xxxi j j
M E M O R A N D U M

September 8, 193‘?



TO :	ST.-~ DIRECTORS OF TEL~ FEDERAL ?)RITERS‘ PROJECT FROM : ffE1~TRY G. ALSBERG



	It would be a good idea if you would ask such of your field workers as are collecting stories from ex—slaves to try to obtain stories given to the ex—slaves by their parents and grandparents. The workers should try to obtain infonnation about family traditions and legends passed down from generation to generation. There should be a wealth of such material available.

	We have found that the most reliable way to obtain in— formation about the age of ex—slaves or the time certain events in their lives took place is to ask them to try to recollect some event of in~portance of known date and to use that as a point of reference. For instance, Virginia had a very famous snow storm called Cox‘s Snow Storm which is listed in history books by date and which is well remembered by many ex-slaves. In Georgia and Alabama some ex-slaves remember the falling stars of the year 1883. ~n ex—slave will often remember his life story in relation to such events. Not only does it help the chronological accuracy of ex—slave stories to ask for dated happenings of this kind, but
•it often serves to show whether the story being told is real or imagined.

Sent the fo1lo~aing states:
	Alabama	Maryland	Tennessee
	Arkansas	Iviississippi	Texas
	Florida	Missouri	Virginia
	Georgia	N. Carolina	West Virginia
	Kentucky	Oklahoma	Ohio
	Louisiana	s. Carolina	Kansas
			Tnd iana