M E M O R A N D U M

3~u1y 30, 1937.


TO :	STATE DIRECTORS OF ~E FEDERAL WRITERS‘ PROJ~ECT

FROM:	Henry G~ Alsberg, Director



	The following general suggestions are being sent to all the States where there are ex-slaves still living. They will not apply in toto to your State as they represent general conclusions reacIi~d~ifter reading the nass of ex—slave material already submitted. However, they will, I hope, pi~ve helpful as an indication, along broad lines, of what we want.


GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:

	1.	Instead of attempting to interview a large number of ex-slaves the workers should now concentrate on one or two of the more interesting and intelligent people, revisiting them, establishing friendly relations, and drawing them out over a period of time.

	2.	The specific questions suggested to be asked of the slaves should be only a basis, a beginning. The talk should run to all subjects, and the interviewer should take care to
~	sieze upon the infornation &lready given, and stories already told, and from than derive other questions.

	3.	The interviewer should take the greatest care not to influente the point of view of the in~‘omant, ~nd not to let his own opinion on the subject of slavery become obvious. Jhould the ex~-slave, however, give only one side of the picture, the interviewer should su~~gest that there were other circumstances, and ask questions about them.

	4.	~1e sug~est that each state choose one or two of thier most successful ex-slave interviewers and have them take down some stories word for word. Some Negro infomants are mar~ vellous in their ability to ~irticipate in this type of interview. ~l1stories should b€~ as nearly word~for-wordas is possible.
xxxi
	5. ~:ore emphasis should be laid on questions concern~ ing the lives of the individuals since they were freed.