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diff --git a/13847-h/13847-h.htm b/13847-h/13847-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0ae877 --- /dev/null +++ b/13847-h/13847-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1193 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938: + District of Columbia: Administrative Files + </title> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13847 ***</div> + +<hr width="65%"><br><br> + +<h1>SLAVE NARRATIVES</h1> +<br> + +<h2><i>A Folk History of Slavery in the United States<br> +From Interviews with Former Slaves</i></h2> +<br> + +<h4>TYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY<br> +THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT<br> +1936-1938<br> +ASSEMBLED BY<br> +THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT<br> +WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION<br> +FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA<br> +SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS</h4> +<br> +<br> + +<p>WASHINGTON 1941</p> +<br><br><br> + + +<h3>FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY<br> +WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION<br> +FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA</h3> +<br> + +<p>Paul Edwards, Administrator<br> +Amelie S. Fair, Director, Division of Community Service Programs<br> +Mary Nan Gamble, Chief, Public Activities Programs</p> +<br> + +<h4>THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT<br> +Official Project No. 165-2-26-7<br> +Work Project No. 540</h4> +<br> + +<p>Mary Nan Gamble, Acting Project Supervisor<br> +Francesco M. Bianco, Assistant Project Supervisor<br> +B.A. Botkin, Chief Editor, Writers' Unit</p> +<br><br><br> + +<p>[Transcriber's Note: The CONTENTS section that follows lists the collection +of Slave Narratives; the SELECTED RECORDS listing after the INTRODUCTION +lists the nine Administrative Files included in this volume. An identifier +has been added to the beginning of each of these Files.]</p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<ol type="I"> +<!--I.--><li> <p>ALABAMA</p></li> + +<!--II.--><li> <p>ARKANSAS</p></li> + +<!--III.--><li> <p>FLORIDA</p></li> + +<!--IV.--><li> <p>GEORGIA</p></li> + +<!--V.--><li> <p>INDIANA</p></li> + +<!--VI.--><li> <p>KANSAS</p></li> + +<!--VII.--><li> <p>KENTUCKY</p></li> + +<!--VIII.--><li> <p>MARYLAND</p></li> + +<!--IX.--><li> <p>MISSISSIPPI</p></li> + +<!--X.--><li> <p>MISSOURI</p></li> + +<!--XI.--><li> <p>NORTH CAROLINA</p></li> + +<!--XII.--><li> <p>OHIO</p></li> + +<!--XIII.--><li> <p>OKLAHOMA</p></li> + +<!--XIV.--><li> <p>SOUTH CAROLINA</p></li> + +<!--XV.--><li> <p>TENNESSEE</p></li> + +<!--XVI.--><li> <p>TEXAS</p></li> + +<!--XVII.--><li> <p>VIRGINIA</p></li> +</ol> +<br> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h3>INTRODUCTION</h3> +<br> + +<b>I</b> + +<p>This collection of slave narratives had its beginning in the +second year of the former Federal Writers' Project (now the Writers' +Program), 1936, when several state Writers' Projects—notably +those of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina—recorded interviews +with ex-slaves residing in those states. On April 22, 1937, +a standard questionnaire for field workers drawn up by John A. +Lomax, then National Advisor on Folklore and Folkways for the Federal +Writers' Project<a name='FNanchor_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1'>[1]</a>, +was issued from Washington as "Supplementary +Instructions #9-E to The American Guide Manual" (appended below). +Also associated with the direction and criticism of the +work in the Washington office of the Federal Writers' Project +were Henry G. Alsberg, Director; George Cronyn, Associate Director; +Sterling A. Brown, Editor on Negro Affairs; Mary Lloyd, Editor; +and B.A. Botkin, Folklore Editor succeeding Mr. +Lomax.<a name='FNanchor_2'></a><a href='#Footnote_2'>[2]</a></p> + +<a name='Footnote_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1'>[1]</a> Mr. +Lomax served from June 25, 1936, to October 23, 1937, with +a ninety-day furlough beginning July 24, 1937. According to a +memorandum written by Mr. Alsberg on March 23, 1937, Mr. Lomax was +"in charge of the collection of folklore all over the United States +for the Writers' Project. In connection with this work he is making +recordings of Negro songs and cowboy ballads. Though technically +on the payroll of the Survey of Historical Records, his work +is done for the Writers and the results will make several national +volumes of folklore. The essays in the State Guides devoted to +folklore are also under his supervision." Since 1933 Mr. Lomax +has been Honorary Curator of the Archive of American Folk Song, +Library of Congress. +<br><br> +<a name='Footnote_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2'>[2]</a> Folklore +Consultant, from May 2 to July 31, 1938; Folklore +Editor, from August 1, 1938, to August 31, 1939. + +<p>On August 31, 1939, the Federal Writers' Project became the +Writers' Program, and the National Technical Project in Washington +was terminated. On October 17, the first Library of Congress Project, +under the sponsorship of the Library of Congress, was set up +by the Work Projects Administration in the District of Columbia, +to continue some of the functions of the National Technical Project, +chiefly those concerned with books of a regional or nationwide +scope. On February 12, 1940, the project was reorganized +along strictly conservation lines, and on August 16 it was succeeded +by the present Library of Congress Project (Official Project +No. 165-2-26-7, Work Project No. 540).</p> + +<p>The present Library of Congress Project, under the sponsorship +of the Library of Congress, is a unit of the Public Activities +Program of the Community Service Programs of the Work Projects +Administration for the District of Columbia. According +to the Project Proposal (WPA Form 301), the purpose of the Project +is to "collect, check, edit, index, and otherwise prepare +for use WPA records, Professional and Service Projects."</p> + +<p>The Writers' Unit of the Library of Congress Project processes +material left over from or not needed for publication by the +state Writers' Projects. On file in the Washington office in +August, 1939, was a large body of slave narratives, photographs +of former slaves, interviews with white informants regarding +slavery, transcripts of laws, advertisements, records of sale, +transfer, and manumission of slaves, and other documents. As unpublished +manuscripts of the Federal Writers' Project these +records passed into the hands of the Library of Congress Project +for processing; and from them has been assembled the present collection +of some two thousand narratives from the following seventeen +states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, +Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and +Virginia<a name='FNanchor_3'></a><a href='#Footnote_3'>[1]</a>.</p> + +<a name='Footnote_3'></a><a href='#FNanchor_3'>[1]</a> The +bulk of the Virginia narratives is still in the state office. +Excerpts from these are included in <u>The Negro in Virginia</u>, +compiled by Workers of the Writers' Program of the Work Projects +Administration in the State of Virginia, Sponsored by the Hampton +Institute, Hastings House, Publishers, New York, 1940. Other +slave narratives are published in <u>Drums and Shadows</u>, Survival +Studies among the Georgia Coastal Negroes, Savannah Unit, Georgia +Writers' Project, Work Projects Administration, University of +Georgia Press, 1940. A composite article, "Slaves," based on excerpts +from three interviews, was contributed by Elizabeth Lomax +to the <u>American Stuff</u> issue of <u>Direction</u>, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1935. + +<p>The work of the Writers' Unit in preparing the narratives for +deposit in the Library of Congress consisted principally of arranging +the manuscripts and photographs by states and alphabetically +by informants within the states, listing the informants and +illustrations, and collating the contents in seventeen volumes +divided into thirty-three parts. The following material has been +omitted: Most of the interviews with informants born too late to +remember anything of significance regarding slavery or concerned +chiefly with folklore; a few negligible fragments and unidentified +manuscripts; a group of Tennessee interviews showing evidence +of plagiarism; and the supplementary material gathered in connection +with the narratives. In the course of the preparation of +these volumes, the Writers' Unit compiled data for an essay on +the narratives and partially completed an index and a glossary. +Enough additional material is being received from the state Writers' +Projects, as part of their surplus, to make a supplement, +which, it is hoped, will contain several states not here represented, +such as Louisiana.</p> + +<p>All editing had previously been done in the states or the +Washington office. Some of the pencilled comments have been +identified as those of John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, who also +read the manuscripts. In a few cases, two drafts or versions +of the same interview have been included for comparison of interesting +variations or alterations.</p> +<br> + +<b>II</b> + +<p>Set beside the work of formal historians, social scientists, +and novelists, slave autobiographies, and contemporary records +of abolitionists and planters, these life histories, taken down +as far as possible in the narrators' words, constitute an invaluable +body of unconscious evidence or indirect source material, +which scholars and writers dealing with the South, especially +social psychologists and cultural anthropologists, cannot +afford to reckon without. For the first and the last time, +a large number of surviving slaves (many of whom have since +died) have been permitted to tell their own story, in their own +way. In spite of obvious limitations—bias and fallibility of +both informants and interviewers, the use of leading questions, +unskilled techniques, and insufficient controls and checks—this +saga must remain the most authentic and colorful source +of our knowledge of the lives and thoughts of thousands of slaves, +of their attitudes toward one another, toward their masters, +mistresses, and overseers, toward poor whites, North and South, +the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, religion, education, +and virtually every phase of Negro life in the South.</p> + +<p>The narratives belong to folk history—history recovered from +the memories and lips of participants or eye-witnesses, who +mingle group with individual experience and both with observation, +hearsay, and tradition. Whether the narrators relate what they +actually saw and thought and felt, what they imagine, or what +they have thought and felt about slavery since, now we know <u>why</u> +they thought and felt as they did. To the white myth of slavery +must be added the slaves' own folklore and folk-say of slavery. +The patterns they reveal are folk and regional patterns—the patterns +of field hand, house and body servant, and artisan; the +patterns of kind and cruel master or mistress; the patterns of +Southeast and Southwest, lowland and upland, tidewater and inland, +smaller and larger plantations, and racial mixture (including Creole +and Indian).</p> + +<p>The narratives belong also to folk literature. Rich not only +in folk songs, folk tales, and folk speech but also in folk humor +and poetry, crude or skilful in dialect, uneven in tone and +treatment, they constantly reward one with earthy imagery, salty +phrase, and sensitive detail. In their unconscious art, exhibited +in many a fine and powerful short story, they are a contribution +to the realistic writing of the Negro. Beneath all the +surface contradictions and exaggerations, the fantasy and flattery, +they possess an essential truth and humanity which surpasses +as it supplements history and literature.</p> + +<p>Washington, D.C.<br> +June 12, 1941<br> +<br> +B.A. Botkin<br> +Chief Editor, Writers' Unit<br> +Library of Congress Project</p> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h3>SELECTED RECORDS<br> +Bearing on the History of the Slave Narratives</h3> +<br> + +<p>From the correspondence and memoranda files of the Washington +office of the Federal Writers' Project the following instructions +and criticisms relative to the slave narrative collection, +issued from April 1 to September 8, 1937, have been selected. +They throw light on the progress of the work, the development +of materials and methods, and some of the problems encountered.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_1'>1.</a> Copy of Memorandum from George Cronyn to Mrs. Eudora R. +Richardson. April 1, 1937.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_2'>2.</a> Autograph Memorandum from John A. Lomax to George Cronyn. +April 9, 1937. [<a href='#File_2A'>Handwritten version</a>, +<a href='#File_2B'>Typewritten version'</a>]</p> + +<p><a href='#File_3'>3.</a> Copy of Memorandum from George Cronyn to Edwin Bjorkman, +enclosing a Memorandum from John A. Lomax on "Negro Dialect +Suggestions." April 14, 1937.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_4'>4.</a> Mimeographed "Supplementary Instructions #9-E to the American +Guide Manual. Folklore. Stories from Ex-Slaves."April 22, 1937. Prepared by John A. Lomax.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_5'>5.</a> Copy of Memorandum from George Cronyn to Edwin Bjorkman. +May 3, 1937.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_6'>6.</a> Copy of Memorandum from Henry G. Alsberg to State Directors +of the Federal Writers' Project. June 9, 1937.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_7'>7.</a> Copy of "Notes by an Editor on Dialect Usage in Accounts by +Interviews with Ex-Slaves." June 20, 1937. Prepared by Sterling A. Brown.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_8'>8.</a> Copy of Memorandum from Henry G. Alsberg to State Directors +of the Federal Writers' Project. July 30, 1937.</p> + +<p><a href='#File_9'>9.</a> Copy of Memorandum from Henry G. Alsberg to State Directors +of the Federal Writers' Project. September 8, 1937.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_1'></a> +<p>[File 1]</p> + +<h3>Sent to: NORTH & SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, ALABAMA,<br> + LOUISIANA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE,<br> + KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, MISSISSIPPI, OKLA.<br> +<br> +April 1, 1937<br> +<br> +Mrs. Eudora R. Richardson, Acting State Director<br> +Federal Writers' Project, WPA<br> +Rooms 321-4, American Bank Building<br> +Richmond, Virginia<br> +<br> +Subj: Folklore</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dear Mrs. Richardson:</p> + +<p>We have received from Florida a remarkably interesting +collection of autobiographical stories by ex-slaves. Such +documentary records by the survivors of a historic period in +America are invaluable, both to the student of history and to +creative writers.</p> + +<p>If a volume of such importance can be assembled we +will endeavor to secure its publication. There undoubtedly +is material of this sort to be found in your State by making +the proper contact through tactful interviewers. While it is +desirable to give a running story of the life of each subject, +the color and human interest will be greatly enhanced if it is +told largely in the words of the person interviewed. The peculiar +idiom is often more expressive than a literary account.</p> + +<p>We shall be very glad to know if you have undertaken +any research of this sort, or plan to do so.</p> + +<p>Very truly yours,<br> +George Cronyn<br> +Associate Director<br> +Federal Writers' Project</p> + +<p>GWCronyn/a</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_2'></a> +<a name='File_2A'></a> +<p>[File 2: Handwritten version]</p> + +<center> +<img src='images/doc2p1.gif' width='300' height='435' +alt='First page of Autograph Memorandum'> +</center> +<center> +<img src='images/doc2p2.gif' width='300' height='423' +alt='Second page of Autogrpah Memorandum'> +</center> + +<a name='File_2B'></a> +<p>[File 2: Typewritten version]</p> + +<h3>(Transcript of Preceding Autograph Memorandum)<br> + +4/9/37</h3> +<br> + +<p>Mr. Cronyn:</p> + +<p>In replying to this letter I should like for you +to commend especially two stories:</p> + +<p>1. <u>Lula Flannigan</u> by Sarah H. Hall Athens, Ga.</p> + +<p>2. <u>Uncle Willis</u>, Miss Velma Bell, Supervisor, Athens, Ga.</p> + +<p>All the stories are worth while but these two are mainly +(one entirely) in dialect and abound in human interest touches. +<u>All the interviewers should copy the Negro expressions</u>.</p> + +<p>I much prefer to read <u>un</u>edited (but typed) +"interviews," and I should like to see as soon as possible +all the seventy-five to which Miss Dillard refers.</p> + +<p>It is most important, too, to secure copies of +"slave codes, overseers codes and the like." This item is +new and all the states should send in similar material.</p> + +<p>Yours,<br> +John A. Lomax</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_3'></a> +<p>[File 3]</p> + +<h3>Sent to: North and South Carolina, Georgia,<br> + Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas,<br> + Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri,<br> + Mississippi, Oklahoma.<br> +<br> +April 14, 1937<br> +<br> +Mr. Edwin Bjorkman<br> +State Director, Federal Writers' Project<br> +Works Progress Administration<br> +City Hall, Fifth Floor<br> +Asheville, North Carolina</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dear Mr. Bjorkman:</p> + +<p>We have received more stories of ex-slaves and are +gratified by the quality and interest of the narratives. +Some of these stories have been accompanied by photographs +of the subjects. We would like to have portraits wherever +they can be secured, but we urge your photographers to +make the studies as simple, natural, and "unposed" as possible. +Let the background, cabin or whatnot, be the normal +setting—in short, just the picture a visitor would expect +to find by "dropping in" on one of these old-timers.</p> + +<p>Enclosed is a memorandum of Mr. Lomax with suggestions +for simplifying the spelling of certain recurring dialect +words. This does not mean that the interviews should be entirely +in "straight English"—simply, that we want them to +be more readable to those uninitiated in the broadest Negro +speech.</p> + +<p>Very truly yours,</p> + +<p>George Cronyn<br> +Associate Director<br> +Federal Writers' Project</p> + +<p>GWCronyn:MEB</p> +<br> +<p>This paragraph was added to the letter to Arkansas.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lomax is very eager to get such records as you mention: +Court Records of Sale, Transfer, and Freeing of Slaves, as well +as prices paid.</p> +<br> + + + +<p><b>Negro Dialect Suggestions<br> +(Stories of Ex-Slaves)</b></p> + +<p>Do not write:</p> + +<p><u>Ah</u> for I</p> + +<p><u>Poe</u> for po' (poor)</p> + +<p><u>Hit</u> for it</p> + +<p><u>Tuh</u> for to</p> + +<p><u>Wuz</u> for was</p> + +<p><u>Baid</u> for bed</p> + +<p><u>Daid</u> for dead</p> + +<p><u>Ouh</u> for our</p> + +<p><u>Mah</u> for my</p> + +<p><u>Ovah</u> for over</p> + +<p><u>Othuh</u> for other</p> + +<p><u>Wha</u> for whar (where)</p> + +<p><u>Undah</u> for under</p> + +<p><u>Fuh</u> for for</p> + +<p><u>Yondah</u> for yonder</p> + +<p><u>Moster</u> for marster or massa</p> + +<p><u>Gwainter</u> for gwineter (going to)</p> + +<p><u>Oman</u> for woman</p> + +<p><u>Ifn</u> for iffen (if)</p> + +<p><u>Fiuh</u> or <u>fiah</u> for fire</p> + +<p><u>Uz</u> or <u>uv</u> or <u>o'</u> for of</p> + +<p><u>Poar</u> for poor or po'</p> + +<p><u>J'in</u> for jine</p> + +<p><u>Coase</u> for cose</p> + +<p><u>Utha</u> for other</p> + +<p><u>Yo'</u> for you</p> + +<p><u>Gi'</u> for give</p> + +<p><u>Cot</u> for caught</p> + +<p><u>Kin'</u> for kind</p> + +<p><u>Cose</u> for 'cause</p> + +<p><u>Tho't</u> for thought</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_4'></a> +<p>[File 4]</p> + +<h3>WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION<br> +Federal Writers' Project<br> +1500 Eye St. N.W.<br> +Washington, D.C.<br> +<br> +SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS #9-E<br> +To<br> +THE AMERICAN GUIDE MANUAL<br> +<br> +FOLKLORE<br> +STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES</h3> +<br> + +<p>Note: In some states it may be possible to locate only +a very few ex-slaves, but an attempt should be +made in every state. Interesting ex-slave data +has recently been reported from Rhode Island, for +instance.</p> + +<p>April 22, 1937</p> +<br> + +<p><b>STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES</b></p> + +<p>The main purpose of these detailed and homely questions +is to get the Negro interested in talking about the days of slavery. +If he will talk freely, he should be encouraged to say what he pleases +without reference to the questions. It should be remembered that the +Federal Writers' Project is not interested in taking sides on any +question. The worker should not censor any material collected, regardless +of its nature.</p> + +<p>It will not be necessary, indeed it will probably be a mistake, +to ask every person all of the questions. Any incidents or facts +he can recall should be written down as nearly as possible just as he +says them, but do not use dialect spelling so complicated that it may +confuse the reader.</p> + +<p>A second visit, a few days after the first one, is important, +so that the worker may gather all the worthwhile recollections that the +first talk has aroused.</p> +<br> + +<p><b>Questions:</b></p> + +<p>1. Where and when were you born?</p> + +<p>2. Give the names of your father and mother. Where did they come +from? Give names of your brothers and sisters. Tell about your life +with them and describe your home and the "quarters." Describe the beds +and where you slept. Do you remember anything about your grandparents +or any stories told you about them?</p> + +<p>3. What work did you do in slavery days? Did you ever earn +any money? How? What did you buy with this money?</p> + +<p>4. What did you eat and how was it cooked? Any possums? +Rabbits? Fish? What food did you like best? Did the slaves have +their own gardens?</p> + +<p>5. What clothing did you wear in hot weather? Cold weather? +On Sundays? Any shoes? Describe your wedding clothes.</p> + +<p>6. Tell about your master, mistress, their children, the house +they lived in, the overseer or driver, poor white neighbors.</p> + +<p>7. How many acres in the plantation? How many slaves on it? +How and at what time did the overseer wake up the slaves? Did they +work hard and late at night? How and for what causes were the slaves +punished? Tell what you saw. Tell some of the stories you heard.</p> + +<p>8. Was there a jail for slaves? Did you ever see any slaves +sold or auctioned off? How did groups of slaves travel? Did you ever +see slaves in chains?</p> + +<p>9. Did the white folks help you to learn to read and write?</p> + +<p>10. Did the slaves have a church on your plantation? Did they +read the Bible? Who was your favorite preacher? Your favorite +spirituals? Tell about the baptizing; baptizing songs. Funerals and +funeral songs.</p> + +<p>11. Did the slaves ever run away to the North? Why? What did +you hear about patrollers? How did slaves carry news from one plantation +to another? Did you hear of trouble between the blacks and +whites?</p> + +<p>12. What did the slaves do when they went to their quarters +after the day's work was done on the plantation? Did they work on +Saturday afternoons? What did they do Saturday nights? Sundays? +Christmas morning? New Year's Day? Any other holidays? Cornshucking? +Cotton Picking? Dances? When some of the white master's family +married or died? A wedding or death among the slaves?</p> + +<p>13. What games did you play as a child? Can you give the +words or sing any of the play songs or ring games of the children? +Riddles? Charms? Stories about "Raw Head and Bloody Bones" or +other "hants" of ghosts? Stories about animals? What do you think of +voodoo? Can you give the words or sing any lullabies? Work songs? +Plantation hollers? Can you tell a funny story you have heard or +something funny that happened to you? Tell about the ghosts you +have seen.</p> + +<p>14. When slaves became sick who looked after them? What medicines +did tho doctors give them? What medicine (herbs, leaves, or roots) +did the slaves use for sickness? What charms did they wear and to keep +off what diseases?</p> + +<p>15. What do you remember about the war that brought your freedom? +What happened on the day news came that you were free? What did your +master say and do? When the Yankees came what did they do and say?</p> + +<p>16. Tell what work you did and how you lived the first year +after the war and what you saw or heard about the KuKlux Klan and the +Nightriders. Any school then for Negroes? Any land?</p> + +<p>17. Whom did you marry? Describe the wedding. How many children +and grandchildren have you and what are they doing?</p> + +<p>18. What do you think of Abraham Lincoln? Jefferson Davis? +Booker Washington? Any other prominent white man or Negro you have +known or heard of?</p> + +<p>19. Now that slavery is ended what do you think of it? Tell +why you joined a church and why you think all people should be religious.</p> + +<p>20. Was the overseer "poor white trash"? What were some of his +rules?</p> +<br> + +<p> +The details of the interview should be reported as +accurately as possible in the language of the original statements. +An example of material collected through one of the +interviews with ex-slaves is attached herewith. Although this +material was collected before the standard questionnaire had +been prepared, it represents an excellent method of reporting +an interview. More information might have been obtained however, +if a comprehensive questionnaire had been used.</p> +<br> + +<p><b>Sample Interview From Georgia<br> +<br> +LULA FLANNIGAN<br> +Ex-slave, 78 years.</b></p> + +<p>"Dey says I wuz jes fo' years ole when de war wuz over, but +I sho' does member dat day dem Yankee sojers come down de road. Mary +and Willie Durham wuz my mammy and pappy, en dey belong ter Marse Spence +Durham at Watkinsville in slav'ry times."</p> + +<p>"When word cum dat de Yankee sojers wuz on de way, Marse Spence +en his sons wuz 'way at de war. Miss Betsey tole my pappy ter take en +hide de hosses down in de swamp. My mammy help Miss Betsey sew up de +silver in de cotton bed ticks. Dem Yankee sojers nebber did find our +whitefolks' hosses and deir silver."</p> + +<p>"Miss Marzee, she wuz Marse Spence en Miss Betsey's daughter. +She wuz playin' on de pianny when de Yankee sojers come down de road. +Two sojers cum in de house en ax her fer ter play er tune dat dey liked. +I fergits de name er dey tune. Miss Marzee gits up fum de pianny en she +low dat she ain' gwine play no tune for' no Yankee mens. +Den de sojers +takes her out en set her up on top er de high gate post in front er de +big house, en mek her set dar twel de whole regiment pass by. She set +dar en cry, but she sho' ain' nebber played no tune for dem Yankee mens!"</p> + +<p>"De Yankee sojers tuk all de blankets offen de beds. Dey stole +all de meat dey want fum de smokehouse. Dey bash in de top er de syrup +barrels en den turn de barrels upside down."</p> + +<p>"Marse Spence gave me ter Miss Marzee fer ter be her own maid, +but slav'ry time ended fo' I wuz big 'nough ter be much good ter 'er."</p> + +<p>"Us had lots better times dem days dan now. Whatter dese niggers +know 'bout corn shuckin's, en log rollin's, en house raisin's? Marse Spence +used ter let his niggers have candy pullin's in syrup mekkin' time, en de +way us wud dance in de moonlight wuz sompin' dese niggers nowadays doan +know nuffin' 'bout."</p> + +<p>"All de white folks love ter see plenty er healthy, strong black +chillun comin' long, en dey wuz watchful ter see dat 'omans had good keer +when dey chilluns vuz bawned. Dey let dese 'omans do easy, light wuk towards +de last 'fo' de chilluns is bawned, en den atterwuds dey doan do nuffin much +twel dey is well en strong ergin. Folks tell 'bout some plantations whar de +'omans ud run back home fum de fiel' en hev day baby, en den be back in do +fiel' swingin' er hoe fo' right dat same day, but dey woan nuffin lak dat +'round Watkinsville."</p> + +<p>"When er scritch owl holler et night us put en iron in de fire +quick, en den us turn all de shoes up side down on de flo', en turn de +pockets wrong side out on call de close, kaze effan we diden' do dem things +quick, sompin' moughty bad wuz sho' ter happen. Mos' en lakly, somebuddy +gwint'er be daid in dat house fo' long, if us woan quick 'bout fixin'. Whut +us do in summer time, 'bout fire at night fer de scritch owl? Us jes' onkivver +de coals in de fire place. Us diden' hev no matches en us bank de fire wid +ashes evvy night all de year 'roun'. Effen de fire go out, kaze some nigger +git keerless 'bout it, den somebuddy gotter go off ter de next plantation +sometime ter git live coals. Some er de mens could wuk de flints right +good, but dat wuz er hard job. Dey jes rub dem flint rocks tergedder right +fas' en let de sparks day makes drap down on er piece er punk wood, en dey +gits er fire dat way effen dey is lucky."</p> + +<p>"Dem days nobuddy bring er axe in de house on his shoulder. Dat +was er sho' sign er bad luck. En nebber lay no broom crost de bed. One time +er likely pair er black folks git married, en somebuddy give 'em er new broom. +De 'oman she proud uv her nice, spankin' new broom en she lay hit on de bed +fer de weddin' crowd ter see it, wid de udder things been give 'em. Fo' thee +years go by her man wuz beatin' 'er, en not long atter dat she go plum stark +crazy. She oughter ter know better'n ter lay dat broom on her bed. It sho' +done brung her bad luck. Dey sent her off ter de crazy folks place, en she +died dar."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_5'></a> +<p>[File 5]</p> + +<h3>May 3, 1937<br> +<br> +Mr. Edwin Bjorkman, State Director<br> +Federal Writers' Project, WPA<br> +City Hall, Fifth Floor<br> +Asheville, North Carolina<br> +<br> +Subj: Ex-slave Narratives</h3> +<br> + +<p>Dear Mr. Bjorkman:</p> + +<p>I am quoting a memorandum of Mr. Lomax, folklore +editor, regarding the ex-slave stories:</p> + +<p>"Of the five States which have already sent in reminiscences +of ex-slaves, Tennessee is the only one in which the +workers are asking ex-slaves about their belief in signs, cures, +hoodoo, etc. Also, the workers are requesting the ex-slaves +to tell the stories that were current among the Negroes when +they were growing up. Some of the best copy that has come in +to the office is found in these stories."</p> + +<p>This suggestion, I believe, will add greatly to the +value of the collection now being made.</p> + +<p>Very truly yours,<br> +George Cronyn<br> +Associate Director</p> + +<p>CC—Mr. W.T. Couch, Asso. Director Federal Writers' Project<br> + University Press<br> + Chapel Hill, No. Car.</p> + +<p>GWCronyn/a</p> +<br> +<p>SENT TO: No. and So. Carolina; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana;<br> + Texas; Arkansas; Kentucky; Missouri; Mississippi;<br> + Oklahoma; Florida</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_6'></a> +<p>[File 6]</p> + +<h3>MEMORANDUM<br> +June 9, 1937<br> +<br> +TO: STATE DIRECTORS OF THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT<br> +FROM: Henry G. Alsberg, Director</h3> +<br> + +<p>In connection with the stories of ex-slaves, please +send in to this office copies of State, county, or city laws +affecting the conduct of slaves, free Negroes, overseers, patrollers, +or any person or custom affecting the institution of +slavery. It will, of course, not be necessary to send more +than one copy of the laws that were common throughout the state, +although any special law passed by a particular city would constitute +worthwhile material.</p> + +<p>In addition, we should like to have you collect and +send in copies of any laws or accounts of any established customs +relating to the admission to your State of bodies of slaves +from Africa or other sections, the escape of slaves, etc. Also, +we should like to see copies of advertisements of sales of slaves, +published offers of rewards for fugitive slaves, copies of transfers +of slaves by will or otherwise, records of freeing of +slaves, etc. Public records of very particular interest regarding +any transaction involving slaves should be photostated and +copies furnished to the Washington office.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, contemporary accounts of any noteworthy +occurrences among the Negroes during slavery days or the Reconstruction +period should be copied, if taken from contemporary +newspapers. If such records have been published in books, a +reference to the source would be sufficient. We have been receiving +a large number of extremely interesting stories of ex-slaves. +The historic background of the institution of slavery, +which should be disclosed with the information we are now +requesting, will be very helpful in the execution of the plans +we have in mind.</p> +<br> + +Copies sent to:<br> +<table summary="listing of states that received this document"> +<tr> +<td>Alabama</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Georgia</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Maryland</td> +<td> </td> +<td>North Carolina</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Tennessee</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Arkansas</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Kentucky</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Mississippi</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oklahoma</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Texas</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Florida</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Louisiana</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Missouri</td> +<td> </td> +<td>South Carolina</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Virginia</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="8"> </td> +<td>West Virginia</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="8"> </td> +<td>Ohio</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="8"> </td> +<td>Kansas</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_7'></a> +<p>[File 7]</p> + +<h3>Notes by an editor on dialect usage in accounts<br> +by interviews with ex-slaves. (To be used in<br> +conjunction with Supplementary Instructions 9E.)</h3> +<br> + +<p>Simplicity in recording the dialect is to be desired in order +to hold the interest and attention of the readers. It seems to +me that readers are repelled by pages sprinkled with misspellings, +commas and apostrophes. The value of exact phonetic transcription is, +of course, a great one. But few artists attempt +this completely. Thomas Nelson Page was meticulous in his dialect; +Joel Chandler Harris less meticulous but in my opinion +even more accurate. But the values they sought are different +from the values that I believe this book of slave narratives +should have. Present day readers are less ready for the over-stress +of phonetic spelling than in the days of local color. +Authors realize this: Julia Peterkin uses a modified Gullah instead +of Gonzales' carefully spelled out Gullah. Howard Odum +has questioned the use of goin' for going since the g is seldom +pronounced even by the educated.</p> + +<p>Truth to idiom is more important, I believe, than truth to +pronunciation. Erskine Caldwell in his stories of Georgia, Ruth +Suckow in stories of Iowa, and Nora Neale Hurston in stories of +Florida Negroes get a truth to the manner of speaking without +excessive misspellings. In order to make this volume of slave +narratives more appealing and less difficult for the average +reader, I recommend that truth to idiom be paramount, and exact +truth to pronunciation secondary.</p> + +<p>I appreciate the fact that many of the writers have recorded +sensitively. The writer who wrote "ret" for right is probably +as accurate as the one who spelled it "raght." But in a +single publication, not devoted to a study of local speech, the +reader may conceivably be puzzled by different spellings of the +same word. The words "whafolks," "whufolks," "whi'foiks," etc., +can all be heard in the South. But "whitefolks" is easier for +the reader, and the word itself is suggestive of the setting +and the attitude.</p> + +<p>Words that definitely have a notably different pronunciation +from the usual should be recorded as heard. More important is +the recording of words with a different local meaning. Most +important, however, are the turns of phrase that have flavor +and vividness. Examples occurring in the copy I read are:</p> + +durin' of de war<br> +outmen my daddy (good, but unnecessarily put into quotes)<br> +piddled in de fields<br> +skit of woods<br> +kinder chillish<br> + +<p>There are, of course, questionable words, for which it may +be hard to set up a single standard. Such words are:</p> + +paddyrollers, padrollers, pattyrollers for patrollers<br> +missis, mistess for mistress<br> +marsa, massa, maussa, mastuh for master<br> +ter, tuh, teh for to<br> + +<p>I believe that there should be, for this book, a uniform +word for each of these.</p> + +<p>The following list is composed of words which I think +should not be used. These are merely samples of certain faults:</p> + +1. ah for I<br> +2. bawn for born<br> +3. capper for caper<br> +4. com' for come<br> +5. do for dough<br> +6. ebry, ev'ry for every<br> +7. hawd for hard<br> +8. muh for my<br> +9. nekid for naked<br> +10. ole, ol' for old<br> +11. ret, raght for right<br> +12. sneik for snake<br> +13. sowd for sword<br> +14. sto' for store<br> +15. teh for tell<br> +16. twon't for twan't<br> +17. useter, useta for used to<br> +18. uv for of<br> +19. waggin for wagon<br> +20. whi' for white<br> +21. wuz for was<br> + +<p>I should like to recommend that the stories be told in the +language of the ex-slave, without excessive editorializing and +"artistic" introductions on the part of the interviewer. The contrast +between the directness of the ex-slave speech and the +roundabout and at times pompous comments of the interviewer is +frequently glaring. Care should be taken lest expressions such +as the following creep in: "inflicting wounds from which he +never fully recovered" (supposed to be spoken by an ex-slave).</p> + +<p>Finally, I should like to recommend that the words darky and +nigger and such expressions as "a comical little old black woman" +be omitted from the editorial writing. Where the ex-slave himself +uses these, they should be retained.</p> +<br> + +<p>This material sent June 20 to states of: Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga.,<br> + Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Tenn., Texas,<br> + Va., and S. Car.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_8'></a> +<p>[File 8]</p> + +<h3>MEMORANDUM<br> +July 30, 1937.<br> +<br> +TO: STATE DIRECTORS OF THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT<br> +FROM: Henry G. Alsberg, Director</h3> +<br> + +<p>The following general suggestions are being sent to +all the States where there are ex-slaves still living. They +will not apply <u>in toto</u> to your State as they represent general +conclusions reached after reading the mass of ex-slave material +already submitted. However, they will, I hope, prove helpful +as an indication, along broad lines, of what we want.</p> +<br> + +<b>GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:</b> + +<p>1. Instead of attempting to interview a large number +of ex-slaves the workers should now concentrate on one or two of +the more interesting and intelligent people, revisiting them, +establishing friendly relations, and drawing them out over a +period of time.</p> + +<p>2. The specific questions suggested to be asked of +the slaves should be only a basis, a beginning. The talk should +run to all subjects, and the interviewer should take care to +sieze upon the information already given, and stories already +told, and from them derive other questions.</p> + +<p>3. The interviewer should take the greatest care not +to influence the point of view of the informant, and not to let +his own opinion on the subject of slavery become obvious. Should +the ex-slave, however, give only one side of the picture, the +interviewer should suggest that there were other circumstances, +and ask questions about them.</p> + +<p>4. We suggest that each state choose one or two of +their most successful ex-slave interviewers and have them take +down some stories <u>word</u> for <u>word</u>. Some Negro informants are marvellous +in their ability to participate in this type of interview. +<u>All stories should be as nearly word-for-word as is possible.</u></p> + +<p>5. More emphasis should be laid on questions concerning +the lives of the individuals since they were freed.</p> +<br> + +<b>SUGGESTIONS TO INTERVIEWERS:</b> + +<p>The interviewer should attempt to weave the following +questions naturally into the conversation, in simple language. +Many of the interviews show that the workers have simply sprung +routine questions out of context, and received routine answers.</p> + +<p>1. What did the ex-slaves expect from freedom? Forty +acres and a mule? A distribution of the land of their masters' +plantation?</p> + +<p>2. What did the slaves get after freedom? Were any +of the plantations actually divided up? Did their masters give +them any money? Were they under any compulsion after the war to +remain as servants?</p> + +<p>3. What did the slaves do after the war? What did +they receive generally? What do they think about the reconstruction +period?</p> + +<p>4. Did secret organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan +exert or attempt to exert any influence over the lives of ex-slaves?</p> + +<p>5. Did the ex-slaves ever vote? If so, under what circumstances? +Did any of their friends ever hold political office? +What do the ex-slaves think of the present restricted suffrage?</p> + +<p>6. What have the ex-slaves been doing in the interim +between 1864 and 1937? What jobs have they held (in detail)? +How are they supported nowadays?</p> + +<p>7. What do the ex-slaves think of the younger generation +of Negroes and of present conditions?</p> + +<p>8. Were there any instances of slave uprisings?</p> + +<p>9. Were any of the ex-slaves in your community living in +Virginia at the time of the Nat Turner rebellion? Do they remember +anything about it?</p> + +<p>10. What songs were there of the period?</p> +<br> +<p>The above sent to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Ga., Kentucky, La.,<br> + Md., Mississippi, Mo., N. Car., Okla., S. Car., Tenn., Texas, Virginia,<br> + W. Va., Ohio, Kansas, Indiana.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style='width: 65%;'><br><br> +<a name='File_9'></a> +<p>[File 9]</p> + +<h3>MEMORANDUM<br> +September 8, 1937<br> +<br> +TO: STATE DIRECTORS OF THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT<br> +FROM: HENRY G. ALSBERG</h3> +<br> + +<p>It would be a good idea if you would ask such of your +field workers as are collecting stories from ex-slaves to try +to obtain stories given to the ex-slaves by their parents and +grandparents. The workers should try to obtain information +about family traditions and legends passed down from generation +to generation. There should be a wealth of such material available.</p> + +<p>We have found that the most reliable way to obtain information +about the age of ex-slaves or the time certain events +in their lives took place is to ask them to try to recollect some +event of importance of known date and to use that as a point of +reference. For instance, Virginia had a very famous snow storm +called Cox's Snow Storm which is listed in history books by date +and which is well remembered by many ex-slaves. In Georgia and +Alabama some ex-slaves remember the falling stars of the year +1883. An ex-slave will often remember his life story in relation +to such events. Not only does it help the chronological accuracy +of ex-slave stories to ask for dated happenings of this kind, but +it often serves to show whether the story being told is real or +imagined.</p> + +<br> +Sent the following states:<br> +<table summary="listing of states that received this document"> +<tr> +<td>Alabama</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Maryland</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Tennessee</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Arkansas</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Mississippi</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Texas</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Florida</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Missouri</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Virginia</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Georgia</td> +<td> </td> +<td>N. Carolina</td> +<td> </td> +<td>West Virginia</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Kentucky</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oklahoma</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Ohio</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Louisiana</td> +<td> </td> +<td>S. Carolina</td> +<td> </td> +<td>Kansas</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="4"> </td> +<td>Indiana</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13847 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/13847-h/images/doc2p1.gif b/13847-h/images/doc2p1.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8551a31 --- /dev/null +++ b/13847-h/images/doc2p1.gif diff --git a/13847-h/images/doc2p2.gif b/13847-h/images/doc2p2.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..59ade47 --- /dev/null +++ b/13847-h/images/doc2p2.gif |
