In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting a collection of Native American and Indigenous myths, folklore, star lore, and storytelling resources that Chickasaw storyteller, author, and activist Lynn Moroney donated to the Butler Children’s Literature Center in 2021. As part of our Ellin Greene Storytelling Collection, these resources provide an opportunity to explore the storytelling traditions of Indigenous communities, discover the tales and teachings passed down through generations, and understand the value of storytelling for artistic expression and cultural preservation.

Born in Duncan, Oklahoma, Lynn Moroney spent her life and career proudly honoring her Chickasaw heritage. She studied storytelling under Te Ata Thompson Fisher, a renowned Chickasaw storyteller and performer, who passed along several traditional stories to her. Moroney became known for sharing Native American sky lore, inspired by her belief that Oklahoma’s Indigenous star stories deserved to be told alongside familiar Greek and Roman myths. Through collaborations with organizations including NASA and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, she helped develop educational materials that brought astronomy and Indigenous storytelling together. As an author, she shared these traditions through several children’s books, including Baby Rattlesnake, a Chickasaw story about jealousy and forgiveness. Through her performances, books, and educational work, Moroney helped preserve and share her heritage while introducing new generations to the richness of Indigenous storytelling. Her generous donation to the Butler Children’s Literature Center ensures that her passion for the empowering nature of oral traditions continues, providing librarians, educators, and readers with an introduction to essential storytelling skills, literary analysis, and the myths and folklore that shape children’s literature today.

Inside the Collection

Originally part of a much larger personal library, approximately 150 books from Lynn Moroney’s donation are now housed in the Butler Center’s Ellin Greene Storytelling Collection. These materials offer global perspectives on the natural world and the cosmos, with an emphasis on three primary content areas:

• Native American Mythology and Folklore: Forming the core of the donation, these titles provide information about Indigenous storytelling, oral traditions, and history.
• World Mythology & Folklore: Organized by country and region, these resources feature non-Native legends, myths, and folk tales from across the globe.
• Star Lore: Including both Native American and non-Native perspectives, these resources explore constellations and celestial stories.

The collection also includes books about the art of storytelling, providing an accessible introduction to techniques that bring stories to life, from tone and pacing to body language and literary analysis. Our Lynn Moroney Collection Pick of the Week is Storytelling Folklore Sourcebook by Norma J. Livo and Sandra A. Rietz. Organized into sixteen distinct sections, this guide explores key terms, characters, and themes from diverse folk cultures and narratives. For parents and educators looking to refine their storytelling skills, the book clarifies the storyteller’s critical role in conveying a story’s symbolism and lessons. Alongside its information on storytelling and story analysis, a robust “Story Activities” section explores games, calendar customs, superstitions, and prognostication practices as reenactments of work, daily life, war, politics, and historical events. By understanding the nuances of storytelling techniques, librarians, educators, and other adults can foster authentic, culturally responsive engagement with literature among young audiences.

Check out more titles and helpful storytelling resources from the Lynn Moroney Collection below!

Storytelling Folklore Sourcebook
Norma J. Livo and Sandra Rietz
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 1991

Favorite North American Indian Legends
Edited by Philip Smith
Dover Publications/Dover Children’s Thrift Classics, 1994

Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest
Ella E. Clark
Illustrated by Robert Bruce Inverarity
University of California Press, 1953

The Mythology of North America
John Bierhorst
HarperCollins Publishers/Harper Perennial, 1986

Haboo: Native American Stories from Puget Sound
Translated and edited by Vi (Taqʷšəblu) Hilbert
Illustrated by Ron Hilbert University of Washington Press, 1985

References

Lynn Moroney: Chickasaw Hall of Fame. (2024). Chickasaw.Net. https://hof.chickasaw.net/Members/2016/Lynn-Moroney

Moroney, L., Te Ata, & Reisberg, M. (2013). Baby rattlesnake. Children’s Book Press.

Obituary of Shirley “Lynn” Moroney. (2026, January 12). Chicagoland Cremation Options. https://www.chicagolandcremationoptions.com/obituary/shirley-moroney