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.
There is derogatory language and racial violence in the stories Uncle Joe Points a Rabbit at minute 15:49, The Shrunk Fish at minute 18:38, and the song, Shortenin Bread at minute 29:50. In this recording Carl Logan interviews his grandparents, Gratton Woodfin Yeager and Mary Lee Yeager, at their home in Akron, Alabama. Mary Lee Yeager sings, sometimes also playing the guitar, the music hall production Give My Love to Nell, the folk song Weeping Willow, the hymn Precious Memories, the popular folk song from the Civil War era Nelly Gray, and another popular folk song Little Brown Jug. At minute 9:55, Gratton Woodfin Yeager repeats humorous stories he learned about rural southern life, particularly animals and hunting. In the story, The Grayhound, at minute 12:08, he narrates a story about a fast rabbit dog that ends with a graphic description of the injuries the dog received on his last chase. In Uncle Joe Points a Rabbit, he tells a post-Civil War story about an old African-American man, Uncle Joe, who was better at bird hunting than dogs, until he pointed a rabbit instead and was subsequently deemed unfit for bird hunting In the story The Shrunk Fish, when a White boy and an African American boy go fishing, the former plays a trick on the latter. At minute 19:47, Mary Lee Yeager sings a popular song about Native Americans called Red Wing, the music hall piece I Wish I was Single Again, another hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer, the religious song lullaby Soft Music, the popular song Home Sweet Home, and a couple verses of the folk song Shortenin Bread. Wren Yeager, the Yeagers son, ends the interview at 30:25 by singing a parody verse from Shortenin Bread.
Gratton Woodfin Yeager (1896-1991) was born in Bibb County, Alabama. When he was seventeen, his family moved to Akron, Alabama. He married Mary Lee Payne (approximately 1898-1992) in 1917. Mary Lee Payne was born in Akron, Alabama. As a teenager, she played music at weekly community dances. They had ten children:Gratton Woodfin, Jr. (1920-1998), Doris Logan (1922-2010), Dorothy Sudduth (1924-2001), Frederick (1926-2005), Esther Acre (1928-?), Thomas (1930-?), Wren (1933-2016), Harvey (1934-1936), Wesley (1936-1997), and Frances Arrington (1939-?). The family lived on a 150 acre farm. In 1918, Yeager was drafted into the Army and served in Germany during World War I. During World War II, Yeager worked in the Civil Service in Mobile, Alabama. Mary Lee Yeager remained in Akron during this time until their youngest daughter graduated high school in 1958, then joined him in Mobile. Gratton Yeager retired in 1962 and they returned to the farm in Akron. Wren Yeager (1933-2016) was the Yeagers seventh child. In 1958 he took over managing the farm.
SONGS AND 'rALES FROM WEST ALABAMA by Carl Logan for', John Burrison GEORGIA STATE COLLEGE MARCH 4, 1968 SONGS AND TALES FROM lVEST ALABAMA Friday afternoon January 26, 1968, I picked my wife, Betty, up at work and we started what should have been a nice four and one-half hour drive to WeskAla.bama. The trip was extended somewhat by such hazards as a flat tire and heavy traffic. We arrived at the home of Mr. and ltrs. G. W. Yeager, my grandparents, in the Akron Community of West ARabama, about 100 miles south-west of Birmingham and sixty miles east of Meridian, Mississippi, about ten o'clock. Saturday was spent visHing and discussing the old songs and ways of life. None of this conversation was recorded as most of it took place around the table at breakfast, lunch and supper. During the day my uncle, Wren Yeager, and I went quail hunting wi. th little success but much fun. During the day, Saturday, we picked up some interesting reminiscents from Mr. and lArs. Yeager. Granton Wodfin Yeager was born in Bibb County, Alabama in 1896. His family moved to the Akron Community in Hale County, about thirty miles from his birthplace, when he was seventeen years old. He was raised as a farmer's son, and when he married Mary Lee Payne in 1917 he was given, ,by his father, one hundred and fifty acres, as were all of his other eight brothers and sisters. He, one brother, and a sister now own all the land in about equal mnounts. In 1918 he was drafted into World War I and served in the Amerioan forces in Germany. After the war he returned home to farm and raise a family of nine children. With the outbreak of World War II he went to Mobile, Alabama, to work for Civil Service. In 196Zhe retired with twenty-one years of service, returning to his farm to raise cattle. -2- Mary Lee Payne Yeager was born in 1898 about three miles from her present homeplace. She came from a family of twelve children, all of whom are musically talented. Her father played the fiddle and banjo. At the age of about fifteen she and her sister Lillie began to play with other young boys and girls for the weekly community dances. They played all the songs on this tape for their dances, closing the evening with a religious song. She and Mr. Yeager met when he was about eighteen and she sixteen. Mr. Yeager says "I became involved when I began to carry her and her sister to the dances to play. I had no plans for marrying either.'" Mrs. Yeager adds "That was all he could do; he can't~ play or sing a lick. ll Mrs. Yeager remained in Hale County until her youngest daughter graduated from high school in 1958. At this time she moved to Mobile to live with Mr. Yeager until his retirement. From 1946 until 1958 she and the children, who left as they married, managed the farm. In 1958 their seventh child, Wren, who sings the final song on this tape, took over the farm and still works on it and as a bulldozer driver. He is a bachelor and lives with his parents. Mrs, Yeager had not played the guitar in thirty years; she used one borrowed from her nophew. In her youth she played the guitar, fiddle, banjo, piano and harmonica. She apologized profusely for her 'poor playing and complained because she had not had a chance to practice. While I was thankful for the songs she did remember; she recal1Bd a wealth of titles but just could not remember the words, which was disappointing. In researching the songs on the tape I was not able to obtain some necessary sources, such as Frank C. Bro,~ls North Carolina Folklore, -3- Volume Three, which would be necessary for a complete study. Some of the songs are religious and are more hynrrf~ than spirituals. There has been no good study of this type of song. Two df the religious songs Sweet Hour of Prayer and Precious Memories are well known and can be found in any Protestant song book. The religious song Soft Music can be found on page 174 of the Primitive Baptist Song Book. This is a beautiful song which Mrs. Yeager used as a lullaby for both her children and grandchildren. Give I~Love" to Nell, a music hall production, can be found in Frank C. Brown's North Carolina!olklore, Volume Two, pages 635 and 636. It is also found in Byron Arnold's Folk Songs of Alabama, page 76. Weeping Willow is found in both Byron Arnold's Folk.8ongs,dLAla bama and The Weaver's Song Book, edited by the Weaver!s on page 112, here it is titled Bury Me Beneath the Willow. Nelly Gral or Darling Nelly Gray written by B. R. Hanby and popular during the Civil War can be found in The Fireside Book of Favorite American Song~, selected by Margaret B. Boni and Byron Arnold's Folk Songs of Alabama. The Little BrOWl1 Jug was a widely~known song by Joseph E. Winner with the music by R. A. Eastburn. It is found in Margaret B. Boni's book, John and Alan Lomax's American Ballads and Folk Songs, H. M. Belden's Ballads and Songs, page 261, and Sigmund Spaeth's Read'em and Weep. I Wish I Was Single Again a music hall or broadside piece is also widely known. It is found in Belden, pages 437 and 438, in The Abelard Folk Song Book, edited by Norman Ca~~en, in G. Malcomb Laws' North American Balladry, under "Ballad Like Pieces, Appendix III", and in Arnold, page 78. -4- Home Sweet Home is a well-knoYffi song but the only reference I could find was in Laws, number B-7, where it it also known as the Wandering OOyrooy and is listed under "Ballads of Oowboys and Pioneers". f!'\l( Shortning Bread, a song knOYlll to most of us since childhood can be found in the Lomax book under "Reels" and in Arnold I s book on page 156. Another interesting note to the tape is Mr. Yeager's tales. He says most were told around the fire, waiting for daylight ydth the dogs treeing a racoon. In the background one can hear their yard dogs barking at the cat on the back porch. The following is a transcript of the tape recorded by me oil January 27, 1968, at the home of Mr. and Wws. G. W. Yeager. Me: "'You give your title - or what you call it." Mrs. Yeager: "Give My Love to Nell" One year ago both Jack and Joe Set sail across the foam Each vowed a fortune They would gain before returning home. In one short year Jack gained his wealth And he set sail away And as they met their hands to part Poor Joe could only say Ohorus: Give my love to Nellie, Jack And kiss her once for me. The fairest girl in all the world I'll know you'll say its she. Treat her kindly Jack I pray And tell her that I'm well And when you've met Oh don't forget To give my love to Nell. One year had passed when Joe at last Had gained his wealth for life Then he set sail across the foam To make sweet Nell his wife But on his way he heard them say That Jack and Nell had wed Deeply he (re) gretted then the words That he had said. Ohorus Upon the street they chanced to meet Said Joe you selfish elf The next girl I learn to love I'll kiss her for myself But all is fair in love and Vlar And since you're wed I'll not be angry with you Jack And once again he said. Chorus Me: "Finished? II' Mrs. Yeager with guitar: "We'll try Weeping Willow, I guess." .--- My heart is broken and I'm in sorrow Weeping ore the one I love He's gone, he's gone to love another And left me here along to weep. Chorus: Then bury' me beneath the willow Beneath the weeping willow 'Eree. And when he knows I'm sleeping Oh then perhaps he'll think of me. Tomorrow was our wedding day But now he's gone away He's gone, he's gone to wed another And left me here alone to weep. Chorus Mrs. Yeager: "This is Precious Memories" Precious ntemories unseen angels Sent from somewhere to my soul. How they linger ever near me' In the sacred past unfold. Chorus: Precious memories how they linger How they ever flood my soul. In the stillness of the midnight Precious" sacred scenes unfold. Precious father, loving mother Fly across the lon~ly years And old home things of my childhood In fond memories appear. Chorus As I travel on life's pathway Know not what the years may hold, As I ponder, hope grows fonder Precious memories flood my soul. Chorus Me: "Title?" Mrs. Yeager:' "Nelly Gray" with guitar - "I'm not playing it-" Me: "That's all right." Mrs. Yeager: "I can't get it started~" In a little green valley On the old Kentucky shore Where I whiled many happy hours away Clears throat. Mrs. Yeager: "I messed that'un up; gotta frog in my throat." Mr. Yeager: "Kill that frog." Me: "Just cut it (the recorder) off-" starts over. There's a lone green valley On the old Kentucky shore \~ere I whiled many happy hours away Ah-sitting by the river and ah weeping all the day Where lived my darling Nelly Gray. Oh my darling Nellie Gray They have taken you away And I'll hever see my darling any more. They have carried her to Gawger There to wear her life away As she toils in the cotton and the hay. Mrs. Yeager I "I believe t hat I s all I know of that." -7- Mrs. Yeager - "LittIe Brown Jug'" with guitar My wife and I lived all alone Lived in a hut we called our own She loved rum and I loved rum Tell you what we had some fun. Chorus: Ha-ha-ha-ha you and me Little brown jug knows I love thee Ha-ha-ha-ha you and me Little brown jug knows I love thee Plays melody on guitar I had a cow, it give such milk Dressed her in the finest silk I'd feed her on the choicest hay And milk her forty times a day. Chorus Bought my wife a bob-tail dog Crossed the creek on a hickory log Log was rotten and we fell in I jumped out but she stayed in. Chorus Mrs. Yeager's voice was beginning to tire and Mr. Yeager who is wellf'r knovm for his verbal exploit~~s consented to tell a few tales while she rested. Mr. Yeager: Used to be a bunch of us fellOWS that coon hunted around here all through the winter season. That was back when coon hides were worth skinnihg the coon for. We'a get anylvhere from 10 to 20 dollars for a good coon hide. The dogs would tree up a big tree at night. We'd build up a big fire and set around there to day telling tall tales while we was waiting for it to get light enough to find the coon. We'd ring up around there and take it turn about; each man would tell one and we'd do that all night while we ViaS waitin for day light. Its been so long though since I 'w,s in a game like that, that uh, I abou~t forgot all mine, I'd have to refresh my memory ~bout'um. But you wanted me to tell you one; so I'll start off Wlth the "Fox Race. 1t -8- Fox Race Man had a big field that had what he called a round top hill right out in the mJ.ddle Of Ghe field. And uh one of his nei.ghbors was all the time bragging about what a fast dog he had and how he'd chase fox~ how he'd~n fox. So uh this man that had the round t~ohill told him,if your dogs all that fast bring him ove/,~I gotta fox that dens right on top of that hill yonder. So he brought him over. Got up there and jumped the fox and they was going round and round the hill. They did that for about a half dozen times, and every time they come around the man'd say he's gaining on him, he's gaining on him/and uh about the sixth time they come around the dog was about 10 feet ahead of the fox and when they CQme around the next time he'd gust left the fox out of sight~ he'd just out run the fox so. That was a fast fox dog. The Grayhound And uh over in the next neighborhood there, the old guy had a grayhound, all grayhounds are fast fCAr as that's concerned and this man Ilsed his for a rabbit dog. He'd just out run a-rabbit, bring to'm an\i he'd just put in his sack. One day he got after one and uh they'd just put up a telegraph line across the man's place and he had some guy wires on the telephone uh telegraph poles to hold them straight. This dog was just about to catch a fox uh rabbit and uh he ran under one of those guy wires. And when the dog made a grab for'm he ducked under there and come out on the other side and the dog undertaken to do that so he hit that guy wire and split himself wide open, just cut the dog vade open. The man just just ah it was just an awful thing to him and he didn't want to loose his dog so he rUn up there and slammed him back together a~. he got one end one way and the other another. He had half~ead one way and half his tail th;k oth'lWR So uh he just stood there and watched him awhile. Said)luigbt as well kill'm; he'll stand there and rock his self' to death. ,J The Dog Fight And then there was another fellow in that same neighborhood; two of 'm. They had some of the fightinest dogs thats ever been heard of. They was all the time bragging about how their dogs would fight. So uh they gottlm together one day. Started'm to fighting. Part of the time they was kicking up so much dust they couldn't hardly see 'm. But they was just rollin in the dirt and chewiht each other up. They got ti~ of watchid, 'eM and 100k~~2ff at somethinelse and they looked back and there wo.1II.dn't "'\iii\;hing but just two stubs of tails laying there in the dirt wallo.ving. They never did know Which one whipped the other, they just eat each other up and that's the way it wound up. -9- The Cat Fight Over in another little neighborhood there a bunch of just stray cats and uh two old alley cats allo.time trying to see 'thich one was ,boss. They tangled up one day and they fought and they fought till finally they started climbing each other and they just clum on up out of sl. ght; for two or three days there was cat hair'a falling; they don't know where the cats went. The Tornado ty.JL\ a,bout And about that timehPeople'~ through gathering their crops. The old man had a big old crib fulla,porn and one of the planks in the wall of the crib had ll.'':~mot hole in it. And uh it ceme a tornado. After the storm was over the man got out walking around; saw a big pile of corn cobs laying out at the edge of the lot and he couldn't figure where in the world all them corn cobs ceme from. i He.!rpt looking around and ~ YiJo-t"'-1J. ~ finally he opened the crib doorhan ~ere was all his corn ah shelled in the crib, the cobs (laughing) had gone out through that knot hole in the wall. Uncle Joe Points A Rabbit Do\~ here below Greensboro in Hale County, there's a man dovm there; they've got a big plantashun. They 'had an old darkie down there that had been vnth'm ever since these 'men were boys and uh a bunch of people from Birmingham come down there to go bird huntin., Brought their dogs and uh huntin, equipment and everjthing and uh got there in time for breakfast. After they ate breakfast they wanted to get on out a huntin. They started to turn the dogs out and Robert Waltho told'um; said "don't turn them dogs out)"said '\ve won't need no dogs." Said"Uncle Joe'll find all the birds. Said he knows where every covey in this country is. So they went on. Every once in a while Uncle Joe'd say here's a covey of birds settin right here in dis sage. And uh they'd get a few out of it on the rise and then he'd show'm where all ~he singles went. And uh they just had a big hunt that day. The men killed more birds than they'd ever killed in their life. Next year they come dovm there and they didn't bring any dogs atall. And wanted to have another bird shoot; so uh they ate their breakfast and went out there. Started looking around; said where's Uncle Joe. Say's aw he got to pointing rabbits and we had to kill'm. -10- The Missed Shot Was a great 'turkey hunter and uh he never, he hunted with a fifle all the time and he never had missed a shot; so uh one day he was out there and he saw an old turkey gobbler and he'd already'took off runnin. He throwed up his rifle and shot at 'm and the turkey didn't fall, so uh he went on and just for~ot about him, that was just a missed shot; but it worried him cause he missed'm. So the next year about the same time he went back in that same section looking for turkeys and he went there where he shot at that turkey and ~ssed him he thought. And uh he heard a little noise, a kind"'; buzzin noise,.sorta like a bee and he looked up and there came the ;( ~~d ~urke;v and there was the bullet about six inches behind Jih.iJ."1.'( e urkey with a dropa sweat on its nose; it'd been after 1Ji,e i that turkey all that time. vJ'~-6'<i!~ ,1jJ!p.Q The Shrunk Fish There was them 'two little boys; one of'um was a little colored boy and one of'um was a little white boy, they went fishing. And uh got:down on the creek; hadn't been there but a few minutes till the little nigger boy yelled out "I caught 'm, I caught'm, I gotta big'utl, come up hen.ll and see'm';') White ~.. Ii,m gittin a nibble down here. After a while II Gi, '\'If ?the little colored boy come on down by where he was; said uh ~~ ~, ",/IA caugl;'!tanythiilg;' said yeah ' caught one or two. So uh he ',)Jl.iiJ:''''d \ went on down around the bend in the creek where he couldn't k~) see'm so he took one of his little'uns slipped back up there '-4 an swapped fish vuth the little colored boy and uh after while the little colored boy come back up there. He said did you see my fish. He said noh where is he. So they went on back up there and uh the little colored boy reached down and caught the string that he had his fish on and pulled it up. He said uh-oh he done shruillced up. Mrs. Yeager: "This is Red Wing" There once lived an indian maid, A shy little prairie maid. Who sang each day, her love song gay, As all alone she whiled away the day. She loved a warrior bold, This shy little maid of yore. But brave and gay, he rode:"one "d?y To battle far away. -11- Chorus: Oh the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing. The bree~e is sighing, the night birds crying. Far oh far benea.th the stars her brave lie6 sleeping, While Red Wings weeping her heart away. She watched for him both day and night, She kept the camp fires bright. As under the stars eaqhnight .she.wbul<:j lie, And dream of his coming bye and bye. When all the braves returned The heart of Red Wing yearned, For, far, far away her warior gay, Fell bravely in the fray. Chorus Mrs. Yeager: "This is I Wish I Was Single Againll I wish I was single again, again I wish I was single agin. Mrs Yeager: "I done messed it up. Puts down guitar. I wish I was single again, again I wish I was single again. 1<'01' when I was single My pockets did jingle. So I wish I was single again. I married me a w:i.fe o-then, a-then I married me a wife a-then. I married me a w:i.fe And I loved her for my lifeBut I wisht I was single again. She beat me, she banged me a-then, a-then She beat me, she banged me.o-then. She beat me, she banged me, she swore she would hang me So I wishC I was single again. She spun the rope a-then, a-then She spun the rope a-then. She spun the rope-my neck for to choke So I wish I was single again. -12- She tied it to the joist o~then, o-then She tied it to the joist o-then. But the ropeiit.didbreak And my neck it did escape But I wish I was single again. So then she died o-then,o;.,then So then she died o-then. So then she died and I laughed Till I cried But I wisl1\: I was single again. I married me another o-then, o-then I married me another o-then. I married me another/she was the Devil's grandmother Oh, I wish I was single again. Mrs. Yeager: "I should've gotten that up a little." Mrs. Yeager: "Sweet Hour of Prayer" with guitar Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer That takes me from the world of care And bids me at my father's side Make all my wants and wishes known. In season's of distress and grief My soul has often found relief And oft escaped the tempter's snare By they return sweet hour of prayer. Mrs. Yeager: "I ain't doing nothing with this." Puts aside guitar. "Just let me sing it." Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer Thy wings shall my petition bear. To him who's true and faithful now Engaged the waiting soul' to bless. And then he bids me seek his faith Believe his word and thrust his grace. I cast on him my every care And wait for thee sweet hour of prayer. -13':' Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer May I thy consolation share Till from Mount Pitgah's lofty heights I view my home and take my flight. This robe of flesh I'll drop and rot To seize the ever-lasting Christ And shout while passing throught the air Farewell, farewell sweet hour of prayer. Soft Music Soft, soft music is stealing Sweet, sweet lingers the strain Loud, loud and now it is pealing Waking the echos again. Yes,yesi yes yes waking the echos again. Join, Join children of sadness Send, send sorrow away Now, now changing to darkness Warble the beautiful day. Yes yes, yes yes warble the beautiful day. Hope, hope fair and enduring Joy, joy bright as the day Love, love heaven insuring Sweetly invites you away. Yes yes, yes yes sweetly invites you away. Mrs Yeager picking up guitar: "I don't ever know the words to Home Sweet H()me'.\" Me: "Just go ahead and pick it and hum it if you want to." Plqrs and hums Home Sweet Home. Mrs. Yeager in disgust at herselL"I can't even play that." Mrs. Yeager plays and sings Shortning Bread. Slipped in the kitchen Slipped the lid Slipped my pockets full of shortning bread. Chorus: Don't them niggers love shortning bread Don't them niggers love shortning bread Scald the skillet Grease the lid, Mama's gonna cook us some shortning bread. Chorus -14- Mrs. Yeager: "I'd better not sing that." Me to Wren Yeager: "Come here and sing your version." Wren: Laughing - "I can't sing." Me: "Go ahead." Wren sings Shortning Bread, a one verse parody he and his brother sang as children. Sl~pped in th? kitchen , ',' rrA t,~?,r\,-Shpped the lld____ '5f1!i Ilk"" Run around the house just as ;fast as I could Mama knocked me down with a stick of stove wood. Laughs all around. \ B;)' letting 1J$ ~(lll6"t yO'U!' b"a.d:Itil!>nl'f-~~t,{j,rl\!ill. 5c>y,ge;" m,wi,e" .M?,yirlgl!j, riddles, <iiI' beliefs ,e,f earlier aays--'Y'O'II h8.Y<1> made a valuable <XGr;:t1~ibuUE>ll, 1:;"1 pY'E'1l>6rving 11M. u!1decT'standing S:mthel"t'i his t",:t"Y. &>d 6Bped,ally th" bist~:l"'Y' aut!. \<lay "r life ,,1.' your communii;\r" B&C<1l1lS6 Y<.iU have gi:v'en un se.ltisbl)r <tf y"'ilX' tin~ tA!' un Uu.a, the Georgia Fclklor'e Archive:!, Hh"t'>e reprltsentative6 aT"," de';., iCIlt.sd 1:-5 preser'ving theE,, tracti i;ious, \.lantE t... prote",'" yl"11.1:' right.~ 'be, thi.l!l ma'Gerial by guaranteeing that it, ~'ill 110t b& l13&d fMI' un.:>erupl!l<:ms (\('.>lI1Ill6w,::,:ial plt'(lfitil 0 By signing thi!!' ~he6t. :YOIl are giVing ue parmjSl'<i""l t,~ use thia me,t'0rial fo~ eduaati"nal pm']X>t!te:l so thai, peopll1l IIh" ar2 inte:re$wd can undeJ'ffiW.l".\d hr;", life ,fali> in the <>ld-,tirney daYI~ 0 Your rna t.e1"'lal win p:roba,bly' Mt to, printed "r :1.~s1J.ed ;m a !"0CQ1'd. but if it is, and you donUt want y\:mx name t"ii be 11$ed. il'a,y SQ'_-1f,.'6 :r>espect yom'!' l'i.ght Cif privac'j'0 'l:b.anlc you for th<~ tim you have ghrer. w help us ~ec,{'r'l a he:d.'t;9.ge that. I:;; an. il11)Xll'tmlt part, of JIl;:eric..'all lif'lo If you remember any ffi(\r'6 old-ti11l$Y UJingll that J~lt uant to sercd along to U'd ,;':> thai" H. vill alwaylJ be preserved, wit" t.fll GN)rgia l?clklore Arohive!> fj!t;1' Pt'i~ro J\\)mi Bu.1.-rlsl1 D'~pa:r-t,IDent d' Englillih G:eoll'g:La St8,t<; C"ll<l>glr' 33 Gil.me.r ,S'(!", tJ S~E (> Atlanta 9 G8nT'gi.a, 3030] -1b./Wo a UL~F---'--~---------f?lJ-~~"""""-.t.!
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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 in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. 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 language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. 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 emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.