Dean S. Fansler

Dean S. Fansler was an American folklorist and scholar renowned for his work in collecting and documenting Filipino folklore. Born in 1885, Fansler pursued an academic career that led him to become deeply invested in the cultural narratives of the Philippines. He is best known for his role in compiling and analyzing Filipino folktales, a less-explored area of world folklore at the time. His most significant contribution is the book 'Filipino Popular Tales,' which was published in 1921. This collection brought to light many traditional stories, including tales like 'The Monkey and the Crocodile,' thereby playing a crucial role in preserving the oral traditions of the Philippines. Fansler's work provided a scholarly framework for understanding the cultural and historical contexts of these tales, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in the field of folklore studies.