Linda Clement interview with Roberta Clement, Monroe Burnette, and Corinne Beaver

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 Monroe Burnette playing I Feel Like Traveling On on the pump organ. Then at 1:14, Burnette sings a series of hymns while self-accompanying on the pump organ; the songs are titled In the Good Old Summer Time, On the Road to Glory Land, and Will I Be Missed When I Am Gone?, some of which Monroe composed himself. Next, at 8:56, Monroe and his daughter, Corinne Beavers, sing Glory to His Name together. At 10:25, Monroe sings three more hymns, Come Sing of the Savior, O Wondrous Love, and The Dear Old Village Choir, while playing the organ. At 18:13, the interview moves to Monroes living room where he sings four more songs: Once I Had An Old Gray Mare, Go And Tell Aunt Nancy, Mousie Went A-Courtin, and Farther Along. Roberta Clement starts her interview at 23:39 by telling stories about home remedies used before she and her family had doctors to treat conditions such as thrush, earache, ringworm, pneumonia, tape worms, and snake bites. At 25:31, she repeats a story she learned from a coworker about women employing substitutes such as flour and bear grease in their cosmetics. Then, at 30:04, she tells a story about dentists getting patients drunk on whisky before pulling their teeth to dull the pain. She ends the recording by telling a joke about a fisherman who dropped whiskey into the water, inadvertently attracting a copperhead snake. Monroe Burnette (1891-1984) was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, to William Mark Burnette and Martha Lucinda Burnette. He attended school through the fourth grade. Later Burnette moved to Ivy Log, Georgia, where he operated a small family farm. In 1918 he married Dessie Collins Burnette (1895-1970), and they had four children, Durane (1919-1971), Corinne (1921-2009), Monroe (1924-1945), and William (1931-1997). After his wifes death, Burnette moved to Blairsville, Georgia, to live with his daughter Corinne, who had married Charles Loranza Beaver (1923-2000). Roberta Clement (1917-1994), Monroe Burnettes niece, was born in McCaysville, Georgia. Her parents were Mark Hampton Burnette (1886-1967) and Burdetta Cobb (1882-1966). She married Euclid Earl Clement (1910-2003), and they had two daughters, Marjorie Ann Scroggs (1938-2019) and Joyce Lynn Turner (1942-2002). She died in Atlanta. Additional biographical information has not been determined. A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. 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.