Swimming in the Branch: The Memoirs of Christine Wheeling Akers

Creator: Akers, Christine

: Akers, Danielle

In this project, Danielle Akers interviewed her grandmother Christine Akers, who was born February 2, 1941 in Fagg, Virginia. The interview was conducted in Shawsville, Virginia and covered, among other topics, music, religion, musical instruments, local history, family, and food.

Among projects created by students enrolled in English 446 (initially English 452), “Appalachian Folklore,” 1981-2019, and in graduate level counterparts English 548 and 648 “Appalachian Folk Culture(s)” offered 17 fall semesters between 1987 and 2009. Minimally contain collector’s introduction and analysis, transcribed informant interviews, and excerpted and labeled examples of oral, customary, and/or material folklore/folklife collected primarily within the Appalachian region. Most include also tables of contents, informant information, indexes (outlines) of interviews, photographs, miscellaneous paper items, and indexes of informants, genres, and geographic locations. Accompanying audio recordings (several minutes to 2+ hours). Transferred to McConnell Library Archives & Special Collections from Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center, Fall 2013.