The Journal of American Folklore is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Folklore Society. The journal has been published since the society's founding in 1888. Since 2003, this has been published at the University of Illinois Press. It publishes on a quarterly schedule and incorporates scholarly articles, essays, and notes relating to its field. It also includes reviews of books, exhibitions and events.

Editors

The following people have been editor-in-chief of the journal: • William Wells Newell (1888–1899), vols. 1–12 • Alexander Francis Chamberlain (1900–1907), vols. 13–20 • Franz Boas (1908–1924), vols. 21–37 • Ruth Fulton Benedict (1925–1939), vols. 38–52 • Gladys Reichard (1940), vol.53 • Archer Taylor (1941), vol. 54 • Erminie Wheeler-Voegelin (1942–1946), vols. 55–59 • Wayland Debs Hand (1947–1951), vols. 60–64 • Katharine Luomala (1952–1953), vols. 65–66 • Thomas A. Sebeok (1954–1958), vols. 67–71 • Richard M. Dorson (1959–1963), vols. 72–76 • John Greenway (1964–1968), vols. 77–81 • Américo Paredes (1969–1973), vols. 82–86 • Barre Toelken (1974–1976), vols. 87–89 • Jan Harold Brunvand (1977–1980), vols. 90–93 • Richard Bauman (1981–1985), vols. 94–98 • Bruce Jackson (1986–1990), vols. 99–103 • Burt Feintuch (1991–1995), vols. 104–108 • Jack Santino (1996–2000), 109–113 • Elaine J. Lawless (2000–2005), vols. 114–118 • Harris M. Berger and Giovanna P. Del Negro (2006–2010), vols. 119–123 • Thomas A. DuBois and James P. Leary (2011–2015), vols. 124–128 • Ann K. Ferrell (2016–2020), vols. 129–133 • Lisa Gilman (2021– ), vol. 134–