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- Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 6
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Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 6
by United States. Work Projects Administration
Chapters
118 totalTYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT 1936-1938 ASSEMBLED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
INFORMANTS
Texarkana District FOLKLORE SUBJECTS Name of Interviewer: Cecil Copeland Subject: Social Customs—Reminiscences of an Ex-Slave Subject: Foods This Information given by: Doc Quinn Place of Residence: 1217 Ash Street, Texarkana, Arkansas Occupation: None [TR: also reported as Ex-slave.] Age: 93 [TR: also reported as 94.]
Texarkana District FOLKLORE SUBJECTS Name of Interviewer: Mrs. W.M. Ball Subject: Anecdotes of an Aged Ex-Slave. Subject: Superstitious Beliefs Among Negroes. (Negro lore) Story:—Information: Information given by: Doc Quinn Place of Residence: 12th & Ash Sts., Texarkana, Ark. Occupation: None (Ex-Slave) Age: 92
Interviewer: Bernice Bowden Person interviewed: Henrietta Ralls 1 Fluker St. Pine Bluff, Ark. Age: 88
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson Person interviewed: Diana Rankins, Brinkley, Arkansas Age: 66
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden Person interviewed: Senia Rassberry 810 Catalpa Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas Age: 84
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson Person interviewed: Clay Reaves, (light mulatto, large man) Palestine, Arkansas Age: 80
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden Person interviewed: Jane Reece 819 W. Ninth Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas Age: 85
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden Person interviewed: Frank Reed, 1004 Missouri Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas Age: 78
Description
A vivid tapestry of voices emerges from the fields and farms of Arkansas, where former slaves recount the rhythms of daily life that shaped their world. Listeners hear candid reflections on everything from the hard‑won harvests and communal meals to the customs that bound families together, all delivered in the unmistakable cadence of those who lived it. The narratives also touch on the broader currents of the era—politics, religion, and the tumult of war—offering a personal lens on moments that textbooks often skim over.
Among the stories, a centenarian shares his recollection of being born into a plantation in Mississippi, being pressed into service during the Civil War, and later finding a new home along the Red River’s canebrake. His account, rich with detail about the landscape, the challenges of frontier life, and the lingering memories of conflict, invites listeners to step into a past that feels immediate and human. The collection preserves these memories with the care of oral history, letting each voice speak directly to today’s audience.
Collections
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Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (495K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.
Release date
2004-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
About the author
United States. Work Projects Administration
Born during the Great Depression, this New Deal agency became one of the most ambitious public-work efforts in U.S. history, putting millions of people to work while reshaping roads, parks, schools, and cultural life across the country. Its story offers a vivid look at how government relief, labor, and the arts came together in a moment of national crisis.
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