W. Tomlinson interview with Mary B. Minter

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. Mary begins the interview recalling her move to Atlanta from Jonesboro, Georgia, where she spent most of her childhood. She then tells a couple stories, one about a man who tried and failed to catch a rabbit that was eating plants in his garden, and one about a fox who went fishing, only to have a rabbit steal his fish. She recites two rhyming poems, one about a visit to a friend which did not go well and another about a widow. 15:34: Next, Minter sings Froggy Went a Courtin', shares a short humorous story about a bishop, recites a love poem, and sings about a bird in a cage. Afterward she recites another poem, this one about a man dreaming about death and the devil. Minter tells a tale about a rabbit and a terrapin and then a story about a man who died and went to heaven. Explaining where she learned these songs and riddles, Minter says at home and in books. As the interview concludes, she mentions having nine children, four sisters, and three brothers. Biographical information about Mary Minter has not been determined. No transcript exists 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.