Date of Award

8-2026

Degree Type

Creative Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

History

Committee Chair(s)

Afsane Rezaeisahraei (Committee Chair)

Committee

Afsane Rezaeisahraei

Committee

Lisa Gabbert

Committee

Caroline Lavoie

Abstract

The Little Logan River (LLR) plays a vital role in the cultural, historical, and ecological landscape of Cache Valley, Utah. Amid growing concerns raised by the Logan River Watershed Project (LRWP), which threatens to alter the river’s environment, this project seeks to understand the significance of the LLR as a cultural and recreational asset through collected oral histories. Building on folkloric perspectives of place-based storytelling, this thesis introduces the idea of vivus locum, or “that place which is alive,” through the example of the LLR to the study of folkloristics. The concept of vivus locum emphasizes the importance of folk speech and folk behavior in identifying and preserving cultural heritage.

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