Brenda Armbrecht interview with Olive Jessie Stroud (part 2)

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. Olive Jessie Stroud begins the interview talking about the origins of the Bell Witch legend and John Bells death. At 4:34, she tells the story told to her by her mother about a mystical man who had powers from the devil. At 8:18, Stroud and an unidentified individual talk further about the legend of the Bell Witch. At 24:12, Stroud and an unidentified individual talk about the witchs ability to turn into animals, such as rabbits and goats. At 30:00, she talks about her mothers experience with supernatural elements at her uncles house, such as a dog walking upstairs every night and the appearance of a headless man riding a horse across the road. At 31:08 they continue to talk about the Bell Witch. Olive Jessie Stroud (1881-1977) was born in Kentucky and married George Edward Stroud (1889-1974). She had two children: Mitchel Stroud (1913-2001) and John Robert Stroud (1916-1990). She lived the majority of her life with her husband and children in Robertson County, Tennessee. bell witch 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 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.