Should I Stay or Should I Go: A Look at the Decision to Move Away From the Traditional Appalachian Home

Creator: Blankenship, Michael

: Blankenship, Michael R.

: Ludwig, Linda

: Booth, Tammy

: Miller, Donna

In this project, Michael Blankenship interviewed several family members about the idea of staying on the family farm or leaving it. Mr. Blankenship outlines the pros and cons of staying on the family farm and after interviewing his family, he draws conclusions based on these interviews. 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.