Grandma\'s Ghost Stories: An Analytical Comparison of Traditional Appalachian Tales and Modern Versions

Creator: Owens, David

: Owens, Helen

In this project, David Owens interviewed his grandmother, Helen Owens, who is a retired teacher of English and Appalachian studies. As a teacher, Ms. Owens had collected stories from both her students, and her family over the years. In this project, Mr. Owens discusses stories his grandmother collected, their probable origins and their relation to Russell County, Virginia. This 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.