MSS 259 is a collection of student papers from 1986 to 2000. The papers are organized alphabetically by author within each year. The papers are amalgamations of folk stories collected by the students, with a short biography on the student and his or her source included in each paper. Family traditions, stories, recipes, and personal experiences are some of the topics addressed by the papers. Many papers deal with the experiences of students who immigrated to or were visiting the United States from foreign countries. The papers are an average of 20-30 pages in length, though the size varies widely. The student papers are the result of an introductory English course assignment by Professor Jan Roush where students collect a minimum of ten stories from members of their "families," encompassing immediate, extended, occupational, social, and civic family groups. The stories are compiled with a cover essay explaining and summarizing the significance of the individual saga. For more information, see the enclosed syllabus and writing instructions by Jan Roush regarding the assignment.