author
Fletcher Gardner
1869–1952
Best known for collecting and publishing Philippine folk traditions, this American physician and army officer brought together folklore, linguistics, and field research in work that still draws interest today. His writing ranges from traditional tales to studies of scripts, religion, and public health.
1 Audiobook
Philippine Folk-Tales
by Clara Kern Bayliss, Laura Estelle Watson Benedict, Fletcher Gardner, Berton L. (Berton Lewis) Maxfield, W. H. Millington
About the author
Born in Bedford, Indiana, in 1869, Fletcher Gardner trained as a physician at the University of Michigan. He later served as a contract surgeon in the Philippines and was also an army officer, experiences that shaped much of his writing and research.
Gardner is most closely associated with books such as Philippine Folk-Tales, Mindoro Folk Tales, and Philippine Indic Studies. His work focused on the languages, stories, and cultural history of the Philippines, especially among communities in Mindoro and nearby regions. That mix of medical training, field experience, and scholarly curiosity gave his books a distinctive character.
He also wrote outside folklore, including a handbook on sanitation, showing how broad his interests were. Gardner died in 1952, leaving behind a body of work that connects early twentieth-century medicine, military service, and the study of Philippine traditions.