Jan Harold Brunvand PhdJan Harold Brunvand, PhD, is an American folklorist and professor emeritus of the University of Utah. He is best known for spreading the concept of the urban legend, a form of modern folklore. He popularized the term "urban legend" and is the author f several popular books on the topic, starting with The Vanishing Hitchhiker in 1981. This book and his syndicated newspaper column brought urban legends to popular attention in the United States. Read More Read Less