Samuel J. (Samuel John) Sackett

Samuel J. Sackett was an American writer, English professor, and folklorist whose work helped preserve the voices, music, and traditions of Kansas and the wider Great Plains. He taught at Hastings College from 1949 to 1951, earned his Ph.D. at UCLA, and then spent 23 years on the English faculty at Fort Hays State University.

At Fort Hays State, he built an enduring legacy through folklore research. The Samuel J. Sackett Folklore Collection documents recordings he and his graduate assistants made between 1954 and 1977, capturing interviews about folk music, stories, immigration, homesteading, and community life in Kansas and beyond. He also founded the Kansas Folklore Society and served as a book review editor for Western Folklore.

As an author, he is especially associated with books such as Kansas Folklore and Cowboys and the Songs They Sang. His writing reflects both academic care and a strong interest in everyday voices, making his work a rewarding find for listeners who enjoy regional history, folk culture, and the American West.