THOMAS G. BURTON COLLECTION
1967-91

East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614

E-mail: archives@etsu.edu
Telephone: (423) 439-4338

INTRODUCTION

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: The Thomas G. Burton Collection consists of materials donated by Burton to the archives. Originally the archives placed these materials, donated at different times, in four separate collections. In April 1989 the archives combined these materials into one collection.

Access Restricted: Copying of tapes necessitates the permission of Thomas G. Burton. Because of copyright restrictions, some tapes, as noted, may be used for research purposes, but may not be copied. Otherwise the collection is open for research.

Processing: Processing of this collection was completed in June 1991 by Norma Myers, Scott Schwartz, Marie Tedesco, and Georgia Greer.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Thomas G. Burton was born in Memphis, Tennessee on January 7, 1935. He attended public schools in Florida and North Carolina. Burton received his B.A. Degree in 1956 from David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tennessee, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from Vanderbilt University, also located in Nashville in 1958 and 1966 respectively. He joined the East Tennessee State University faculty in 1958; since then he has served as a professor in the English department.

During his academic career, Burton has researched various aspects of Appalachian folk culture, among them folklore, balladry, storytelling and serpent handling in religious services. In 1964 Burton and Ambrose Manning, also of the English department at ETSU, began taping folk songs and folk tales. In 1969, Burton and Manning received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to teach oral history techniques to high school students in Avery and Watauga Counties in North Carolina. Both the tapes recorded by Burton and Manning and those recorded by the students became part of the Oral History Archives run by Burton and Manning. Those tapes were transferred to the Archives of Appalachia in January 1979, a few months after the archives' founding in 1978.

Beginning in the 1970s, Burton devoted much of his research effort to the phenomenon of handling serpents during religious services. He and Jack

Schrader of ETSU's art department collaborated on the documentary "They Shall Take Up Serpents" (1973). Later, Burton and Tom Headley, of the communication department at ETSU, collaborated on two other serpent-handling documentaries,

"Carson Springs: A Decade Later" (1983) and "Following the Signs: A Way of Conflict" (1987) and one documentary on violence in the South, "Traditional Springs: Violence in the South" (1985). As of the writing of this guide Burton's book on serpent-handling is forthcoming from the University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Burton also directs the Appalachian-Scottish Studies program sponsored by ETSU's Center for Appalachian Studies and Services. This program includes an exchange with the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Thomas G. Burton Collection includes manuscripts, photographic prints and negatives, audio and video tapes. The manuscripts include dub sheets and tape transcripts, one copy of a songbook, documentation related to the Tennessee Traditions in Perspective Colloquium, and one booklet on Tennessee snake-handlers. The photographic prints and negatives focus on serpent-handling church services in West Virginia and Tennessee. The audio and video tapes cover serpent-handling church services in Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee; folk song and storytelling performances; and interviews by East Tennessee State University folklore students of individuals who have knowledge of different folk practices and traditions in East Tennessee. The collection is divided into series and subseries as follows: Series I, Field Research in Folklore Class Materials, 1986-91, Boxes 1-4 [Boxes 1-4 contain audio tapes 1-58] and video tapes 59-67; Series II, Serpent-Handling Materials, 1983-89, Boxes 5-6 and video tapes 68-79; and Series III, Other Materials, 1978-90 and undated, Boxes 6 and 7 [Box 7 contains audio tapes 80-90]. Series III is divided into subseries as follows: Subseries III-A, Lisa Alther Tape, 1983, Box 7, Tape 80; Subseries III-B, John Allen Tapes, 1967 and 1977, Box 7, Tapes 81-82; Subseries III-C, Tennessee Traditions in Perspective, 1978, Boxes 6 and 7 [Box 7 contains Tapes 83-85]; and Subseries III-D, Folklore and Folk Song Materials, 1988-89 and undated, Boxes 6 and 7 [Box 7 contains Tapes 86-90]. A subject index and a song title list follows the box and folder list.

Important subjects and persons included in this collection include:

Afro-Americans
Allen, John Daniel, 1898-
Alther, Lisa
Chafin, Dewey
Cherokee Indians
Childbirth
Christmas
Church of the Lord Jesus (Jolo, W. Va.)
Distilling, Illicit
Elkins, Bob
Folk medicine
Food
Food--Preservation
Fugitives (Group)
Fundamentalist churches
Funeral rites and ceremonies
Ghost stories
Hicks, Stanley, 1911-
Holidays
Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name (Carson Springs, Tenn.)
Holiness churches
Humphries, Pelham
Iron Mountain Stoneware
Jack tales
McConnell, Doc
Midwives
Molasses
Pack, Liston
Prince, Charles H
Quilting
Snake cults (Holiness churches)
Soap-making
Storytelling
Sugarcane
Tall tales
Tobacco
Traditional medicine
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Anecdotes
Weather-Folklore
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945

SERIES AND SUBSERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I, FIELD RESEARCH IN FOLKLORE CLASS MATERIALS, 1986-91. Boxes 1-4; Video Tapes 59-63, [Boxes 2-4 contain audio tapes 1-58].

This series consists of interviews conducted by students in Thomas Burton's folklore classes. The interviewees are members of the region who have knowledge of different aspects of folklore and folklife in East Tennessee. Among the topics discussed by interviewees are folk medicine, regional foods, folk dancing, storytelling, the making of Iron Mountain Stoneware, and traditional funeral customs. The series is divided into two subseries: Subseries A: Printed Materials, 1986-91, Box 1; and Subseries B, Tapes, 1986-91, Audio Tapes 1-58 and Video Tapes 59-67.

Subseries I-A, PRINTED MATERIALS, 1986-91, Box 1.

This subseries contains dub sheets, biographical information sheets and transcripts of a number of the interviews. Those folders marked with a "T" contain transcripts of the interviews. These materials are arranged first, chronologically by the semester in which the class was taught, and then alphabetically by the surname of the person interviewed.

Subseries I-B, TAPES, 1986-91, Audio Tapes 1-58 and Video Tapes 59-67.

Included are interviews by Burton's students of individuals who have lived for a long period of time in the region, and who have acquired knowledge of different aspects of folklore and folklife in East Tennessee. The tapes have been separated into audio and video categories, and then within each category arranged first, chronologically by the semester in which the class was taught, and then alphabetically by the surname of the person interviewed.

This series contains materials which depict the serpent-handling practices and rituals of fundamentalist, serpent-handling Christian churches in Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. The materials contained in this series include the following: 1) color and black and white photographic prints and negatives of snake-handling services and homecomings in Jolo, West Virginia (taken by Thomas Burton), Carson Springs, Tennessee (taken by Burton) and New Haven, Indiana (taken by Burton and journalist Fred Brown of Knoxville, Tennessee); 2) five VHS videos of snake-handling services and homecomings in Greeneville; Tennessee, Baxter and Shields, Kentucky; Jolo, West Virginia; and New Haven, Indiana; 3) seven 3/4" videos of Greeneville, Tennessee services featuring Charles Prince; and 4) one booklet, undated, Tennessee Snake Handlers by J. B. Collins. The booklet focuses on the Dolley Pond Church of God with Signs Following, located 35 miles northeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Collins donated the book to the archives on April 30, 1990. The materials are arranged as follows: The prints and negatives are listed first and arranged alphabetically by geographic region; the tapes are listed next, arranged alphabetically by geographic location and numbered consecutively, beginning with number 68; and the Collins' booklet is listed last, and stored separately in Box 5, Folder 3.

This series contains other donations made to the archives by Burton. The materials contained in this series include an audio tape of Lisa Alther's presentation for the ETSU Literary Artists Series in 1983; written and tape-recorded materials on the Tennessee Traditions in Perspective Colloquium of 1978; audio tapes of ETSU professor John Allen's 1967 reading of sonnets; and tape-recorded and written materials which relate to folk songs and folklore of Appalachia. This series is divided into four subseries as follows: Subseries III-A: Lisa Alther Tape, Box 7, Tape 80, March 22, 1983; Subseries III-B, John Allen Tapes, Box 7, Tapes 81-82, 1967 and 1971; Subseries III-C, Tennessee Traditions in Perspective, Box 6 and Box 7 [Tapes 83-85], 1978; and Subseries III-D Folklore and Folk Song materials, Box 6 and Box 7 [Tapes 86-90], 1988-89 and ND.

This subseries contains one audio tape of a March 22, 1983 presentation made by novelist Lisa Alther as part of the ETSU Literary Artists Series. The tape is 60 minutes long.

Subseries III-B, JOHN ALLEN TAPES, 1967 and 1971. Box 7, Tapes 81-82.

This subseries consists of one audio cassette of ETSU professor John Allen discussing the Renaissance sonnet and reading sonnets, and one tape of Allen discussing and reading from Southern 20th century poetry. All tapes are 60 minutes long.

Subseries III-C, TENNESSEE TRADITIONS IN PERSPECTIVE COLLOQUIUM, April 25, 1978. Boxes 6 and 7 [Box 7 contains tapes 83-85].

This subseries focuses on the Tennessee Traditions in Perspective Colloquium on the state of traditional folk arts in Tennessee held at ETSU on April 25, 1978. The colloquium attracted twenty scholars and practitioners from such varied disciplines and fields as history, sociology, geography, folklore, recreation and storytelling. The meeting focused on three major issues: 1) the state of the folk arts in Tennessee; 2) what should be done in the future in regard to folk arts; and 3) the roles community and academic groups and individuals should play in preserving, improving and sustaining the folk arts in Tennessee. All tapes are 60 minutes in length.

This subseries contains assorted materials which relate to folklore and folk songs of Appalachia and the South. Included are folk songs sung by Hattie Presnell and Stanley Hicks of Beech Mountain, North Carolina; a radio promo, "Life in Appalachia," done in conjunction with an ETSU Folk Festival; and a copy of the "Manuscript Songbook Written by Delmer Herington of Bristol, Tennessee, before his death in 1988." The songbook copy was made by Ramond Burgin on August 21, 1990, from the original manuscript owned by Herington's daughter, Teresa Herington Burchett of Bristol, Tennessee.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST

SERIES I, FIELD RESEARCH IN FOLKLORE CLASS MATERIALS, 1986-91. Boxes 1-4; Video Tapes 59-63,
[Boxes 2-4 contain audio tapes 1-58].

Subseries IA, Printed Materials, 1986-91. Box 1:

Box 1

1986 Interviews

1. Campbell, Nellie and Ada Humphreys by Barbara Prewitt, June 2, 1986. T.
2. Davis, Frank C. by Vikki Ganger, June 28, 1986.
3. Durham, John by Joyce Hale, June 24, 1986. T.
4. Fauson, Grace and Mabel Greene by Barbara Hollis, June 25, 1986. T.
5. Faust, Mary by Jennifer Calloway, June 26, 1986. T.
6. Frye, Pete by Peggy M. Crabtree, June 27, 1986. T.
7. Gregory, Gladys by Mary Louise Hunt, June 23, 1986. T.
8. Hines, Bessie V. Robinette by Linda Kay Martin, June 20, 1986. T
9. LaFollette, Mary Clyde Bible by Joyce Duncan, June 30, 1986. T.
10. McConnell, Doc by Cindy Euverard, June 26, 1986. T.
11. McGrady, Carl, Dawn Osborne, Peggy Brown and Penny Vires by Nell McGrady, June 29, 1986. T.
12. Perry, Vivian by Jena Beth Arms, June 23, 1986. T.
13. Ray, Viola by Nancy Rhea, June 28, 1986. T.
14. Slagle, Savannah by Lynnette More, June 28, 1986. T.
15. Tilson, Dorothy by Dorris Lowery, June 25, 1986. T.

1990 Interviews

16. Spring Semester 1990 Interviews, March-April 1990, A-K.
17. Spring Semester 1990 Interviews, March-April 1990, L-Z.

1991 Interviews

18. Spring Semester 1991 Interviews, March-April 1991, AK
19. Spring Semester 1991 Interviews, March-April 1991, L-Z.

BOX AND TAPE LIST

Subseries I-B, TAPES, 1986-91, Audio Tapes 1-58 and Video Tapes 59-67.

Audio Tapes, Summer Term, 1986. Box 2:

Box 2

1 & 2. Campbell, Nellie by Barbara Prewitt, June 22, 1986.
3. Carter, Betty by Barbara Prewitt, ND.
4. Davis, Frank C. by Vikki Ganger, June 28, 1986.
5. Durham, John by Joyce Hale, June 24, 1986.
6 & 7. Faust, Mary by Jennifer Calloway, June 26, 1986.
8. Fauson, Grace and Mabel Greene by Barbara Hollis, June 25, 1986.
9. Frye, Pete by Peggy M. Crabtree, June 27, 1986.
10. Gregory, Gladys by Mary Louise Hunt, June 23, 1986.
11. Hines, Bessie V. Robinette by Linda Kay Martin, June 20, 1986.
12. LaFollette, Margaret Clyde Bible by Joyce Duncan, June 30, 1986.
13. McConnell, Doc by Cindy Euverard, June 25, 1986.
14. McGrady, Carl, Dawn Osborne, Peggy Brown and Penny Vires by Nell McGrady, June 29, 1986.
15 & 16. Perry, Vivian by Jena Beth Arms, June 25, 1986. No. 15 is a cassette, and No. 16 a reel to reel duplicate of No. 15. (Tape 16 has been placed in a separate envelope).
17. Ray, Viola by Nancy Thea, June 28, 1986.
18. Slagle, Savannah by Lynnette Moore, June 28, 1986.
19. Tilson, Dorothy by Doris Lowry, June 25, 1986.

Box 3

20. Bellamy, Ella Marie Falon and Charles Albert Bellamy by Cindy Donihe, April 5, 1990.
21. Buchanan, Curtis by Shireen Scally, April 15, 1990.
22. Chambers, Serphina Elizabeth Bowman by Robert Russell, April 14, 1990.
23. Childress, Amanda, Mark Arnold and Brian Kluever (Side A), Stacy Clark and Bill Johnson (Side B) by Philena Childress, March 23, 1990.
24. Cole, Lucy, by Ginny Smith, April 20, 1990.
25. Cox, Margaret By Angela Gilberts, April 12, 1990.
26. Cross, Jo, Mae Hartsell and George Kelly by Kelly Ann Stevens; April 16, 1990, April 17, 1990 and ND.
27. Garland, T. N. by Cynthia Byers, March 18, 1990.
28. Humphreys, Wilma Greer by Joanna McPeak, ND.
29. Kelly, George by Michael Stevens, April 24, 1990.
30. Lunsford, Roby by Rick McMahon, March 28, 1990.
31. Marshall, Martha by Susan Whittaker, ND.
32. McKinney, C. L., Ben Payne and Claude Morton, April 14, 1990 and April 16, 1990.
33. Powers, Gail and Judy Salo by Deborah Harkleroad, April 5, 1990.
34. Seaton, Mr. and Mrs. and John Seaton by Brian Chisom, April 6, 1990 and April 8, 1990.
35. Slabberkorn, Georgia and Morris by Robert Russell, March 24, 1990.
36. Waggoner, Tillman by Paul Koerner, March 27, 1990.
37. Watson, Lorene by Tammie Wilmot, April 22, 1990.
38. White, Lillie by Henry Agners (?), ND.

Audio Tapes, Spring Semester 1991. Box 4:

Box 4

39. Ashton, Donna and Gerald (Side A); Ashton, Donna and Clara Hunter (Side B), Interviewer unidentified, (Tape 1 of 2), ND.
40. Gregg, Grandma (Side A); Hunter, Clara (Side B). Interviewer unidentified, (Tape 2 of 2), ND.
41. Bailey, James W. by Connie Bailey, March 1, 1991.
42. Besmehn, Marion by Diane Moore, March 19, 1991.
43. Brooks, Donald by Alisa Brandenburg, (Tape 1 of 2), April 3, 1991.
44. Brooks, Donald by Alisa Brandenburg, (Tape 2 of 2), Edited version. April 3, 1991.
45. Clark, Charles by Angie Dishner, April 4, 1991.
46. Collins, John and Loretta Collins (Side A); Neely, Kenneth and John Collins, March 30, 1991.
47. Hall, Oscar by Dave Landreth, April 21, 1991.
48. Hicks, Orla and Susan Peacock by Jennyfer Muehlhaus, March 19, 1991.
49. James, Connie and Cybil Bradley by Dumaris Ruetz, March 16, 1991.
50. Johnson, Doris and Don by Roberta Austin, April 3, 1991.
51. Lamb, Nancy by Kathy Cornett, March 26, 1991.
52. Mitchell, Helen by Lia Haskell, (Tape 1 of 2), March 20, 1991.
53. Molley, John (Side A), March 21, 1991; and Baxley, Jim (Side B), by Lia Haskell, (Tape 2 of 2), March 26, 1991.
54. Taylor, Joe by Patsy Lloyd, (Tape 1 of 2), April 11, 1991, March 11, 1991.
55. Collins, Maxie by Patsy Lloyd, (Tape 2 of 2), April 6, 1991.
56. Vanover, Myrtle by James Stacy, April 7, 1991.
57. Willard, "Uncle" by Scott Warf, April 2, 1991.
58. Williams, Lawrence by Christine Williams, April 5, 1991.

VIDEO TAPES - All tapes are 120 minutes, VHS, unless otherwise noted. Unboxed.

Spring Semester, 1990.

59. Black, Fonda by Sandra Grimes, March 31, 1990.
60. Garland, Clinton, Arthur Garland and Kathleen Garland by Judy Whittimore, ND.
61. Kingsport Country Cloggers by Angela Gilbert, ND.
62. Waggoner, Willman by Paul Koerner, March 27, 1990.

Spring Semester, 1991

63. Besmehn, Marion by Diane Moore, March 19, 1991.
64. "Catfish II" by Ana Alvariz, March 5, 1991.
65. Moser, Joan by Ann Marie Brown, (Microcassettes: located in Box 6), March 11, 1991.
66. Riddle, Verye by Amy L. Blackwell, March 14, 1991.
67. Rhoton, Ora by Steve Jones, ND.

SERIES II, SERPENT-HANDLING MATERIALS, 1983-89 and undated. Boxes 5-6 and Video Tapes 68-79.

Box 5

Prints and Negatives Box 5:

Envelope 1. Carson Springs, Tennessee: 19 Color 4" x 6" prints, April 10, 1983.
Envelope 2. Carson Springs, Tennessee: 27 color 4" x 6" prints, April 10, 1983.
Envelope 3. Carson Springs, Tennessee: 16 color 4" x 6" prints, December 8, 1984.
Envelope 4. Carson Springs, Tennessee: 18 color 4" x 6" prints (ND); 8 black and white 5" x 7" prints, December 8, 1984.
Envelope 5. Jolo, West Virginia: 12 color 3 1/2" x 5 1/4" prints, September 1985.
Envelope 6. Jolo, West Virginia: 12 color 3 1/2" x 5 1/4"prints, September 1985.
Envelope 7. Jolo, West Virginia: 23 black and white 5" x 7" prints (APA 1357-1371; 1375-1381), September 1985.

Box 5, Folder 1:

a) Jolo, West Virginia: 36 color 35 mm negatives, APA 1205-1237, September 1985.
b) Jolo, West Virginia: 24 color 35 mm negatives, APA 1303-1326, September 1985.
c) Jolo, West Virginia: 25 black and white 35 mm negatives, APA 1357-1381.

NOTE: All photos in Folder 1 were taken by Thomas Burton.

Folder 2. Hi-Way Holiness Church, New Haven, Indiana, 1988.

a) 25 black and white 35 mm negatives.
b) 20 black and white 35 mm negatives.
c) 33 black and white 35 mm negatives.
d) 34 black and white 35 mm negatives.

NOTE: Sheet a negatives taken by Thomas Burton, and sheets b-d by Fred Brown.

Box 6

1. Collins, J. B., Tennessee Snake Handlers, ND.

TAPE LIST

*RESTRICTED. See end of description for details.

Tape 68: Baxter Homecoming, Baxter, Kentucky, 1985. VHS, 120 minutes. Allen Williams, Carson Springs, Tennessee gave the tape to Thomas Burton. Copy of a VHS tape. This tape depicts the 1985 Baxter Homecoming. Charles Prince of Canton, North Carolina, and Dewey Chafin of Jolo, West Virginia attended the homecoming. Country-style music, clapping, singing, chanting, jumping up and down, handling snakes, and handling fire characterized the service. A bottle of fluid--perhaps strychnine--was seen on a counter.

*Tape 69: Services at Greeneville, Tennessee, 1985; Baxter, Kentucky 1985; and Jolo, West Virginia, 1988. VHS, 120 minutes. This tape was given to Thomas Burton by Dewey Chafin, Jolo, West Virginia. The tape contains footage of services at churches at the three above- mentioned locations. The Greeneville service featured Charles Prince of Canton, North Carolina. Prince preached, handled snakes and handled fire. The service featured chanting, clapping, dancing, singing, handling fire and handling snakes by many members of the congregation. The Baxter service also featured Prince who again handled snakes. Members of the congregation sang, danced, trod on snakes and handled snakes. The Jolo service featured handling of snakes, dancing, singing, clapping, screaming and yelling, and jumping around by members of the congregation. Compared to Baxter and Greeneville, fewer Jolo church members actually participated in the jumping around, chanting, etc., and handling of snakes. The Jolo service was interrupted by a dinner on the grounds just outside the church building. The Jolo segment also features a news story called "The Jolo Serpent Handlers." This feature includes interviews with church members who discussed the practice of handling snakes. The segment depicts church services in Jolo and the vigil for Dewey Chafin, who was bitten by a black rattler. The Jolo segment also contains excerpts on snake-handling from news broadcasts, and footage of Chafin and others capturing snakes, and showing their snakes to guests. One of the snakes owned by a friend of Chafin's is a cobra. NOTE: "The Jolo Serpent Handlers" and the news broadcasts may be watched, but not copied. Notes may be taken for research purposes.

Tape 70: New Haven, Indiana, Saylor Church Homecoming, September 4, 1988. VHS, 120 minutes. This tape was given to Thomas Burton by Arnold Saylor, New Haven, Indiana. The tape depicts services at the Saylor Church. The tape begins with exterior shots of the church, followed by introductions of guests from outside New Haven. The service consisted of chanting, dancing, clapping, preaching, handling of snakes, and singing of country Christian music.

Tape 71: Shields, Kentucky, House of Prayer, December 7, 1985 and December 28, 1985. VHS, 120 minutes. Tape given to Thomas Burton by Allen Williams. This tape begins with singing of Christian country music and accompanying clapping by members of the congregation. Handling fire by the preacher and anointing members of the congregation followed the singing. Other activities of the December 7 service included members of the congregation laying hands on one another, chanting, walking in a circle, singing, testifying and handling fire. The December 28 service began with singing, playing tambourines and laying hands on one another. There followed handling serpents, handling fire and testifying by a number of members of the church.

Tape 72: Shields, Kentucky, House of Prayer, December 28, 1985 (continued) and January 10, 1986. VHS, approximately 30 minutes of a 120 minute tape. Tape given to Thomas Burton by Allen Williams. The tape begins with the continuation of the December 28 service. Featured are snake handling and singing and playing of country- style Christian music. The January 10, 1986 service began with singing and playing of county-style Christian music, clapping and jumping about. The rest of the service feature handling of snakes by the preacher and other members of the church, touching the preacher by church members, members of the congregation prostrating themselves before the Lord, wailing, shouting, and handling fire. The end of the tape depicts a man who had been bitten by a snake and whose arm as a consequence was swollen and blackened.

Tapes 73-79: are 3/4" copies of VHS tapes. The Mass Communication Department at ETSU made the video transfer. All tapes are 60 minutes long, except where noted otherwise.

Tape 73: Greeneville, Tennessee, August 1985. VHS, 60 minutes. Tapes 73- 75 were made from VHS copies given to Fred Brown, Knoxville, Tennessee, by Dewey Chafin, Jolo, West Virginia. The tape depicts services at Greeneville, Tennessee. The tape begins with country- style music played on guitar, electronic keyboard and tambourine, and accompanied by vocals. A number of participants in the service jumped and twisted about, some while handling serpents. Others handled snakes in a relatively quiet manner. Charles Prince of Canton, North Carolina attended the service. Prince handled serpents and was bitten by one of them. Members of the congregation crowded about Prince and laid hands on him. After being bitten he preached to the congregation and made reference to previous experiences with snakebite. Prince then continued to participate in the service by dancing, handling fire and drinking strychnine.

Tape 74: Greeneville, Tennessee, August 1985. VHS, 60 minutes. This tape continues the service depicted on tape 73. The tape begins with instrumental and vocal music of a country style. Prince continued to participate in the service by handling fire and moving about. His movements became slower, however, and his hand and forearm began to swell. Prince also began to perspire excessively. Members testified; the minister preached about salvation. The minister also stated that children were not allowed near the front where the snakes are kept, and that no one under 18 was allowed to handle serpents. The preacher led the congregation in a prayer for Prince, who no longer was present at the service. Music and handling of serpents continued.

Tape 75: Greeneville, Tennessee, August 1985. Service depicted on tapes 73 and 74 continues. The tape begins with music and handling of snakes. Members also sang, handled fire, moved about, testified and prostrated themselves before God.

Tape 76: Baxter Homecoming, Baxter, Kentucky, 1985. 3/4" copy made from VHS tape given to Fred Brown by Dewey Chafin, Jolo, West Virginia. NOTE: Tapes # 76 and 77 are the same as Tape 68. The tape begins with music, testifying, and handling of serpents, including treading on snakes. Charles Price of Canton, North Carolina and Dewey Chafin of Jolo, West Virginia attended this service. Members handled fire from an acetylene torch.

*Tape 77: Baxter Homecoming, Baxter, Kentucky, 1985, and Jolo, West Virginia services, 1988 (continued from #76); 3/4" copy from VHS tape given to Fred Brown, Knoxville, Tennessee by Dewey Chafin, Jolo West Virginia. The tape begins with instrumental music and handling of serpents. Charles Prince, present at the service, participated in handling serpents. There is a break in the tape and thereafter the scene shifts to the Jolo, West Virginia service shown on Tape 69. Singing, dancing, testifying and handling of snakes by church members are shown, as are scenes from a dinner held on grounds just outside the church. Dewey Chafin of Jolo attend this service. The tape ends with the program "Jolo Serpent Handlers," produced by Karen Kramer. NOTE: "Jolo Serpent Handlers" cannot be copied. Researchers may watch this program and take notes on it.

*Tape 78: Jolo, West Virginia, 1988 (continued from #77). "Jolo Serpent Handlers" continues. After the end of the "Jolo Serpent Handlers' there are interviews with Chafin and Bob Elkins, pastor of the Jolo church. These interviews were produced by WJLA-TV, Washington, D.C. Additional footage focuses on the Jolo church, and was part of the 3 part series "Test of Faith" produced by Channel 6, with Peggy Fox the newscaster. The call numbers and location of the television station are not known. Footage of a serpent-handling church in North Georgia and of Greeneville, Tennessee services also are included. This footage, not part of the "Test of Faith" series, makes reference to Charles Prince's death from snake bite and strychnine poisoning. The source of this last mentioned footage is unknown. NOTE: No part of this tape may be copied. Researchers can watch the tape and take notes.

Tape 79: Men capturing snakes, undated. This tape, only a few minutes long, depicts men capturing snakes.

*RESTRICTED. See note at end of description.

SERIES III, OTHER MATERIALS, 1978-90 and undated. Boxes 6-7 [Box 7 includes tapes 80-90].

Subseries III-A, LISA ALTHER TAPE, March 22, 1983. Box 7, Tape 80.

Tape 80: Alther, Lisa: Presentation at ETSU Literary Artists Series, D. P. Culp Center, March 22, 1983. Alther discussed the importance and influence of being a Southerner and becoming a writer. Among the topics Alther discussed are the following: the twentieth-century "Southern Renaissance," especially the Fugitive Movement and its influence on Southern fiction; cultural differences between North and South; writing fiction; making a living and the role of Southern values in this process; the relationship between the structure of a culture and that culture's production of fiction writers; the South's loss of the Civil War and its importance to fiction; and how both the transition of the South from a rural to an urban area and the civil rights movement have had an impact on being a Southerner and on Southern writing.

Subseries III-B, JOHN ALLEN TAPES, 1967 and 1971. Box 7, Tapes 81-82.

Tape 81: Allen, John, 1967. Explication of and reading of sonnets. The tape includes explication of the Renaissance sonnet, and reading sonnets written by Thomas Wyatt, Philip Sydney, Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, John Donne, and John Milton.

Tape 82: Allen, John, July 1, 1971. Allen discusses and reads Southern poetry of the twentieth century. Included are works of P. P. Cooke and Fugitives John Crowe Ransom and Allen Tate.

Subseries III-C, TENNESSEE TRADITIONS IN PERSPECTIVE, 1977-78.

Box 6

Folder 2: Tennessee Traditions in Perspective: Organizational Materials, 1977-78.

Box 7

Tapes 83-85: Proceedings of the Tennessee Traditions in Perspective Colloquium, April 25, 1978.

Subseries III-D, FOLKLORE AND FOLK SONG MATERIALS, 1988-89.

Box 6

Folder 3: Copy of "Manuscript Songbook Written by Delmar Herington of Bristol, Tennessee, before his death in 1988."

*Box 7
*All tapes in Box 7 are 60 minutes long.

Tape 86: Presnell, Hattie. "Some Songs. From Carl and Rosa Jane." Copy 1, ND.

Tape 87: Same as above, copy 2.

Tape 88: Hicks, Stanley: "Stanley Hicks Live" copy 1. Contains the following songs:

Side A: "Stanley's Intro"
"John Henry"
"Fox Chase"
"Preacher and the Bear"
"Chicken Growin'"
"Runnin' Gambler"
"Down in the Willow Garden"
"Coon Tale"
"Sourwood Mountain"
"Over Jordan"

Side B: "It Still Lives"
"Wildwood Flower"
"Cindy"
"Riddles"
"Circle Be Unbroken"
"Stinger Snake"
"Banjo Pickin' Girl"
"Cripple Creek"
"John Hardy"

Tape 89: Copy of 88.

Tape 90: "Life in Appalachia" Promotion for ETSU Folk Festival by WJSO; Paul O'Dell, Narrator.

SUBJECT INDEX TO THOMAS G. BURTON COLLECTION*

---

* The notation following the subject is to the box and folder, or the box and envelope number (e.g. 1-4 or 5-Env.2); and to the tape number (e.g. Tape 12).

Afro-Americans: 1-4, 1-9, 1-11, 1-15; Tapes 8, 12, 13, 19.
Allen, John: Tapes 81-82.
Alther, Lisa: Tape 80.
Barn Raising: 1-15; Tape 19.
Baxter, Kentucky Homecoming: Tape 68.

Berea College: 1-18; Tape 41.
Blacksmithing: 1-1, 1-11; Tapes 1, 14.
Bristol, Tennessee: 1-4; Tape 5.
Cedar Creek School: 1-7; Tape 10.

Chafin, Dewey (Jolo, WV): 5-Env. 5; Tapes 68, 69, 76-78.
Chairs-Construction of: 1-16; Tape 21.
Cherokees: 1-2; Tape 4.
Childbirth: 1-4, 1-8, 1-9, 1-14; Tapes 8, 11, 12, 18.
Childhood-Early: 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, 1-9; Tapes 6, 8, 11, 12.

Christmas: 1-4, 1-12; Tapes 8, 15. See also holiday celebrations.
Church of the Lord Jesus, Jolo, West Virginia-Building Exterior: 5-Env. 6; Folder 1, b(APA 1303-1304).
Church Services: 1-1, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-11, 1-15, 1-18; Tapes 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19. See also serpent handling.
Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: 1-2; Tape 4.
Civil War: 1-1, 1-7, 1-8, 1-11; Tapes 1, 10, 11, 13.

Civil War-Impact on being an writer in the South: Tape 80.
Click, Andrew (of Parrotsville, Tennessee at Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 1, 3.
Clogging: Tape 61.
Clothing: 1-4, 1-5, 1-7, 1-8, 1-16; Tapes 6, 8, 10, 11, 20.
Corn Shuckings: 1-13, 1-15; Tapes 17, 19.

Dairy Farming: 1-4, 1-9; Tapes 8, 12.
Dayton, Ohio: 1-4; Tape 8.
Death: 1-10; Tape 13.
Death Bed Visions: 1-1; Tape 1.
Death-Home Preparation of Body: 1-15; Tape 19.

Dolls: 1-1, 1-9; Tapes 1, 12.
"Dread" diseases: 1-15; Tape 19.
Drinking of Poisonous Substances: 5-Env. 2, 3; Tapes 69, 73.
Drinking Stories: 1-17; Tape 30.
Dulcimers: 1-17; Tape 33.

Dulcimers-Gourd: 1-16, 1-19; Tapes 27, 29.
East Tennessee State University Folk Festival: Tape 90.
Education-Grammar School: 1-4, 1-7, 1-8, 1-18; Tapes 6, 8, 9-10, 11, 41.
See also Cedar Creek School and Sullivan County, Tennessee-Schools.
Education-Teaching: 1-12; Tape 15.

Elkins, Rev. Bob (Jolo, West Virginia): 5-Env. 5, 6; Folder 1, b, 1305, 1314; Tape 78.
Embracing and giving the "Holy Kiss": 5-Env. 2.
Embracing of one another (during serpent-handling church service): 5-Env. 2; Tapes 69, 73.
Family Life: 1-5, 1-7, 1-8, 1-16; Tapes 6-7, 10, 11 20.
Farm Life: 1-16, 1-18; Tape 20, 41.

Fiddlers' Convention, Galax, Virginia: 1-18; Tape 47.
Fire Handling: 5-Env. 3; Tapes 68, 69, 72-77.
Folk Arts in Tennessee: 6-2; Tapes 83-85.
Folklore-Adolescent: 1-16; Tape 23.
Folk Medicine: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-9, 1-11, 1-13, 1-15, 1-16, 1-19; Tapes 1, 5, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 65, 67.

Folk Music: 1-6, 1-8, 1-10, 6-3; Tapes 9, 11, 13, 86-89.
Foods-Homemade: 1-6, 1-14, 1-15; Tapes 9, 18, 20.
Foods-Preservation: 1-7, 1-8, 1-13, 1-16; Tapes 10, 11, 17, 20.
Foot Washing: 1-11; Tape 13.
Fugitives (Allen Tate, John Crowe Ransom): Tapes 80, 82.

Funerals and Funeral Customs: 1-8, 1-9, 1-19; Tapes 11, 12, 54.
Garland, Tennessee: Tape 27.
General Stores: 1-18; Tape 41.
Ghost Stories: 1-6, 1-8; Tapes 9, 11.
Ghost Stories-Mitchell County, North Carolina: 1-16; Tape 60.

Ginseng: 1-3, 1-18, 1-19; Tapes 5, 46, 64, 65. See also folk medicine and herbs and herbal remedies.
Great Depression: 1-15; Tape 19.
Greeneville, Tennessee: 1-9; Tape 12.
Guns: 1-18; Tape 41.
Gypsies: 1-15; Tape 19.

Haunted House Tales: 1-3; Tape 5.
Hawaiian Folk Medicine: 1-18; Tape 50.
Hawaiian Food Rituals: 1-18; Tape 50.
Hawaiian Legends: 1-18; Tape 50.
Hawaiian Religious Legends: 1-18; Tape 50.

Henry, Grady (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 4.
Herbs and Herbal remedies: 1-3, 1-13, 1-18, 1-19; Tapes 5, 17, 46, 64, 65, 67. See also folk medicine and ginseng.
Herrington, Delmer: 6-3.
Hicks, Stanley: Tapes 88-89.
Holiday Celebrations: 1-8, 1-12, 1-13; Tapes 11, 15, 17. See also Christmas.

Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee-Church Exterior: 5-Env. 2.
Home remedies: See Folk Medicine.
Humphreys, Pelham: 1-1; Tape 1.
Hunting: 1-6, 1-10; Tapes 9, 13.
Hymns and religious songs: 1-6, 1-18, 6-3; Tape 9. See also Individual titles listed under song titles.

Integration of Schools: 1-18.
Iron Mountain Stoneware: 1-19; Tape 51.
Jack Tales: 1-18, 1-19; Tapes 42, 56.
Laying on of hands: 5-Env. 4; Tapes 69, 71, 73.
Log Cabin-Construction of: 1-16; Tape 66.

McConnell, Doc: 1-10; Tape 13.
Marking Babies: 1-15; Tape 19.
Marriage: 1-16, 1-17; Tapes 22, 29, 35.
Menstruation-Taboos: 1-11; Tape 13.
Midwifery: 1-8, 1-10, 1-16; Tapes 11, 13, 20.

Molasses Making: 1-14, 1-16, 1-18; Tapes 18, 20, 45.
Moonshining: 1-8, 1-10, 1-19; Tapes 11, 13, 57.
Morrow, Jimmy (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 2, 3.
Mule lore: 1-17. Tape 32.
Obituaries-Writing of: 1-19; Tapes 52, 53.

Pack, Buford (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 4.
Pack, Liston (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Pele (Hawaiian fire goddess): 1-18; Tape 50.
Placenames: 1-8, 1-11; Tapes 11, 13.
Planting by the Signs: 1-8, 1-11, 1-13; Tapes 11, 13, 17.

Presnell, Hattie: Tapes 86-87.
Prince, Charles H.:

At Carson Springs, Tennessee: 5-Env. 1, 2, 3, 4.
At Baxter, Kentucky: Tapes 68, 76, 77.
At Greeneville, Tennessee: Tapes 69, 73-74.
Bitten by snake: Tapes, 73-74.
Drinking poison: 5-Env. 2, 3; Tape 73.
Fire handling: 5-Env. 3; Tapes 68, 69, 73, 74.
Handling serpents: 5-Env. 1, 2, 3, 4; Tapes 68, 76-77.

Quilting: 1-1, 1-6, 1-8, 1-16, 1-17, 1-18; Tapes 1, 2, 9, 11, 20, 21, 37, 48.
Quilting Bees: 1-3, 1-16; Tapes 5, 20.
Racial bigotry: 1-18.

Racial Segregation: 1-18.
Religious Practices and Services: 1-1, 1-7 thru 1-9, 1-11, 1-15, 1-18; Tapes 1, 10-13, 19, 69, 71, 73; 5-Env. 4. See also Serpent-Handling Church Services; Hymns and religous Songs; Laying-on of hands and names of individual churches and ministers.
Renaissance Literature: Tape 81.
Saylor Church, New Haven Indiana-Exterior views: Tape 70.
Serpent-Handling Church Services: 1-15; 5-Env. 1-7; Folder 1, a-c; Tapes 19, 68-78.

Slavery: 1-11; Tape 13.
Smith, Dan (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 2.
Smith, Danny (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 1.
Smoky Mountain National Park-Creation of: 1-2; Tape 4.
Soap Making: 1-4, 1-6, 1-16, 1-17, 1-18; Tapes 8, 9, 20, 37, 41.

Sonnets: Tape 81.
Southern Literary Traditions: Tape 80.
Southern region-transition from rural to urban: Tape 80.
Spelling Bees: 1-8; Tape 11.
"Steamer and the Mule Egg" (tale): 1-10; Tape 13.

Stories and Tall Tales: 1-10, 1-11, 1-19; Tapes 13, 14, 56, 63. See also Jack Tales.
Sugar Cane Extraction: 1-9; Tape 12.
Sullivan County, Tennessee-Schools: 1-5; Tape 6.
Tobacco and Tobacco Farming: 1-9, 1-10, 1-15, 1-17; Tapes 12, 13, 19, 20, 34.
Trade and Barter: 1-18; Tape 41.

Treading on Serpents: 5-Env. 2, 4; Tape 69.
Typhoid: 1-5, 1-15; Tapes 6, 19.
Weather lore: 1-8, 1-10, 1-17; Tapes 11, 13, 37.
Williams, Alan (Carson Springs, Tennessee): Tape 68, 5-Env. 3.
Williams, Jimmy (Carson Springs, Tennessee): 5-Env. 4.

Wine-homemade: 1-18; Tape 43.
Woodworking: 1-19; Tape 58.
World War I: 1-4, 1-7, 1-15; Tapes 8, 10, 19.
World War II: 1-7, 1-15; Tapes 10, 19.
Writing Fiction-impact on being a Southerner: Tape 80.

 

SONG TITLES*

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* The notation following the subject is to the box and folder (e.g. 1-4), or to the tape number (e.g. Tape 12).

"A Mighty Pretty Waltz": 6-3.
"Are You From Dixie": 6-3.
"Bake That Chicken Pie": 6-3.
"Bald Headed End of the Broom": 6-3.
"Banjo Pickin' Girl": Tapes 88-89.

"Ben Dewberry's Final Run": 6-3.
"Bile Them Cabbage Down": 6-3.
"Blue Mountain Home": 6-3.
"Blue Mountain Home": 6-3.
"Carve That Possum": 6-3.

"Chicken' Growin'": Tapes 88-89.
"Cindy": Tapes 88-89.
"Circle Be Unbroken": Tapes 88-89.
"Comeing (sic) Around the Mountain": 6-3.
"Coon Tale": Tapes 88-89.

"Corn on a Cob": 6-3.
"Cripple Creek": 6-3.
"Cripple Creek": Tapes 88-89.
"Daisy Dean": 6-3.
"Dark As a Dungeon": 6-3.

"Darling Nellie": 6-3.
"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind": 6-3.
"Don't let Your Sweet Love Die": 6-3.
"Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan?": 6-3.
"Dooley": 6-3.

"Down the Willow Garden": Tapes 88-89.
"Drifting with the Tide": 6-3.
"Fox Chase": Tapes 88-89.
"Frankie and Johnny" (homemade version): 1-6; Tape 9.
"Give Me a Chaw of Tobacce (sic)": 6-3.

"God Never Gives a Thorn": 1-6; Tape 9.
"Going Across the Sea": 6-3.
"Grey Cat on the Tennessee Farm": 6-3.
"Happy Little Home in Arkansas": 6-3.
"Holding Things Together": 1-6; Tape 9.

"I Had a Gal": 1-6; Tape 9.
"I'll Fly Away": 6-3.
"I'll Be True to the One That I Love": 6-3.
"I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand": 6-3.
"I'm Going Back to West Virginia": 6-3.

"I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When": 6-3.
"I'm Sorry Now": 6-3.
"I've Lost You Darling True Love": 6-3.
"In Despair": 6-3.
"It Still Lives": Tapes 88-89.

"It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo": 6-3.
"It's Raining Here This Morning": 6-3.
"John Came Home": 1-6; Tape 9.
"John Hardy": Tapes 88-89.
"John Henry": Tapes 88-89.

"Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel": 6-3.
"Just Over in the Glory Land": 6-3.
"Knot Hole Blues": 1-6; Tape 9.
"Leaving With the D. C. Blues": 6-3.
"Little Darling Brown Eyies" (sic): 6-3.

"Losom (sic) Hearted Blues": 6-3.
"Mama Always Loved Roses": 1-6; Tape 9.
"Midnight Strom" (sic): 6-3.
"My Carolina Home": 6-3.
"My Gal's a High-Born Lady": 6-3.

"My Little Girlee": 1-6; Tape 9.
"My Little Home in Tennessee": 6-3.
"My Rose of Old Kentucky": 6-3.
"My Little Nagging Wife": 6-3.
"Never Get to Hold You in My Arms Anymore": 6-3.

"New Kingdom is Comming" (sic); 6-3.
"Over Jordan": Tapes 88-89.
"Poor Ellen Smith": 6-3.
"Preacher and the Bear": Tapes 88-89.
"Put on Your Old Gray Bonnet" (bawdy version): 1-6; Tape 9.

"Quit Kicking My Dawg Around": 6-3.
"Ram Shackled Shack on the Hill": 6-3.
"Rank Strangers": 6-3.
"Riddles": Tapes 88-89.
"Riding On That Train": 6-3.

"Runnin' Gambler": Tapes 88-89.
"Setting In the Chimney Jamb": 6-3.
"Sing the Old Songs": 1-6; Tape 9.
"Sourwood Mountain": Tapes 88-89.
"Stinger Snake": Tapes 88-89.

"Stone Walls and Steel Bars": 6-3.
"Sweetheart Mountain Rose": 6-3.
"The Bum's Hotel": 6-3.
"The Arkansas Sheik": 6-3.
"The Fields Have Turned Brown": 6-3.

"There's Better Times a Coming": 6-3.
"Tom Dooley": 1-10; Tape 13.
"Toy Heart": 6-3.
"Uncle Bud": 6-3.
"Valley of Peace": 6-3.

"Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine": 6-3.
"Walking in Sunlight": 6-3.
"Way Down in the Meddow" (sic): 6-3.
"Weary Traveller": 1-8; Tape 11.
"Whoa! Mule": 6-3.

"Wildwood Flower": Tapes 88-89.
"Will You Miss Me": 6-3.
"With Out (Sic) Me Are You Blue?": 6-3.

 

 

 

MTC 11/00