The interviewer chose to record this interview in question and answer format, allowing the reader to consider the role of the interviewer in the process. Both of Annie Morgan’s parents were enslaved, and in this excerpt, she describes childhood memories from after the Civil War. Then, Annie Morgan describes her marriage, which also happened after the Civil War. *Historically-used terms that are offensive, marginalizing and/or disparaging have been removed from the transcripts and replaced with [redacted]. See more information. |
Excerpt:
[Question asked by the interviewer] Ques: Annie can you give me or rather tell me of some of your earlier life with your parents, or what your mother and father have told you of things before and after the Civil War.
[Annie Morgan’s answer] Ans: Well, I do declare it has been so long I just don’t remember. I seem to remember the big days we used to have on Proclamation Day when we used to go to Grandmum’s… For days before we would get ready to go in a wagon and as there was a heap of children it took quite a time and we would start by daybreak. Then when we got there, why all the rest of the daughters and sons of their children were already there, then we’d have a big time with watermelons and everything good to eat. Sometimes Uncle Ben brought his banjo and we children would dance…
When me and my man were married, all the colored folks in the neighborhood came to Ma’s, and my husband and I jumped over the broomstick, and we have been married ever since. In those days it was too far to go get a preacher an most [redacted] folks married that way.
Interviewee Formerly enslaved person | Birth Year (Age) | Interviewer WPA Volunteer | Enslaver’s Name |
Annie Morgan | Unknown (65) | Unknown | Payne |
Interview Location | Residence State | Birth Location |
Hopkinsville, KY | KY | Unknown |
Themes & Keywords | Additional Tags: |
Life After Enslavement, Marriage, Family |
Morgan_An_1