H-J”: Burne-Handbook-Journal. Say it twice and you’ll remember the talking points.

If you want to verify beyond doubt: Check a university library database for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry on Burne and browse the Folklore Society’s list of past presidents and journal editors. The journal mastheads from the 1890s-1900s list her as editor; the Society’s records list her presidency dates.

You came here for a clean answer you can use. You’ve got it: Charlotte Sophia Burne. Use it straight, or add the context above when you need to sound like you actually know the terrain-not just the headline.