Edna Young: Making Do With What You Had. A Childhood and Life Amid the Depression in Appalachia

Creator: Epperly, Amanda

: Young, Edna Q.

In this project, Amanda Epperly interviewed her grandmother, Edna Q. Young, of the Indian Valley section of Floyd County. Ms. Young spoke of growing up during the Depression and of how her family survived. Though her stories were personal, they reflect the lifestyles of others living in the Appalachian region during the Depression as well. This interview is 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.