Study of the Cowger Family Homesteads of Pendleton County, WV

Creator: Emmerson, Bryan A.

: Pope, Larry

: Cowger, Grace

In this project Bryan Emmerson used an interview his uncle, Larry Pope conducted with Grace Cowger in 1972 to learn about various buildings and farm details, measured and photographed existing buildings, and used county records to determine the origin and uses of the various farm buildings. Extensive measuring, photographing, and diagramming make this detail oriented project a valuable record of the Cowger Homestead. 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.