Griffith, James "Big Jim"

This interview is part 1 of 2 and was recorded at Jim Griffith’s house in Tucson, Arizona on November 27th, 2015. It was originally recorded for the podcast Tucsonense and covers the following themes:

b. 1935

  • Childhood in Southern California, college at Williams and, in 1956, the University of Arizona. Interest in Archaeology, cultural anthropology, and folklore.

  • First impressions of Tucson and the Yaqui Easter ceremony.

  • Graduate studies and shift in interest towards folklore. Low status of the Southwest and art in academic archaeology/anthropology circles in the 1950s.

  • Studying art.

  • Storytelling, Mexico, jokes, and folklore.


This interview is part 2 of 2 and was recorded at Jim Griffith’s house in Tucson, Arizona on October 16th, 2016. It was originally recorded for the podcast Tucsonense and covers the following themes:

  • Public folklore and academic folklore.

  • Tucson Meet Yourself.

  • Cultural equity.

  • Personal faith and the importance of art.

PeopleAengus Anderson