Dairy Farms in Southwestern Virginia: A Family Affair

Creator: Frazier. Kristin

: Altizer, Aaron

: Spence, Ellen

In this project Kristin Frazier interviewed dairy farmers Aaron Altizer and Ellen Spence. During the interview, topics covered include descriptions of a dairy farm in the 1930s and 1940s, selling their dairy products in Radford at the local creamery, slowly adding to their herd, and how they followed various governmental regulations in their industry. 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.