The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.
In the first part of this recording, Ezekiel Candler Jones tells a series of southern narratives. He starts by telling a humorous story in which a boy says a profane remark to his grandfather, a religious minister. Next at 3:48, he tells a somber story about a boy moving to a new farm in Alabama. At 6:10, he tells a joke about a railroad worker ignorantly misspelling the number two. Then at 8:25, he tells a story about two World War I veterans recollecting their experiences taking saltpeter to suppress their sexual desires while serving in the Navy. Next at 12:48, Jones recalls working as a railroad worker in Georgia. First he recounts an elevator operators comical retort about his favorite baseball team; advice the operator heard from his father; and at 17:09, he repeats a racial slur about African Americans said by the operator. At 17:29, Jones tells a story about a disgraced railroad agent put on probation, followed at 22:50, with a humorous story about selling watermelons to a group of illiterate buyers. At 26:23, Jones recites sexually suggestive stories about a golfer and his wife, and a telephone conversation between a military draftee and his girlfriend. At 33:30, an unidentified woman tells a comical story about an illiterate man with several children. Then at 34:45, Jones tells two witty stories mimicking African American dialect; in the first, two soldiers discuss their surprising resemblances; and in the second, a woman lists the fathers to each of her children. To conclude the interview, at 38:32 he tells two humorous stories about a lazy mans funeral service and about receiving directions to Christs Church in Macon, Georgia.
Ezekiel Candler Jones (1899-1979) was born in Waynesboro, Georgia, to Robert P. Jones and Louise Wellborn. In 1917, he joined the United States Navy. After serving for three years, he worked for the Central of Georgia Railroad for 43 years. Jones married Ruth Post Jones (1898-1991) in 1921, and they had five daughters. No additional biographical information about Ezekiel Candler Jones has been determined.
i After deciding to prepare a collecting project, I contacted my Uncle, George Sledge, in Welch, West Virginia, to see if he might be able to find an informant in that area who possibly knew some old tales or songs, Through a social worker from Bluefield who visits Welch weekly and with the help of one of my Uncle's employees, Howard Rurs, we came to hear of a man named "Wildman" who lived somewhere near Paynesville, West Virginia, Since this Wildman did not have a telephone, my Uncle had to put out "the word" through their C,B, (Citizens Band radios) radios. (Most of the mountain people in that area talk to each other in that method,) They asked for Wildman (Glen Mullins), if he heard the message, to come down to my Uncle's store (an auto parts store). Eventually he did recieve the word and when he came down they told him that I was interested in collecting songs, tales, etc, for a class and would like to do some recording, Since he could play the banjo, harmonica, and guitar quite well and knew several old tunes, Wildman gladly consented and we set the date for Saturday night, May 5, 197.3. Naturally I anxiously proceeded to West Virginia and on the day of our recording session we were unable to contact the Wildman, however, many times the radio waves are unable to move to certain this was the case, approximately 5:JO sections in that area so we hoped that My Uncle, Howard and I left Welch at and arrived in Paynesville at about 7100. Glen was living in such an out-of-the-way section that it took us awhile to locate him. Most times we had to ask for "Wildman" because those we talked to did not know his real name, Glen Mullins,
A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access.
Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions.
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