ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 23, 2007 - ProQuest announces the launch of The Henri Gaidoz Folklore Collection, giving scholars the opportunity to look at the state and process of folklore studies in the mid-19th to early- 20th centuries. From the holdings of the Folklore Collection at the Indiana University Library (Bloomington), these materials in microfiche format are now available to researchers around the world exclusively from ProQuest.

Henri Gaidoz (1842-1932), an eminent scholar, author, and professor, was a pioneer in establishing folklore as a scholarly discipline.   Through years of research, Gaidoz collected more than 6,700 items from two centuries, developing a framework for future folklore researchers.  The Henri Gaidoz Folklore Collection includes personal correspondence, notes, pamphlets, journal extracts, and small monographs, as well as some of Giadoz's annotations. 

"Gaidoz's handwritten notes provide special insight into this content," said Barbara Beach, vice president of publishing for ProQuest. "It's like getting a personal tour of the collection from one of the most renowned folklore experts.  As environments become increasingly diverse, it's more important than ever to preserve records of our cultural past. This collection gives future generations a gateway to explore the identities, beliefs, practices, and stories of their predecessors." 

From ProQuest's UMI® brand, the Henry Gaidoz Folklore Collection appeals to multiple disciplines, especially researchers in the fields of folklore studies, French and francophone studies, comparative religion, history, literature, anthropology and philosophy.  Titles are predominantly in French; others are in English, German, Italian, and Latin.  This collection is available as a complete set or in five subject-based units.  The first four units are now available, and the collection will be completed in 2008.  

The Henri Gaidoz Folklore Collection joins other folklore resources from ProQuest's highly regarded UMI® brand, such as OWL Folklore Collection, an international collection of rare works renowned for their ability to open access to historically important but fragile printed materials.

To learn more about ProQuest news and other products, visit on the Web at www.il.proquest.com or call 1-800-521-0600.

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.