William Francis Ryan (1937-2023)

We were very sad to hear of the death on 2 November of Prof. Will Ryan, scholar of Russian history and culture, and author of The Bath House at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia (1999). He was President of The Folklore Society from 2005 to 2008, was our Honorary Librarian from 2000-2002, and provided unstinting advice to the editor of Folklore. He will be much missed by all of us at The Folklore Society, who send our condolences to his family.

Prof. Will Ryan with Paul Cowdell, at Cecil Sharp House, November 2006; photo Doc Rowe

Prof Will Ryan presenting Doc Rowe with his Coote Lake medal, Sheffield 2007; photo Paul Cowdell

Published 3rd November 2023