The 1858 Wythe County Poorhouse Farm: A Living History Book
Creator
Spencer, Lisa
Slemp, Josephine
Graham, Abner
Graham, Sarah
In this project, Lisa Spencer interviewed Josephine Slemp, and Abner and Sarah Graham about the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm. This 340 acre farm was made up of land bought by Wythe County to help take care of people in need, such as widows, orphans, disabled, elderly, and unwed mothers. There were cabins and work cottages on the farm to process foods for those who lived there. 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.