Doyle E. Mullis, Jr. interview with Homer Cochran, Doyle E. Mullis, Sr., Dorothy H. Mullis, Clyde Ridings, and W.E. Mullis, Sr.

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 this recording W.E. Mullis Sr. uses discriminatory, racist language in his hunting story at minute 12:47 and in the sermon about the creation of white people at minute 16:46. At the beginning of this recording, Doyle Mullis, Jr. introduces the oral history project and his father, Doyle Mullis, Sr. Next, Mullis, Sr. recounts that during his time as an employee for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, he heard the, usually African American, workers sing. He repeats a short cadence that the workers sang to keep rhythm while working. At minute 3:40, Mullis, Jr. introduces his mother, Dorothy Mullis. She tells stories about her father, John Harrison Hendrix, a North Georgia doctor in the early 1900s. In one, he manages the town gossip in Marble Hill and pulls out a mountaineers tooth in Jasper. At minute 8:14, Mullis, Jr. introduces his great uncle, W.E. Mullis, Sr., who reminiscences about his childhood in Ware County, Georgia. These include humorous stories about his great-aunts 94th birthday and, at minute 12:47, about an old African American mans hunting trip. At minute 16:46, he retells a sermon he heard at an African American church on the creation of white people. Next he recounts a baptism experience his grandfather, also a preacher, had in the Okefenokee Swamp and explains the importance of after-service announcements. He then retells another sermon on Solomon. At minute 29:36, Mullis ends recalling his first love and their disastrous dates in the early 1900s. At minute 35:15, Mullis, Jr. introduces Clyde Ridings, who tells stories about early nineteenth century North Georgia. Ridings describes medicines that his grandmother created out of herbs. Then, he recalls a rabid dog scare. He explains the use of madstones as poison cures and superstitions about phases of the moon and love-vines. At minute 43:50, he describes Baptist revivals. At minute 45:50, he tells stories about hunting and country life, including his grandfathers first hunt, snipe hunts, an Irishmans first experience eating persimmons, a practical joke, and dogs on a fox hunt. At minute 49:38, he tells a short riddle. At minute 49:55, he performs childhood game songs, William Trembletoe and Clubfist. At minute 51:32, he remembers his first trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where he saw an automobile for the first time. He ends at minute 52:26, narrating his experience at a liquor still. Note: Homer Cochrans interview is not included in the audio, but his story is in the transcript. Homer Cochran (approximately 1898-?) lived in Ball Ground, Georgia. He worked as a freight agent for the L&N Railroad. Doyle E. Mullis, Sr. (1910-1983) was born in Ware County, Georgia. He worked for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and then the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. He married Dorothy Hendrix (1912-1976), who was born in Jasper, Georgia, and moved to Hawkinsville, Georgia, as a child. She studied at Womens College of Georgia and Mercer University, then worked as a mathematics teacher. She taught at several schools, including the Savannah Country Day School. Doyle and Dorothy Mullis lived in Ware County, Georgia, and then moved to Savannah, Georgia. Clyde Ridings (1891-1968) lived in Ball Ground, Georgia. W.E. Mullis, Sr. (1897-1990) was born in Ware County, near the Okefenokee Swamp. When he was 20, he moved to Savannah, where he worked as a railroad employee in a variety of positions, including flagman and conductor. AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number ~A{;;> !(X)',;, (leI. tJ;~ Source Field* (ContentDM) Release form ~rNo Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yeso~ Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org, name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org, name> Object Information Enter information about the Title (interviewee t\O f(\(l name and date of I'ntervl'ew) ~')V"L ,n \ \ ')','ll< I,) __,fl'" \ "\.j (j , ,'" . ~.'J' (C[il Description (bio on interviewee) ,) \; \ I: ,'\\ \ () \(ii \ \ III (("I ') 0 I() '0 1 Creator (Enter either an individual's name or an organization) ~C~, ", I \ )t)<,~ \ ~~,_/ '\.) Burrison Folklore Class Collection Name (within the organization) Georgia Folklore Archives Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use onIy one) I-cY:-:Ce - a - r -(i-fo-n-Iy-t-he-ye-a-r-is-k-n-OW-n-)--+-+-+-'C-42-+-u~+--P-+---------1 Circa (4 digit year) Year Spa A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Collection note: 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.