In this project, Elizabeth Herndon interviewed Mary James and Katherine McRoberts to find out what it was like to grow up in Appalachia in the 1930s. During the interview, Ms. Herndon heard about games played and other ways they spent their time, such as playing in rivers, hunting, and playing baseball. In addition they talked of walking to school, doing farm chores, what clothes they wore, how they were disciplined, and many other details about growing up.
These interviews are interesting because they provide a different perspective from many depression stories we have heard. 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.