Schools of Yesteryear: When Carrie and Edwin Cole Went to School

Creator: Katwal, Justin

: Cole, Carrie

: Cole, Edwin

In this project Justin Katwal interviewed Carrie and Edwin Cole, of Pilot, Virginia. The Coles spoke of going to school in Pilot School, Pleasant View School, and Double Springs school. During the interview, The Coles gave a tour of Pilot School and explained various things about it that Mr. Katwal might not have known, such as the firewood shed which was stocked by students, using a ladder as a fire escape, discipline in the school, and also talked about the teachers at the school: Miss Ellen Chafen for first and second grade; Miss June Earles for third and fourth grade; and then a preacher named Mr. Arnold Naff for the other grades in the building. 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.