Burton-Headley Tapes

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The tapes which comprise the Burton-Headley collection consist of video out-takes, programs and interviews about the project on video and audio tapes, and the finished documentaries produced by Burton and Headley. Although a few of the serpent-handling tapes date from the early 1970s, many of the tapes date from the 1980s. Most of the tapes, however, are undated.

ARRANGEMENT

The Burton-Headley Tapes are divided into four series: Series A, "Carson Springs: A Decade Later, 1983-87; Series B, Other Tapes on Serpent Handling, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987; Series C, Violence in the South, 1984-85; and Series D, Dub Sheets, 1973-87.

Subjects covered:

Arrington, Jack

Ayers, Edward L., 1953-

Ball, Alfred

Ball, Joyce Williams

Brown, Stephen Eugene, 1951-

Buck Mountain (Tenn.)

Burton, Thomas G.

Carson Springs (Tenn.)

Distilling, Illicit--Tennessee

Erwin (Tenn.)

File--Religious aspects

Fundamentalist churches

Glossolalia

Hampton High School (Carter County, Tenn.)

Harries, Ronald

Higgs, Robert J., 1932-

Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name (Carson Springs, Tenn.)

Holiness churches

Howard, Lee

Howard-Baker feud

Hyder, Oris D., 1919-

Jesus Christ Apostolic Church (Newport, Tenn.)

Kinship

Kuszynski, Kay

Law enforcement--Appalachia Region

Law enforcement--Southern States

Lloyd, Francis

Newport (Tenn.)

Pack, Liston

Papantoniou, George

Presnell, Hattie, 1907-

Reed, John Shelton

Religion

Ross, Charlotte T.

Scots-Irish--Migrations

Serpents--Religious aspects--Christianity

Shepherd, George R.

Snake cults (Holiness churches)

Snake cults (Holiness churches)--Psychological aspects

Snake cults (Holiness churches)--Songs and music

Southern States

Strychnine

Turnbull, James M.

Violence--Appalachian Region

Violence--Psychological aspects

Violence--Southern States

West, Lacy

Williams, Alan

Women

Women--Southern States--Crimes against

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series A, CARSON SPRINGS: A DECADE LATER, 28 audio and video cassette tapes, Tapes 1-28 (predominantly video), 1983-85 and no date.

The tapes in this series focus on the serpent-handling religious practices of the Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee and of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. Especially important are the events and publicity which have affected the churches since the making of the 1973 documentary "They Shall Take Up Serpents." Included are video and audio tapes of the services of the aforementioned churches, together with interviews of Liston Pack, pastor of the Carson Springs church and Alfred Ball, former pastor at Carson Springs and pastor of the Newport congregation. Most of the tapes are not dated, but many of the interviews probably took place in 1982 or 1983. The tapes are arranged with the finished documentary placed first, and the video out-takes placed after the documentary. The original grouping of the tapes has been maintained, so that for example, the Ball and Pack interviews have been kept together, as have the different church services tapes. In parenthesis after a tape number there is noted the designation assigned the tape by Burton or Headley (e.g. Ball #337, Sony #1, JVC#2, etc.). Dub sheets for the tapes have been placed in Series D. A "D" after the description indicates the existence of a dub sheet. Restrictions on copying also have been noted after the description.

Series B, OTHER TAPES ON SERPENT HANDLING, 11 audio and video tapes, Tapes 29-40, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987 and no date.

This series contains a variety of tapes on snake handling. Except for tapes #32 and 42, the tapes in this series are finished documentaries or news features. Tapes #30-33 may not be copied by patrons. Permission was secured from the broadcaster to make a user copy of these tapes and to allow researcher use and note-taking only. The origin of Tape 32 is not known. It may have been shot by Sammons Cable, Johnson City, Tennessee. Copying of this tape is not allowed, although again, researchers may take notes on the tape. The tape recordings are arranged numerically by the assigned number.

Series C, "VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH", 1984-85 (most undated), 43 tapes (41 3/4/" video cassettes; 1 reel to reel audio tape; and 1 VHS tape), Tapes 41-83.

Except for tapes #81-82, the tapes in this series consist of those which Burton and Headley used in making the 1985 documentary "Traditional Springs: Violence in the South." (Tape 81 is the finished documentary). Tapes 41-80 include interviews with law enforcement personnel, criminologists, psychologists, educators and others with expertise or knowledge of violence and its effects on individuals in particular, or southern society overall. Tape 81 is the finished documentary, while Tape 82 is the reel to reel audio soundtrack used for the documentary. The arrangement essentially follows a list of the tapes which accompanied the collection. This list itself follows two numbering systems used to identify the tapes. The first system uses Arabic numbers written in red on the tapes, while the second uses an alpha-numeric system (S-17, S-23 for example) written in black on the tape. When both a red Arabic and black alpha-numeric code were written on the tape, the red number was followed. The red number or the black alpha- numeric code is indicated in parenthesis after the assigned tape number. All of the video tapes, except tapes #51, 52, 62, and 81 are 3/4 inch, 20 minute color cassettes. If the material on the tape occupies less than the 20 minute length, that is so indicated at the beginning of the tape description. Unless otherwise noted, Thomas Burton conducted all interviews. None of these tapes have dub sheets. ND indicates no date given. When known, the place of an interview is indicated. The tapes are arranged numerically, with out-takes placed first and the finished documentary second.

Series D, DUB SHEETS TAPES 4-27 (incomplete series of dub sheets), 31 and 35. 1 folder.

This series contains dub sheets for the tapes listed above. The sheets are arranged numerically by corresponding tape number and placed within a single folder in small collections.

TAPE LIST

NOTE: All video cassettes are in color. "D" at the end of the description indicates dub sheets are available.

Series A, CARSON SPRINGS: A DECADE LATER, 28 audio and video cassette tapes, Tapes 1-28 (predominantly video), 1983-85 and no date.

The tapes in this series focus on the serpent-handling religious practices of the Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee and of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. Especially important are the events and publicity which have affected the churches since the making of the 1973 documentary "They Shall Take Up Serpents." Included are video and audio tapes of the services of the aforementioned churches, together with interviews of Liston Pack, pastor of the Carson Springs church and Alfred Ball, former pastor at Carson Springs and pastor of the Newport congregation. Most of the tapes are not dated, but many of the interviews probably took place in 1982 or 1983. The tapes are arranged with the finished documentary placed first, and the video out-takes place after the documentary. The original grouping of the tapes has been maintained, so that for example, the Ball and Pack interviews have been kept together, as have the different church services tapes. In parenthesis after a tape number there is noted the designation assigned the tape by Burton or Headley (e.g. Ball #337, Sony #1, JVC#2, etc.). Dub sheets for the tapes have been placed in Series D. A "D" after the description indicates the existence of a dub sheet. Restrictions on copying also have been noted after the description.

Tape No. / Title / Date / Description

1. "Carson Springs: A Decade Later" 1983, 29 min. 5 sec. 3/4 inch video cassette. Completed documentary on the religious practices and beliefs of two serpent-handling congregations: Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee and Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. The tape explores the impact on the churches of publicity about their practices, especially those which led to the deaths of Buford Pack and Jimmy Williams, members of the Carson Springs Church. A previous 1973documentary titled "They Shall Take Up Serpents" focused on the Church of God in Jesus Name.

2. "Carson Springs: A Decade Later." 1983, 29 min. 5 sec. VHS copy of Tape 1.

3. (Sony #1) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes 3/4 inch video cassette. Liston Pack, pastor, preaching; music and testifying by members of the congregation.

4. (Sony #2) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Pack, pastor, preaching; music; handling of snakes by Pack and members of congregation. D.

5. (Sony #3) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Pack preaching and pacing; music; testifying by members of the congregation. D.

6. (Sony #4) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Preaching by minister from Morristown; snake-handling by Pack; members of congregation receiving the spirit (crying out, tumbling etc); music. D.

7. (JVC #2) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Pack preaching and handling snakes; music. D.

8. (JVC #3) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Music, preaching by Pack and handling snakes by Pack and other members of the congregation. D.

9. (JVC #4) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Singing and testifying by members of the congregation; Preaching and handling snakes by Pack. D.

10. (JVC #5) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Singing, testifying and handling snakes by members of the congregation; Pack preaching and handling snakes. D.

11. (JVC #6) "Carson Springs: Services." ND, 20 minutes; 3/4 inch video cassette. Singing and preaching by Pack and guest preacher; music; end of service. D.

12. (Ball #337) Interview with Alfred Ball, pastor of Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee by Thomas Burton. ND, no place, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Ball discusses serpent handling since first documentary ("They Shall Take Up Serpents," 1973) by Burton and Jack Schrader (Art Department, ETSU). NOTE: At beginning of tape audio and video not in sync. D.

13. (Ball #338) Interview with Alfred Ball by Thomas Burton. ND, no place, 20 minutes, 3/4 video cassette. Ball discusses impact of publicity and media on his serpent-handling church and its practices. NOTE: Sound bad in places; buzzing and faintness of voice of interviewer. D.

14. (Ball #339) Interview with Alfred Ball by Thomas Burton. ND, no place, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Ball discusses treatment of and frequency of use of serpents; drinking of poison and importance of following God's signs. NOTE: Sound bad in places; buzzing and faintness of voice of interviewer. D.

15. (Ball-Church Service #1) Church services, congregation of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Preaching and praying. D.

16. (Ball-Church Service #2) Church services, congregation of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Ball preaching. No dub sheet.

17. (Ball-Church Service #3) Church services, congregation of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Ball preaching. No dub sheet.

18. (Ball-Church Service #4) Church services, congregation of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Ball preaching. No dub sheet.

19. (Ball-Church Service #5) Church services, congregation of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Beginning of tape: rugby match and still of someone drinking poison. Burton talking with church members. End of tape: material on child abuse. No sound for church services segments. No dub sheet.

20. Exteriors, Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee and interview with Alan Williams and Joyce Williams Ball. ND, 20 minute, 3/4 inch video cassette. Shots of the church's exterior. Interview by Thomas Burton with Alan Williams and Joyce Williams Ball, children of Jimmy Williams. Williams' children discussed effect on them of father's death as a result of drinking strychnine during a religious service at the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee, April 8, 1973. (Sound poor on segments of the tape). D.

21. Interview with Joyce W. Ball and Alan Williams, exterior shots. ND, 20 minutes 3/4/ inch video cassette. 1) Thomas Burton interviewed Ball and Williams who discussed anointment and what it means in regard to handling snakes. 2) Exteriors: shots taken at night of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name. In some shots: Liston Pack seen in window. D.

22. Liston Pack: Interview by Thomas Burton. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Discussion centers around conflict between secular law and religious law, and Pack's arrest in 1973 for handling snakes during a religious service. D.

23. Liston Pack: Interview by Thomas Burton. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch cassette (continuation of Tape 24). Pack discusses effect on the congregation of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name of the two deaths from drinking strychnine (The two who died were Buford Pack, Liston's brother, and Jimmy Williams). Pack also comments on the media attention directed toward the church as a result of these deaths. D.

24. Liston Pack: Interview by Thomas Burton. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Pack discusses his 1973 incarceration for snake handling and the April 8, 1973 deaths of Buford Pack (his brother) and Jimmy Williams from drinking strychnine. Also discusses types of anointment, how he feels during the anointed state, and why, in general terms, some individuals broke from the Carson Springs Church. D.

25. Liston Pack: Interview by Thomas Burton. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette (continued of Tape 24). Burton discusses shots and techniques that might be employed in the finished documentary. Also: exteriors and interiors of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus' Name. Burton talking with Pack in church. NOTE: Basketball footage at end of tape. D.

26. (Shepherd #2) Judge George R. Shepherd: Interview by Thomas Burton. ND, 20 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette. Shepherd discusses Liston Pack's trial for handling snakes during a religious service. Shepherd also relates his views on snake handling in religious services.

27. WHCB: "Good Morning" interview with Thomas Burton. (Interviewer not identified), Bristol, Tennessee, June 21, 1985. Audio cassette, 30 minutes. Beginning of tape: discussion of Appalachian culture and how it has become more homogeneous in recent years. Most of the interview, however, focuses on snake handling in religious services and specifically on the documentaries "They Shall Take Up Serpents" and "Carson Springs: A Decade Later." No dub sheet. May not be copied for patrons.

28. WHCB: "Good Morning" interview with Thomas Burton. Audio cassette copy of Tape #27. May not be copied for patrons.

Series B, OTHER TAPES ON SERPENT HANDLING, 11 audio and video tapes, Tapes 29-40, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1987 and no date.

Tape No. / Title / Date / Description

29. "What's Up America." ND (early 1980s perhaps), 15 minutes, approximately. Perhaps aired for "Showtime." Report on religious serpent-handling in Newport, Tennessee. Includes comments by narrator on serpent handling in Appalachia, and interviews with Alfred Ball, pastor of Newport's Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Joyce Williams Ball, Rev. Ball's wife and the daughter of Jimmy Williams, a Newport snake-handler who died after being bitten by a snake, and Stephen Kane, a psychologist who has done extensive research on religious snake-handling. May not be used until permission is secured from organization that produced the tape (as of July 1990).

30. "Cable Snake Video." 1973, 60 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette, black and white. Shot by K. O. Keller. Tape says "Sammons" on it (probably Sammons Cable, Johnson City, Tennessee). Focuses on services and practices of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee, Liston Pack, pastor. Preaching by Pack, music and handling of snakes included on tape. The narrator (name unknown) also comments on religion in southern Appalachia. Tape ends with panel discussion of snake handling by the following four ministers from the Tri-Cities area: Stanley Port (Baptist); ? Glover (Baptist); Jim Stafal (?) (First Christian Church, Bluff City, Tennessee); and Howard Shockley (New Bethel Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church, USA). May not be copied.

31. "Cable Snake Video," 1973. VHS copy of Tape 32. May not be copied.

32. "Snake Handlers Digest," WTVF, Nashville, Tennessee. July 1973, 3/4 inch video cassette, color, 15 minutes, approximately. Written and narrated by Allen Muse. Filmed and edited by Milton McClurken. Focuses on Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee. Pastor Liston Pack briefly comments on the conflict between secular law and God's law. The tape shows a religious revival with country-style music, handling fire, handling snakes and speaking in tongues. May not be copied.

33. "Snake Handlers Digest," VHS copy of Tape 32. May not be copied.

34. Omni Program ETSU, 1983: "Ten Years Later." (Ball Interview), 29:44, 3/4 inch video cassette, color. Reverend Alfred Ball, Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, Newport, Tennessee is interviewed by Thomas Burton. Discussion centers on the meaning of Matthew 16:16-18, on anointment, the role of the media in publicizing snake handling practices and the general reactions of church members to the publicity on serpent handling.

35. Omni Program, ETSU, 1983. "Ten Years Later" (Ball Interview). VHS copy of Tape

36. "They Shall Take Up Serpents," 1973. 30 minutes, 3/4 inch video cassette, color. Produced by Thomas Burton, Department of English, ETSU, and Jack Schrader, Department of Art, ETSU. This tape centers on the religious beliefs and practices of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee.

37. "They Shall Take Up Serpents." VHS copy of Tape 36.

38. "Following the Signs: A Way of Conflict," 1987, 3/4 inch video cassette, color. Produced by Thomas Burton, Department of English, ETSU and Thomas Headley, Department of Communication, ETSU. This tape examines the conflict between secular law and religious law as it relates to the practices of handling serpents during religious services.

39. "Following the Signs: A Way of Conflict," VHS copy of Tape 38.

40. "Serpent Handling Service, August 4, 1985, Canton, North Carolina. Audio cassette, 30 minutes, approximately. Recorded by Thomas Burton. Included on this tape are praying, handling serpents and music. Sheriff Jack Arrington was bitten during this service.

Series C, "VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH", 1984-85 (most undated), 43 tapes (41 3/4/" video cassettes; 1 reel to reel audio tape; and 1 VHS tape), Tapes 41-83.

Except for tape #81-82, the tapes in this series consist of those which Burton and Headley used in making the 1985 documentary "Traditional Springs: Violence in the South." (Tape 81 is the finished documentary). Tapes 41-80 include interviews with law enforcement personnel, criminologists, psychologists, educators and others with expertise or knowledge of violence and its effects on individuals in particular, or southern society overall. Tape 81 is the finished documentary, while Tape 82 is the reel to reel audio soundtrack used for the documentary. The arrangement essentially follows a list of the tapes which accompanied the collection. This list itself follows two numbering systems used to identify the tapes. The first system uses Arabic numbers written in red on the tapes, while the second uses an alpha-numeric system (S-17, S-23 for example) written in black on the tape. When both a red Arabic and black alpha-numeric code were written on the tape, the red number was followed. The red number or the black alpha-numeric code is indicated in parenthesis after the assigned tape number. All of the video tapes, except tapes #51, 52, 62, 81 are 3/4 inch, 20 minute color cassettes. If the material on the tape occupies less than the 20 minute length, that is so indicated at the beginning of the tape description. Unless otherwise noted, Thomas Burton conducted all interviews. None of these tapes have dub sheets. ND indicates no date given. When known, the place of an interview is indicated. The tapes are arranged numerically with the out-takes placed first and the finished documentary second.

Tape No. / Title / Date / Description

41. (1) Kay Kuszynski, interview at ETSU, ND. Interview with Kuszynski; a social work teacher at ETSU. She discusses violence in the home, focusing in particular on child abuse, and on how the American value system justifies domestic violence in general. Kuszynski also comments on how such American values as competition, individualism, and, paradoxically, acceptance of authority, contribute to violent behavior. She also discusses how stereotypes (e.g., women are weak, men are strong) contributed to the commission of violent acts.

42. (2) Judge Oris Hyder, Criminal Court Judge. Interview in his office at the courthouse, Johnson City, ND. Hyder comments on traditional values and their relation to encouraging violent actions. Hyder also comments on the following: 1) Using self-defence as a defense in murder on assault cases; 2) carrying a weapon; 3) keeping weapons in the home; and 4) attitudes which justify violent crime.

43. (3) Lee Howard, November 17, 1984. Howard discusses Howard-Baker families feud, Clay County, Kentucky, 1890-1930, including the political aspects of the feud. Howard also comments on her feelings about her family's violent past and the roles played by family ties and traditional values in contributing to the feud.

44. (4) Lee Howard, November 17, 1984. "B Roll," 12 minutes, approximately. Burton and Howard walking around the farm where the interview took place.

45. (5) Dr. Stephen Brown, "A Ph.D.'s Perspective-Criminal Justice," September 26, 1984. Interview at ETSU with Brown who analyzes the values of lower-class culture and their relationship to violent behavior. Brown focuses on values of "toughness" and masculinity" which are learned in childhood and adolescence, and which encourage violent behavior in adult life. In addition, Brown commented on the following topics: self-defense, media-transmitted values, prevalence of violence in the South, rural-urban types of violence, and attitudes towards gun control and how these attitudes reflect a predilection towards or against the use of violence.

46. (6) Francis Lloyd, probation officer, Washington County, Tennessee. ND. In this interview Lloyd discusses reasons for violence and values which contribute to violent activities. Lloyd also comments on prevalence of, and reasons for, domestic violence, incidence of violence in the North versus that in the South, and whether or not individuals commit violent acts because they think they are doing "what they ought to do." NOTE: Audio is off for part of the tape.

47. (7) First part of Wolfcreek interview with Liston Pack, ND. Tape begins with scenic views and no sound. Burton and Pack are holding a conversation on a country road. (Much of conversation is not intelligible). During the interview Pack talks about the violent past of his family, especially as it related to moonshining activities. Pack discusses murders committed by his father. NOTE: Pack is "born again" and now is the pastor of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee.

48. (8) Second part of Wolfcreek Interview with Liston Pack, ND. Tape begins with scenic shots. Pack talks about violence and moonshining in the 1940s and 1950s. Pack again comments on violent acts committed by family members. Tape ends with scenic shots, including views of the Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs, Tennessee.

49. (9) Hattie Presnell, #1, ND, Beech Creek, North Carolina. Interview. Presnell discusses violence in the area and instances of people committing suicide.

50. (10) Hattie Presnell, #2, ND, Beech Creek, North Carolina. Interview. Discussion of various concerns, different shots of Presnell, Burton, and the community where Presnell lives.

51. (11) Liston Pack, Interview, ND, 30 minutes. Pack discusses upbringing in household where moonshine was made. Pack also talks about violence in his household, including physical abuse and murders by his father; and the violence of his way of life before he was born again to Christianity.

52. (12) Liston Pack, Interview, ND, 30 minutes (continued from Tape 51). Pack continues the discussion about violence, including his participation in making moonshine. He also comments on how the lack of economic opportunities in the mountains convince many to make and sell moonshine.

53. (13) George Papantoniou, #1, ND. Interview with former sheriff of Carter County, Tenn., 1976-82. Pampantoniou discusses violence in Carter County, and law enforcement (or lack of it) in counties. He also comments on Buck Mountain violence (growing marijuana, assaults, Appalachian Trail murder case), and whether Buck Mountain inhabitants feel justified in committing violent acts. Other subjects Papantoniou talks about include: victim compensation, differences between mountain areas and towns, attitudes towards violence and the frequency with which crimes are committed.

54. (14) George Papantoniou, #2, (continued from Tape 53). Discussion centers around the following: values which might lead one to commit crimes, frequency of crime in different socio-economic classes and geographic areas, the relation of crime to taking of alcohol and other drugs, and crime on Buck Mountain.

55. (15) George Papantoniou, #3, (continued from Tape 54). Primarily discusses different violent crimes and perpetrators he had been involved with as sheriff of Carter County.

56. (16) Charlotte Ross, ND. Interview with Appalachian studies scholar. Ross focuses on the relationship of traditional Appalachian values to the commission of violent crimes. She also discusses Appalachian culture and the groups of people who settled the Appalachian region.

57. (17) Mr. Winters, Principal of Hampton High School, Hampton, Tennessee, ND. Interview in Winters' office at the high school. The following topics received attention: 1) What provokes violence, especially among males; 2) traditional attitudes toward women, and kinship and the connection between these attitudes and the willingness to fight; 3) tradition of violence in the mountains and whether violence in more or less sev