Mary Finneran interview with Annie Boozer

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 Annie Boozer where she grew up in Alabama, and her upbringing. At 3:00, she talks about attending church and recently transferring to Oak Grove Baptist Church in Powder Springs, Georgia. At 5:56, she tells a humorous story about marbles growing from trees in Fort Payne, Alabama. She then talks about the first automobile she remembers seeing. At 6:55, Boozer talks about her wedding, including the clothes she wore and describes getting married at a young age. At 11:00 she talks about working at the local hosiery mill, as well as a house in which Jim Reed, a potter, lived before it was torn down. She goes on to talk about Jim Reed and his wife. She also talks about Mr. Reeds pottery business, how much he would charge for pieces, where he sourced his clay, and describes what some of his pottery looked like. She then describes Reeds process of making pottery. At 20:16 she mentions a potter named Bill Gordy, who worked with Jim Reed. At 21:05, Boozer talks about Mrs. Reed selling pottery to tourists. At 22:05, Boozer talks about other ways people would make money from tourists, including selling quilts, or spreads, and peaches. She also describes the area around Jim Reed pottery store, including a gas station and a building that served as a hospital during the Civil War but burned down. At 25:14, she continues to talk about Jim Reed and the types of pottery he would make and sell in his store. At 35:56 she talks about Reeds death by suicide and the Reeds children. At 40:09 Boozer and Finneran converse about crocheting and quilting, learning to drive, and farming with her family. At 53:06, Boozer talks about her handmade quilting frames and making quilts. At 59:04 she talks about members of her family, including those who contracted measles (then referred to as the Asian flu according to Boozer) and getting a measles vaccination. Annie Boozer (1906-?) was born in Sinclair County, Alabama. vaccinations; measles; quilting frames; families 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.