11 cubic feet (11 boxes). Felix Oinas, a world renowned scholar in the areas of Slavic linguistics, Finno-Ugric language, literature, and folklore, was a professor of Uralic and Altaic Studies and Slavic Languages and Literatures at Indiana University from 1950 until his retirement in 1981. The collection consists of Oinas' correspondence, publications, and research on Balto-Finnic and Slavic folklore, the relation of Balto-Finnic folklore as compared to Baltic (Lithuanian and Latvian) folklore, the Estonian epic Kalevipoeg, mythology (including the study of spirits, ghosts, devils, and vampires), and the study of Slavic and Finnish etymologies. Finding aid available: http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?doc.view=entire_text&docId=InU-Ar-VAC0253
Robert F. Byrnes papers (1875-1997)
66.4 cubic feet (70 boxes). Robert F. Byrnes next hit was a Professor of History at Indiana University from 1956 to 1988 and served as director of the Russian and East European Institute at IU from 1959-1962 and 1971-1975. Byrnes specialized in the study of Russian conservative thought, Russian historical writing, anti-Semitism in France and Europe, the Soviet role in world affairs after World War II, American policy toward Eastern Europe, and Soviet American relations. In addition Byrnes made significant contributions to the development of Slavic studies programs in the United States and the opening of academic exchanges with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
The collection consists of the personal papers of Dr. Byrnes with an emphasis on his work with Radio Free Europe and the Inter-University Committee on Travel Grants as well as his other professional activities and includes research files, correspondence, reports, minutes, manuscripts, reviews, teaching files, films, sound recordings, and photographs. Finding aid available: http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?doc.view=entire_text&docId=InU-Ar-VAB9292
