We Had A Great Childhood. Memories of Two Sisters Growing Up in Wise, Virginia

Creator: Hibbitts, Allison

: Gardner, Sherry

: Womble, Kim

In this project Allison Hibbitts interviewed her mother, Sherry Gardner; and her aunt, Kim Womble. The two interviewees spoke of growing up in Wise County, Virginia, coal mining, baptisms, church services, superstitions, going to see the doctor in Pound Virginia, and life in a small mountain community. 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.