Growing Up on Scratch Gravel: Lonnie Burnett Remembers

Creator: Burnett, Bobbi Jo

: Higham, James Joseph

: Burnett, Normie Lonnie

In this project Bobbi Jo Burnett interviewed her grandfather, Normie Lonnie Burnett and James Joseph Higham. The purpose of this interview was to learn more about Mr. Burnett’s life and childhood. Topics covered include hunting with a slingshot (gravel shooter), working at the Austinville Lead Mine, working at Pulaski Furniture, schools attended, and growing up in the mountains. 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.