S. Brown and C. Sobelson interview with Bennie J. Caudell, Minerva Cash, Hershel Adams, and Zena Mae Adams

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. Note: The audio for this interview is low and the interviewees and interviewers are hard to hear. In this recording, S. Brown and C. Sobelson first interview Bennie J. Caudell. Caudell starts by listing ingredients from an Indian remedy he learned from his grandmother, who was Native American. He then details traditional cures, including roots and teas, for many illnesses, along with an explanation of how they found these ingredients. At minute 7:58 he explains how long it took to make the cures and where his grandmother learned the recipes. At minute 10:20, he recalls how people smoked a variety of non-tobacco materials, including rabbit tobacco and hornet nests. He ends his part of the interview by listing more traditional cures, explaining how to identify the necessary roots, and describing coffee substitutes, including rye. At minute 12:48, Minerva Cash describes additional traditional cures, including teas and poultices for a variety of common ailments that she learned from her mother. She and her family would gather the ingredients. At minute 22:15, she admits she no longer makes these cures, but did as a child. At minute 22:58, she and an unnamed man recall more remedies and where to find some of the ingredients. Hershel Adams and his wife, Zena Mae Adams, begin their interview at minute 31:32 with a story about when a blacksmith pulled out Zena Mae Adams mothers teeth, and Hershel Adams recalls pulling out his own tooth. At minute 33:40, the couple discusses traditional cures, including ashes to stop bleeding and how to make poultices. At minute 35:43, Zena Mae Adams lists womens health cures. At minute 37:15, the couple demonstrate a cure for burns and then discuss several other remedies, including one to increase appetites. The interview ends at 46:50 with treatment for snake bites, how they gathered and preserved herbs, and discussion on how the couple ceased using traditional medicine. Benjamin Caudell (1917-1982) and Minerva Cash (1913-2003) lived in White County, Georgia. Claudell married Mervin Inez Ledden (1921-2007). Cash married Loy Cash (1908-1964). Adams married Zena Mae Hunt (1906-1984), and their children include Hazel Elizabeth Allison (1942-2021), T.J. Adams, Willie Truelove (1939-2021), and Ruth Shelnut (1930-2017). Herschel Hut Adams (1902-1979) was born in Cleveland, Georgia, to John Helium Adams (1862-1944) and Mary Eva Adams (1868-1947). He had seven siblings and worked and lived in Cleveland. Zena Mae Adams (1906-1984) was also born in Cleveland, Georgia, to Thomas Hunt (1873-1942) and Georgia Free (1879-1962). She married Floyd Barrett in 1924. After his death, in 1929 she married Herschel Adams. The couple had one child, Hazel Elizabeth Adams (1942-2021). Additional biographical information 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.