James Phillip Johnson Interview with Mr. Hammond, Mr. Jones, Helen Noble, Greg Noble, and Mrs. Johnson

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 recording begins with Mr. Hammond describing his work as a railroad employee until 1909, and as a carpenter until 1912, during which he lost his leg in an accident. At 2:06, he refuses to tell jokes and stories about working on the railroad because they are too dirty. At 4:15, Hammond retells the story of John Henry, who he says was a coal miner rather than a railroad worker. He denies believing in ghosts. At 7:10, he describes growing up on a farm that grew cotton, corn, and hay; his father farmed and worked on the railroad and his grandfather cared for cows. 13:40: Hammond describes going hunting with his dog. The audio is indecipherable until 20:08, when Hammond describes his work as a shoemaker. At 27:52, he describes his trip from Edgefield to Wagner (audio remains difficult to hear). 32:59: An unidentified speaker tells a joke about three ministers going on a fishing trip. Then he tells two stories, one about a graveyard and two thieves, and one about ministers and ghosts. 38:22: Next, an unidentified child tells two stories, one about three men applying for a job, and another about a man who gets arrested. At 39:52, an unidentified woman tells a folk tale about an older woman telephoning an angel to ask if her husband ended up in heaven or hell. At 41:35, Jones tells a joke about a new minister. 43:05: She continues a story about a boy and girl courting called Sallys Story. 51:10: A second unnamed young woman tells a tale about a woman on a plantation, then another about a Black man who outsmarts a White man who he works for after he threatens to kill him for not completing his work properly. 54:31: Another woman shares a tale about a man named Barnard who had two big bulls, one black and white and the other red and white. She then tells a story about Christopher Columbus asking King Fernand and Queen Isabel for permission to sail the world. She then talks about her church celebrating its 100th anniversary. The churchs first minister, Reverend Alexander Bettis, was a former slaveed person who founded Bettis Academy, located in South Carolina. It was the first local school for Black students. At the conclusion of the recording, she tells about when her father saw a ghost. Hammond (approximately 1889-?) worked on the railroad until 1909, then in carpentry until 1912. Additional biographical information has not been determined. Church humor 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 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.