There\'s Something About Mertie: The Life and Times of Mertie Widner

Creator: Cullop, Shai

: Cullop, Ann S.

: Moore, Mary E.

In this project, Shai Cullop interviewed her mother, Ann Cullop and a cousin, Mary Moore with the intent of learning about a relative she had never met, her aunt Mertie Widner. Ms. Widner wsa just an ordinary woman who lived in Appalachia, but she is the subject of many family stories and the source of many of its traditions. 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.