Lannis Cranford interview with William Oscar Cummings (part 1)

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 interview begins with Oscar Cummings talking about his early life in Chalker, Georgia. He talks about when the region-specific pottery emerged in Chalker. At 6:46, he talks about the pottery pieces he had growing up and why pottery production stopped. At 7:58, he tells an anecdote about one of the pottery families. At 10:07, Mr. and Mrs. Cumming talk about the remaining lineage of the potter families, and the pottery made in Chalker. At 15:36, Cranford explains how the pottery was sold to people. At 22:52, Cumming talks about his schooling experience in Chalker and Warthen. He also talks about the local church he attended growing up. At 27:55, he and Mrs. Cumming talk about the decline of Chalker and people leaving the town. At 33:21, he tells an anecdote about his friend getting married. William Oscar Cummings (1900-1979) was born in Chalker, Georgia. He married Vera Hudson (1902-1995) in 1924. The couple had three children: Martina Cummings Bowman (1926-2016), Oscar Hudson Cummings (1930-2009), and Franklin Cummings (1934-2017). Cummings worked as a farmer most of his life and owned a grocery store in 1950. The couple moved to Warthen, Georgia, in 1930. 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.