Alta Fife

Women in the Arts » Folk Art

Noted folklorist who, along with her husband Austin, chronicled the traditions of the Mormon communities of Utah and Idaho, providing a critical foundation for future folklore studies. The Fifes wrote five books as well as numerous articles, and although Alta Fife was the primary writer, it is impossible to separate the work of husband and wife. Among their many awards, the Fifes were jointly honored with the Senior Scholar Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Alta Fife was also honored in 1986 with the Utah Governor’s “Service to Folk Arts” Award. Beginning in 1966, the Fifes began donating folklore material to Utah State University. These donations were the foundation of the Fife Americana and Fife Mormon collections, which eventually became the Fife Folklore Archives.
Image used by permission, Special Collections & Archives, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University.