D. Goeckel interview of Ab Jones (part two)

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. This is the second of a two part recording. It starts with Jones describing social activities conducted while blindfolded, such as singing, of which he sings examples. Jones also describes a kissing game he played as a teenager as well as playing fiddle at square dances. He then explains that his passion for music originated from his parents, who often played music in the house, and participating in music activities at his church. Timestamp 11:20: Jones recalls his first cousin telling him that modern children don't have as much fun as their generation did, giving examples of their antics. On the subject of beliefs and superstitions, Jones claims that he knows about witches and the existence of Heaven and Hell. Timestamp 16:15: Next, Jones talks about his childhood. The majority of people worked six days out of the week, only socializing on Saturday nights and Sunday. Occasionally, he rode miles to watch plays. Jones discusses his family and children. He also explains how he carved his fiddle out of pine wood with a knife. Timestamp 27:12: Jones talks about a man in his community known for telling tall tales and lies. He then describes the Blue Ridge Mountains and specifically a railroads construction. He also recalls a man who was hung for murder. Timestamp 35:48: Bears and deer lived near the settlement where Jones grew up. He talks about killing snakes that frequented their settlement. Next, he tells a few riddles. The recording ends with a discussion on folk songs about John Henry and Jesse James as well as a story about the Civil War. No biographical information about Ab Jones has been determined. Family history; There is no transcript for this recording. 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. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.