342:  Claude said that why don't you call my wife she can do anything.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  I told her I said I don't believe that he says well I said it I #1 said well. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  {NW} So she went in immediately and called me and of course at that time my daughter was quite small {NS} and I said well {X} I can't come up #1 there I said I've #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  got a little fella here. {D: Oh Elizabeth} if you would just please come and work for about three days and get me straightened out I don't know a debit from a credit I said now that's not so.
Interviewer:  Mm.
342:  And she says well I just need somebody to get this work done and I can't get the typing done and I said she says please I said well I'll see about it. So I call Miss Bell this woman I was speaking of.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm. {NW}
342:  And I asked her I said Bell can you come out here and take care of Barbara for two three four days yessum she just loved her to death anyway so she came on out of course and took care of Barbara for those uh {NW} first few days you know. And every day I'd say {X} you want me to come back tomorrow? I certainly do so I had worked up there nearly three weeks everyday you want me to come back tomorrow? I had her straightened out I had everything done caught up and I was posting course I was trained in business
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  education that's what I had been trained in clerical work. So uh one morning she said uh come on go upstairs with me I said for what? I want you to go up there at the desk and begin to learn what it is to be at that desk and I said now I didn't say I was gonna work regularly and she says well you are I've got news for you I said well.
Interviewer:  Oh boy.
342:  You know I told her of course we were just kidding one another you know and I said well who's boss of this thing me or you?
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm
342:  She says you gonna begin to learn this library work. Well as I said and I told my boss the other day I'm retiring the first of September. And uh because Claude has been retired now for three years
Interviewer:  Mm.
342:  So we just feel that since we're both halfway healthy and so forth #1 you know #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  there are a lot of things we would like to do together.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And for almost fourteen years he worked at the fire department uh in our early married life. Uh we had our children and I raised them because he worked six days and nights a week.
Interviewer:  I didn't think firemen did that.
342:  Oh brother well he did it. #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Six days #
342:  #1 and six nights? #
Interviewer:  #2 Ninety dollars a month. #
342:  #1 Not to all those #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  he- of course his salary was raised a little but it
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  began to I mean those six days and nights a week for nearly all those fourteen years.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And then he got to where he would be off every other day and night maybe {NS} so as I said we just never have and then {NW} course when I went to work when he would be off things begin to get better up there and better and better and he became the assistant chief
Interviewer:  #1 of course. #
342:  #2 Mm-hmm. # And uh I when I went to work then so I just knew of course the children were getting big enough we knew we were going to have to try to educate 'em and
Interviewer:  {X}
342:  the expenses of doing that and since I was off of the job and it was interesting most interesting work.
Interviewer:  Yeah I would imagine it would be.
342:  I have thoroughly enjoyed it and uh Mister Watson said well I told him first of this month that I had decided that I'd retire. And he looked at me and he says but Miss {D: Herring} what in the world are we gonna do?
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm
342:  And I said well I'm glad you feel that way about it I said it's nice to be felt that way about I guess but I said there are other people who can take my place he says no there's not but one Miss {D: Herring} and he says you know how we are up here you're the mama of the whole #1 place. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well that was # mighty nice.
342:  And he said uh I felt like that another thing he says I'll tell you one thing he said ever since I have come here he said you have been a ray of sunshine I've never heard anybody say anything about you ever being mad.
Interviewer:  Well how great.
342:  And he says we- we just can't do without you you #1 just gonna have to #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  stay with us and I- he says can't you just work part time?
Interviewer:  {NW} Well that's wonderful to be that needed.
342:  {NW} Well I tell you as I said I have learned it and I have learned library work from the ground up.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And I felt like that Missus {D: Beanguard} certainly of course now she's state director. {NS}
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And uh thats what she has gone on to be. And she first went to work for the extension department for the state and then she became director.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
342:  And she is excellent in her job there's no doubt about it and she's had a rough time getting there but she got it. What I mean by that her husband left her with a little girl and she got her education she went ahead and fought for it and studied hard and worked hard and there wasn't anything she wouldn't try.
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NS} And she's in Montgomery now?
342:  And she's in Montgomery she is the head uh I mean she is the director for #1 the #
Interviewer:  #2 Well that # is
342:  #1 state department. #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: really quite.} #
342:  So she came up here one day and called me out and uh well I've worked in every department in there and the thing that's the reason they don't want me to leave for the simple reason I'll tell you why. Uh {NS} any department in that library if they need somebody to come in
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NS}
342:  they'll call down in tech services and they'll say uh {NS} uh {D: Miss Herring} can you come up here and stay while I do so and so and #1 so and so. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  {D: Miss Herring} can you come up here and stay in local history? Miss Herring can you come up here and and look after the office a minute? Well I go anywhere #1 in the library. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  Well I operated the book mobile for two and a half years And did my clerical work on top of everything else then. Then they and I kept books until sixty three. {NS} Besides doing my other work.
Interviewer:  You mean you were the bookkeeper and the
342:  #1 I was the #
Interviewer:  #2 librarian? #
342:  book bookkeeper and I worked at the desk. I worked at night #1 a lot. #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: Oh boy.} #
342:  I filled in I mean you know I could take the desk I I learned uh reference work. It's it's most most interesting.
Interviewer:  Yeah I would imagine it is but that was uh you were doing two jobs.
342:  Well I've done two or three jobs #1 all around. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} # {NW}
342:  So in sixty-three my boss told me at that time uh Mister Covey was our director then {NS} and he says {D: Miss Herring} said we need somebody who is a good typist and uh his compliment was he says you're the best in the library. {NS}
Interviewer:  #1 Wow. #
342:  #2 And he # says I want you know right now said we need you in the cataloging department and said that book keeping can be kept with uh we're going to hire uh a book keeper to come in I mean we're going to hire an outside book keeper just a uh regular uh service #1 book keeping #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  #1 service #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  to do what we have and you can keep up and sort of halfway notice these books so you'll know what's going on. But he says I'd much prefer you going to the cataloging department so that's where I've been.
Interviewer:  In the cataloging depart- well now that's one of the trickier of the departments. #1 Uh. #
342:  #2 It's the # trickiest.
Interviewer:  Yeah cause it there's some some.
342:  And I also mend books and I'm the only person down there who does that and makes books. {NS}
Interviewer:  Makes books? {NS}
342:  I make books I put 'em books books together. People bring in their course we are building up our genealogical collection. {NS} And uh our uh Huntsville heritage collection uh everything about Alabama and about Huntsville is all in one room.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And uh these people will bring Xeroxed copies they'll just bring in the copies that've been Xeroxed of their family histories and so forth.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  Then I have to take those things and I have to cut 'em and put 'em in a #1 book. #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh I see. #
342:  And make a book glue 'em together and then put the backs on them and label 'em and get 'em #1 all fixed #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  and.
Interviewer:  Do they stay in the library?
342:  They stay right there in the #1 library. #
Interviewer:  #2 You know the # {D: clicks} {D: Pauline and Juanita} have one of the most thorough genealogies I believe I've ever seen for their family. It they have I don't know they have some woman to do it several years ago when they were trying to get in the D A R
342:  Oh yes we have old #1 D A R records. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah #
342:  #1 Oh we have #
Interviewer:  #2 but this woman # carried it all the way back to uh before the year one thousand I mean its really an amazing kind of thing and #1 uh. #
342:  #2 Well it's # amazing I tell you if that genealogical bug bites you you just you have #1 been bitten. #
Interviewer:  #2 I can see # I can see how
342:  #1 because #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: that would be.} #
342:  if you get uh uh as I tell 'em my family on my mother's side now they are wanting me to get into our genealogy and go trace it back. But I don't have time.
Interviewer:  That that that costs time and travel and all this kind of thing.
342:  And there was a lady in there today who was telling me she's made five trips to Kentucky within the last two months.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
342:  And she was telling us about the asking what we charged to uh uh Xerox things you know or to get copies we have a machine up there in the uh {NS} local history {C: clock chiming} what we call it it's Huntsville heritage supposed to be. But of course being a native that is another thing and that's what {D: Mister Waterson} was talking about the other day he says now you and Miss Russell Missus Russell who is head of this department she was seventy-nine years old today.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  {D: And I} but she is just as quick as she can be she's not she hasn't lost any of her vim and vigor she's a widow and she can {X} lo- loves history.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  She loves genealogy.
Interviewer:  She's.
342:  #1 So she's #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  ideal up there of course and she's a native. And so when we get up there a lot of the times you know and and get that bunch of youngsters around us and we start talking about things that've happened here in Huntsville it's just a that's all she wrote we don't get through with breaks {D: of course.} #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 I can imagine. # What about uh a person who sits in a courtroom behind the bench? and wears the black robes #1 he's a? #
342:  #2 Judge. #
Interviewer:  Okay. And uh a woman who takes dictation and does typing is a?
342:  Well stenographer.
Interviewer:  Okay or uh just a general?
342:  #1 Typist. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  #1 A general. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} # Secretary?
342:  #1 Secretary #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  #1 of course. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  #1 #
Interviewer:  #2 # And uh Sanders that has the Kentucky fried chicken place is uh is what Sanders?
342:  Colonel #1 Sanders #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-kay. # Uh the k- the man in charge of a ship is called the what?
342:  Captain.
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh Huntsville what's the chief office civic office in Huntsville?
342:  Mayor.
Interviewer:  Kay and then you have a what city council?
342:  City council mm-hmm.
Interviewer:  A woman who performs in the movies or on the stage is a what {NS} you'd say #1 she's a? #
342:  #2 Star. #
Interviewer:  Okay or you ever a man would be an actor a woman would #1 be? #
342:  #2 Actress #
Interviewer:  #1 of course. #
342:  #2 Okay. #
Interviewer:  Um person is born in this country his nationality is what?
342:  American.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay uh you have ever hear any terms for somebody who's from way out in the country who never gets to town very frequently you ever hear 'em called a? #1 redneck #
342:  #2 Hick or. #
Interviewer:  #1 hick right, okay. #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  Yeah we take a lot of {X} people, hicks in Tennessee.
342:  I know you do I told Gene uh I told you that uh his nephew you know is up there.
Interviewer:  #1 Yeah #
342:  #2 In # {D: business.} And he was at the {C: background noise} {X}{C: background noise} being married and uh I told him that I had talked with you. And uh that you were from Hixon and he said well did he {C: background noise} tell you that it wa- had been a hick town sure enough aunt #1 Elizabeth? #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  I said yes he sure did and I. S- {NW}
Interviewer:  #1 Yep #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #1 #
342:  #2 # I said that is one of the first things he told us at the meeting #1 when he. #
Interviewer:  #2 Right. #
342:  {NW}
Interviewer:  Hixon is a well it's not very big now but it's three four five times as big as it used to be I guess.
342:  Well he says it's an awfully nice little #1 place. #
Interviewer:  #2 It is #
342:  #1 We. #
Interviewer:  #2 very nice. #
342:  They like it very much.
Interviewer:  If you were getting ready to go somewhere and you weren't quite ready and somebody was waiting on you'd say I'll be there in? #1 What? #
342:  #2 Just a # minute.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay.
342:  {NW} {NW}
Interviewer:  Uh.
342:  That's what I tell this girl that works with me I never ask her and say Elizabeth lets go break. Just a minute.
Interviewer:  Just a. {NW} {NW} Somebody might say well I'm not going to do that and you might say well I'm not?
342:  Either
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. This part of #1 your. #
342:  #2 Lot a # people say either.
Interviewer:  I- I've heard people s- what'd you say?
342:  I said a lot of people #1 say #
Interviewer:  #2 uh-huh #
342:  either.
Interviewer:  I've heard #1 people #
342:  #2 You know. #
Interviewer:  say either but I don't I don't think it's a native thing around here.
342:  No I know it isn't
Interviewer:  What about this part of your head is called what?
342:  Forehead.
Interviewer:  Okay and on top of your head you grow what?
342:  Hair.
Interviewer:  Okay and? Uh if a man doesn't shave he grows a?
342:  Beard
Interviewer:  okay
342:  Miss Russell said today that her grandson {NS} had called her last night to wish her a happy birthday and he has had a very heavy beard {NS} and she told him that she would not kiss him she wouldn't do anything till he got that beard off so he said well I wanna tell you that my birthday present to you is that I shaved my beard off. {C: laughing} {NW}
Interviewer:  Oh boy. What about uh
342:  {NW}
Interviewer:  You uh when you eat you put food in your what?
342:  Mouth.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and you uh you chew it with your?
342:  Teeth.
Interviewer:  Okay {NS} and the this part of your body uh.
342:  #1 Neck. #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} # Okay and inside your food goes down your?
342:  Throat.
Interviewer:  Okay and your teeth are in your what? #1 They're red. #
342:  #2 Gums #
Interviewer:  Okay. This part of your hand is called what?
342:  Palm.
Interviewer:  Okay and that is a what?
342:  Fist.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Uh sometimes when rheumatism affects people it gets them in their what? Where they bend #1 there? #
342:  #2 Fingers. #
Interviewer:  Okay or any or any of their #1 j-? #
342:  #2 Joints. #
Interviewer:  Okay. These are what?
342:  Shoulders.
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh when a man has a coat fitted he has to be measured across the what?
342:  Chest.
Interviewer:  Okay. {NS} And uh the front part of your leg here is what?
342:  The calf no it's back of it is your #1 calf. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  Uh.
Interviewer:  The part that you always bump against #1 something. #
342:  #2 Oh. # Uh. {NS}
Interviewer:  Some people call them the shin?
342:  Shins #1 yeah I was #
Interviewer:  #2 Okay. #
342:  fixing to say that.
Interviewer:  Some some people call 'em shanks I've always heard 'em #1 called #
342:  #2 No #
Interviewer:  #1 {X} #
342:  #2 shins I # have too.
Interviewer:  What about the term peaked do you ever hear anybody say that somebody looks peaked #1 or puny #
342:  #2 Yes. #
Interviewer:  or anything like that what peaked?
342:  Mm-hmm.
Interviewer:  My mother said. I thought that might be a local term cause my mother says that all the time
342:  #1 Yes #
Interviewer:  #2 and she grew up here. #
342:  peaked is uh uh you know when a person looks very hollow eyed. #1 You know you #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  hear of older people say about well I say it quite often you know if you in particularly when a child or someone is ill you know or {D: have been in their eyes} just look like they have great big black circles around 'em you know and
Interviewer:  #1 When I first shaved after having that #
342:  #2 they. #
Interviewer:  #1 big beard #
342:  #2 Yeah. #
Interviewer:  for three years my #1 face was all #
342:  #2 Looked like you were- #
Interviewer:  #1 blanched out and everybody said I looked #
342:  #2 I'll bet #
Interviewer:  #1 #
342:  #2 #
Interviewer:  peaked let's see if I have the newspaper over at school made a before and after picture of that and I really look like I'd been in the hospital or something. {NS}
342:  My #1 stars. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  Well you really do.
Interviewer:  It was a it w- I just hadn't had a chance for my face to weather underneath that beard or anything and it was just pale white just like what my granddaddy called fish belly white.
342:  Yeah that's right.
Interviewer:  And uh I looked I was just #1 recovering
 from an illness. #
342:  #2 Well you must've looked awfully nice # though with your beard I've #1 some #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh. #
342:  men I see that l- I like but oh {D: gosh} some of these people with this long hair and.
Interviewer:  Oh that's um.
342:  And these beards too and #1 and. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well I had I # grew mine for the Florence centennial and liked it so much that I just #1 didn't shave it #
342:  #2 {D: Just} #
Interviewer:  #1 off. #
342:  #2 yeah. #
Interviewer:  {NS} Came along.
342:  Well you know back in nineteen fifty-five we had the sesquicentennial here.
Interviewer:  Yeah. Mm-hmm.
342:  And uh that was another thing Missus {D: Beanguard} of course we had to dress up there in costume.
Interviewer:  Oh.
342:  Oh man we ran around and we had an old gentlemen up there. Uh a Mister Smith who uh well when he passed away he was eighty-four years old. And he didn't have a living soul who was kin to him anywhere. That he knew of and oh there was quite a story behind him I won't use your tape up telling #1 that #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  but uh anyway he did uh he just made his second home in the library. #1 And he would #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh he didn't # work there he?
342:  No he was quite well-read and he was an old gentleman. But one of the most interesting I will say this uh when uh {D: Von Braun's} father and mother came of course with him and #1 I mean #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  they came to visit him and they lived here for a number of years. In fact {NS} and uh Mister {D: Von Braun} would be there at the when we open the doors every morning and also Mister Smith. And they were very near the same age. And of course {D: Mister Von Braun} had been a {D: Baron} {D: Baron} you know #1 in Germany. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. #
342:  Uh in Austria rather. And uh uh we had a corner of the old library and it had which in which we kept our periodicals in a rack over there. So these two old gentlemen well Mister Smith had been around the world three times. And he could tell you many many interesting things that's the reason I I said it has been so interesting to work #1 up there you know. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  Because you meet so many people #1 and #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  uh of course {D: Von Braun} used to come in he and his wife and #1 the two girls. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. # Wow.
342:  Used to come in all the time and I I used to talk with 'em you know and
Interviewer:  #1 Mm-hmm. #
342:  #2 and # he {NS} uh was quite interested in what the girls were doing and {NW} but anyway getting back to m- uh to the father. Uh in fact the first time that I ever went up to the desk to really take over.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  The lady who was at the desk they had to come from across the library over to the desk over here. And uh we came up the steps right here and went right around our desk right there. So {NS} {NW} I {NW} {D: tell you up} these steps. And when I did Miss {D: Haynes} says woo am I glad to see you. Hurry up and get around here.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  Well I didn't know what in the world. And I walked all around and when I looked up she flew down those steps. And there I was behind the desk. And here came this old gentleman well I didn't know him from Adam you know. And he was bowing and smiling you know and so pleasant and uh I said how do you do I said may I help you? Uh uh yeah {C: German accent imitation} yeah. {C: German accent imitation} Well I realized #1 then of course #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  That he was German you know and I thought ooh. Well he laid his bible down on the desk and he said uh he started trying to explain to me that he wanted to find the passage about removing the moat from your own eye before that of your brother.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm mm-hmm.
342:  Well uh I kept listening to him and watch him and he would try to tell me and I #1 said #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  uh so I finally figured it out what he wanted he kept pointing to his eye you know #1 and #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  and he would point to his eye and then he would point to mine. So I figured out that that was what he was trying to tell me and I said do you want to find out that passage and where it is? Yeah yeah {C: German accent imitation} yeah well he was so thrilled and #1 excited
 over me #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  knowing that. So we go around and we get the concordance and I find the verse for him you know. Well from then on {D: Mister Von Braun} and I were very very great friends.
Interviewer:  Well that's terrific
342:  And he would come downstairs if I was not upstairs he would come down there if he wanted to find out something he'd never go to #1 {D: Miss Haney} #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  #1 and ask her. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} # {NW}
342:  Course {D: Miss Haney} says I can't understand him but you know it didn't take him very long I mean to get to the point that I #1 could understand him #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  I mean we could understand each other we could converse. But what I was going to say this Mister Smith of course introduced 'em over there one morning because they uh had things you know in #1 common #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  they had been Mister Smith had been in Germany several times and uh {D: Mister Von Braun} of course was uh here #1 but they would #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  could talk about things you know and they're same age. And both of 'em were well read they just kept up right to the minute. So I was over there fixing the magazines one morning and uh I heard them talking about and Mister Von Braun was telling Mister Smith about Hitler.
Interviewer:  Hmm.
342:  And how he took all of his land and everything you know and just took over and let them {NS} be you know I mean they couldn't have anything.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And I told some of 'em I said I would give anything in the world if I could've been a little mouse #1 and stayed over there in the #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh yeah. #
342:  corner. And really heard that because Mister Von Braun was asking Mister Smith you know if he'd been to such and such a place and Mister Smith was describing it to him you know #1 just perfectly
. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  And yeah yeah {C: German accent imitation} you know well they had things in common.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  So it was #1 most 
 interesting. #
Interviewer:  #2 well that that was good # for both of them too.
342:  Yes it was and so Mister Smith finally uh passed away but he didn't have a single soul here anywhere.
Interviewer:  Well he must've been fairly wealthy if he'd been around the world several.
342:  Well he had been but and then uh this girl who he had come here they had fallen in love I'll make it short. {NS} It seems that they had fallen in love and he was a realtor in uh Chicago.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And they met at a dance this girl and her mother were at this uh {NS} evidently some big social thing in Chicago you know and she and Alfred met. Miss Annie and Alfred so uh Miss Annie thought he was just a gigolo and evidently and I mean her mother did.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm
342:  And they fell madly in love but her mother told Miss Annie that if she married him she would disown her.
Interviewer:  Hmm.
342:  Well she comes back home and uh they correspond and he comes down to see her every so often. {NS} And finally Miss Annie's mother died and left her alone. And she had this huge big home.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And uh Mister Smith came down here and lived with her.
Interviewer:  {D: Well I reckon.}
342:  And uh evidently loved her very dearly and as I said of course nobody will ever know whether they lived together as man and wife or whether he just lived #1 there. #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  But he stayed with Miss Annie and boy Miss Annie got sick. That poor old soul cried and he did everything in the #1 in the world #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  that could be done and I think Miss Annie left him everything she had.
Interviewer:  Well did she die a good bit before he #1 {D: would?} #
342:  #2 Yes # she died quite a number of years before he did. And he would just walk around but the most uh well he certainly had been reared a gentleman.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And the hottest day that came we did not have air conditioning in that old library. And the hottest day that came he would put on his he had a wool sport coat. And he would never come to that library without his coat on.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And I would go over there and I'd say Mister Smith please take off your coat. I know you are burning. And he'd say now {D: Miss Herring} you know that my mother taught me never to take off my coat in the presence of ladies.
Interviewer:  Hmm.
342:  I said well I'm a lady but I wish you'd take it off #1 cause you're #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: Boy.} #
342:  just you're making me suffer.
Interviewer:  So that's why he didn't have any kinfolks he was originally from Chicago
342:  #1 Yes. #
Interviewer:  #2 but he didn't have a #
342:  #1 soul down here. #
Interviewer:  #2 But #
342:  there wasn't well there wasn't anybody that he knew of anywhere that was living #1 all of his #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  #1 people were dead. #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  But he was the most {D: gentle} {C: pronunciation} person I think I've ever seen and the most {D: mannerdly} person.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  He had certainly been well reared
Interviewer:  #1 Mm-hmm. #
342:  #2 And uh # I know one day he came over with uh uh one of these holiday magazines you know they're beautiful magazines really.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  Travel you know. And the reason I know he knows knew so much he came over one day and there was a picture of Venice uh one of the the big uh government buildings you know.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And uh he walked over to the desk and Missus Murphy used to laugh she's still our assistant director but she used to go up the stairs after she came with us at the library.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And she's cute as a bug and she's uh so she'd run upstairs and Mister Smith would be watching I'd always go up at noon time and take the desk. {NS} So uh she'd come back down and she'd say you know I I- Mister Smith was so disappointed he thought that
Interviewer:  #1 was you coming. #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And I {NW} #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: Oh boy.} #
342:  {D: Alright} because I took the time to talk with him.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  You know he was lonely.
Interviewer:  Well old people #1 appreciate that. #
342:  #2 And he would # come over and #1 and #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  {NW} though he'd always say well she's my ray of sunshine.
Interviewer:  Yeah. Yeah.
342:  So I felt like that I was really doing the old #1 gentleman #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  you know I enjoyed it but what I was gonna tell you he came over there that day and brought me that magazine and he said Miss {D: Herring} Missus {D: Herring} that's what he always said and I said yes sir. He said you see this and this and this and this you know the the domes of the buildings you know and he'd tell me that which was gold and which was not and which was this and which was the other. He'd been in Russia and he was in the hall of mirrors. {NS}
Interviewer:  Wow.
342:  He had been in the hall of mirrors to a big dance.
Interviewer:  Oh had he done this before he came here?
342:  Oh yes.
Interviewer:  {NW} Before he met
342:  #1 He had #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: the woman?} #
342:  traveled you know. {NW} Well he had met Miss Annie before I mean while some of this #1 went on but he had #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh I see. #
342:  traveled you see.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  But he had been and he could tell you exactly every mirror he could tell you what was in between the things.
Interviewer:  Goodness.
342:  He was such an observant person evidently you know #1 while he was #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  traveling that it was it was just most interesting so you as I tell 'em there isn't a day that goes by that we don't #1 learn something new. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well yeah # right and that w- that's what makes the library so interesting to work in.
342:  That's right.
Interviewer:  What about when a person has a cold or something and it affects his voice it makes him sound funny he'll say he's what?
342:  Hoarse
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Or if he {NS} does that he has a what?
342:  Cough
Interviewer:  Okay. {NS} When a person just can't hold his eyes open in a boring speech or something you say oh I got so? #1 What? #
342:  #2 Sleepy. #
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Uh a person who can't hear at all is what?
342:  Deaf.
Interviewer:  Kay. And uh if a person worked out in the sun all day long and it got real hot he would what a lot? {NS}
342:  He would sweat.
Interviewer:  Okay. What about a place that comes up on a on an arm or a leg or something kind of real sore and it comes #1 to a head? #
342:  #2 Blister. #
Interviewer:  No it comes to a head and has to be #1 {D: lanced?} #
342:  #2 Boil. #
Interviewer:  Okay. {NS} When it lan- when it's lanced what comes out if it?
342:  The core.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and also the?
342:  Uh pus.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Uh if you sprain a wrist or something or break a wrist or something it gets all what?
342:  Swollen.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. And you said blister a moment ago when you pierce a blister what comes out of it?
342:  Water.
Interviewer:  Okay. And uh have you ever heard the term proud flesh talking about an?
342:  Ooh yes.
Interviewer:  Infection #1 or something is that what #
342:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
Interviewer:  it is just #1 an infection? #
342:  #2 It's just # an infection but it's the where the the infection eats really eats the flesh I think you know I mean it uh. Uh you have to get rid of that stuff before you can cure the thing up.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. What about a medicine that used to people would put on their uh cut or something that burned very badly?
342:  Iodine.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. And what is it that people used to take to keep from getting yellow fever #1 pills or something very bitter? #
342:  #2 {NW} # Uh. {NW}
Interviewer:  You ever hear the term #1 quinine? #
342:  #2 Oh # quinine.
Interviewer:  #1 Okay. #
342:  #2 {NW} # I was trying to think {C: laughing} what I was trying to say I couldn't. {NS}
Interviewer:  Uh.
342:  My mind goes blank every once #1 {D: in a while.} #
Interviewer:  #2 Well something like # that I mean I don't guess that people take quinine {D: anymore.} #1 Somebody did tell me they do take #
342:  #2 Yes they do too. #
Interviewer:  quinine for what nowadays?
342:  Uh they give you quinine for uh several things uh they in particularly if you're uh going to travel or for if they think you're going to get a fever of any #1 kind. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  Just about. They'll give you doses of quinine.
Interviewer:  What about uh a thing that a person is buried in the i-is it a coffin or a casket? Do you call it?
342:  Well it's uh um I say casket but a lot of people I mean will say a coffin.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Uh when let's see when the the people wear black arm bands that sort of thing they're said to be in?
342:  Mourning
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh what about a disease that people get and it makes their skin turn yellow?
342:  Malaria.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay or you ever hear yellow? Uh #1 jaun- #
342:  #2 Yellow # jaundice.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  Yes my child has had that.
Interviewer:  Oh really? Well that's a fairly serious disease isn't it?
342:  Yes it's very serious you know they say that if you uh in fact we didn't know that he had that. And uh {NS} then it turned out that uh he had not uh gotten his skin had not turned too yellow but uh {NS} he had uh all the symptoms of of having it.
Interviewer:  Hmm.
342:  And the doctor began to treat him for it and he got better of course. And so now he had an occurrence of it though when he was in the marines. And they put him back in Bethesda Naval Hospital. And of course you know he can't ever give blood. #1 They won't accept #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  #1 any #
Interviewer:  #2 Uh-huh. #
342:  blood from a person who has had that.
Interviewer:  {NW} Let's see uh what about a let's see. If you have a pain in your side and you have to be taken to the hospital you have to have an emergency appendectomy it was because you had what?
342:  Appendicitis.
Interviewer:  Okay. When a person uh gets uh eats something that doesn't agree with him it'll make him sick? Would you #1 say at? #
342:  #2 {NW} # At his stomach.
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh {NW} let's see. {NW} If a young man and a young lady are seeing a lot of each other you say that he is what her?
342:  Courting.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Uh {NS} if he proposes and she refuses you'd say that she what? She would you say she?
342:  She rejected him #1 I guess. #
Interviewer:  #2 Okay. #
342:  {NW} #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 And if she # didn't then they would get?
342:  Married.
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh the man who stands with the groom at the wedding is the what?
342:  Best man.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. And the uh woman who stands with the #1 bride? #
342:  #2 Maid # of honor.
Interviewer:  Okay. Have you ever heard of a custom either following a wedding or an uh one man told me that uh they did this in his neighborhood when a c- new couple move or a couple moved into a new house whether they had just married or not. Where all the neighbors would get around outside the house and bang on buckets and things and make a lot of noise? You ever heard of that custom?
342:  {NW} No I've never heard of that custom. I've heard of of I thought maybe you were gonna say a housewarming
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  you know. #1 Or a. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well I # think this was something like that but the before they invite before they came in the house they #1 would? #
342:  #2 They would #
Interviewer:  #1 Yeah. #
342:  #2 carry on with a # lot of noise #1 and #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  racket. {NW}
Interviewer:  #1 Uh #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  If you were talking about a {NW} a group of people uh in not so nice terms and then you might say well I wouldn't give two cents for the whole what? {X}
342:  kit and caboodle. #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Okay. #
342:  {NW}
Interviewer:  Okay.
342:  {NW} That's my saying for it. {NW}
Interviewer:  Uh {NS} school at eight oh clock in the morning school does what?
342:  Begins.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and at say three-thirty in the afternoon it what?
342:  It ends.
Interviewer:  #1 Okay. #
342:  #2 Or # closes.
Interviewer:  A child doesn't want to go to school he might what one day?
342:  He might play hooky.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay.
342:  #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Uh. #
342:  #1 #
Interviewer:  #2 #
342:  Is what I thought mine would do that first year he was in school.
Interviewer:  That's right it when he was so #1 bored with it. #
342:  #2 Yeah. # Well he was bored #1 to tears. #
Interviewer:  #2 You wanted to mail # a letter you'd take it to the what?
342:  Post office.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. And uh the woman who helps a doctor out in the hospital is the what?
342:  Nurse.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and if you wanted to catch a train you'd go to the? {NS} What? {NS}
342:  Depot.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay. Does Huntsville still have the square downtown?
342:  Mm-hmm.
Interviewer:  I didn't know whether they did or not.
342:  #1 Oh yes and that #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  monstrosity of that court house that they put up there.
Interviewer:  Oh that's right I've seen that new courthouse #1 I don't like it. #
342:  #2 Oh lord # I hate #1 it. #
Interviewer:  #2 Did they # tear the old one down?
342:  Well yes they could've made the prettiest library I've always said that. They could've made a museum or a library they could've made a a gorgeous museum out of that thing.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  It was a beautiful #1 building with. #
Interviewer:  #2 And they just knocked it # down huh?
342:  And they just {D: floored} #1 that and built that #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  monstrosity.
Interviewer:  #1 Did Huntsville ever have #
342:  #2 {D: Of course.} #
Interviewer:  street cars?
342:  Yes.
Interviewer:  #1 Track #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  did you call them street #1 cars or trolley #
342:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
Interviewer:  cars or #1 what? #
342:  #2 Street # cars my father was a motorman on one. #1 For ten years #
Interviewer:  #2 They used to be a # really big honor you #1 know. #
342:  #2 That # was a big #1 thing 
 to go ride. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. # If you were riding on one of 'em you might tell uh the conductor or the motorman at the next corner I want?
342:  Off.
Interviewer:  Okay. And Huntsville is the what of Madison county?
342:  {NW} It's the county seat.
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh let's see. The war that was fought between the north and south was called what?
342:  War between the states.
Interviewer:  Okay.
342:  {D: Lord mercy.} #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  {X} {NW}
Interviewer:  #1 What uh? #
342:  #2 Mis- Mister # Watson is a big Civil War bug #1 {D: and he can} #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh really? #
342:  tell you.
Interviewer:  What state, now some of these are kind of crazy this questions what state is New York City in? {NS}
342:  New York
Interviewer:  Okay. What about Baltimore?
342:  Maryland.
Interviewer:  Okay and uh Richmond?
342:  Virginia.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and Asheville?
342:  North Carolina.
Interviewer:  And Charleston?
342:  South Carolina.
Interviewer:  Okay and Atlanta?
342:  Georgia.
Interviewer:  And Miami?
342:  Florida.
Interviewer:  And Huntsville?
342:  Alabama.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and New Orleans?
342:  Louisiana.
Interviewer:  And {NW} Louisville?
342:  Kentucky. Mm-kay and uh Knoxville? Tennessee.
Interviewer:  Saint Louis?
342:  Missouri.
Interviewer:  Mm-kay and uh Little Rock?
342:  Arkansas.
Interviewer:  And Tupelo?
342:  Mississippi.
Interviewer:  Dallas?
342:  #1 Texas. #
Interviewer:  #2 And # Tulsa?
342:  Oklahoma.
Interviewer:  Okay. What about the states extending from Maine to Connecticut on the map they're called the what states?
342:  Oh um east.
Interviewer:  Okay ever hear them called the New Eng-?
342:  New England states what I was tr-. {NW}
Interviewer:  #1 Uh #
342:  #2 I tell # you I chase down these {NW} people {X} and um genealogical records and trying to find these states and so #1 sometimes {C: laughing} #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: Oh yeah.} #
342:  I can't.
Interviewer:  You know the maddening thing I would think would be uh like well Alabama and and southern states I guess all states in it but Alabama and Tennessee I know changed counties three or four times they started off with relatively few very big counties #1 {D: and then they started.} #
342:  #2 Well uh # that's one thing that we have I mean you have to know how now I have attended uh three workshops genealogical workshops. But uh we have what you call the uh genealogic- genealogist handbook.
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And in each one of those things they have a map of the state but then they have it listed by counties and then uh they tell you when that county what year that county was formed. And over here they have {D: the mother} counties.
Interviewer:  Oh I see. Well now that would be a handy #1 thing to have. #
342:  #2 Oh it's # handy I tell you you can't you can't look up genealogy hardly without it I it up there.
Interviewer:  What about some of the the big cities in Alabama name some of the major cities in Alabama?
342:  Mobile, Montgomery. Birmingham.
Interviewer:  Okay. #1 What about? #
342:  #2 Huntsville. #
Interviewer:  #1 what about yeah Huntsville don't forget Hunt- #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #1 what about in Georgia? #
342:  #2 {NW} # {NS} Oh Atlanta Augusta uh.
Interviewer:  How about the port town in Georgia? Old southern town?
342:  Oh um wait a minute. {NS} {NW} That's another thing my mind I #1 tell you it just goes. #
Interviewer:  #2 Savannah? #
342:  Savannah Georgia.
Interviewer:  Okay. What about uh
342:  It goes blank every once #1 in a while. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well that's a # people aren't likely to ask you things like that without #1 naming the town you know? #
342:  #2 {NW} # Oh yeah they ask me they y-you'd be surprised at the questions we get. {C: background noise} {NS}
Interviewer:  Oh real- I
342:  #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 wouldn't be I used to # well, I- I #1 worked. #
342:  #2 You # would be surprised I'll tell you. But uh one of the things that would floor you. You know uh they talk so much about these obscene phone #1 calls. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  And this Helen Moore that I was #1 talking #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
342:  to you about {D: she has to be} {X} and the quickest thing on the trigger so to speak about doing things. {NS} And she went up there the other day and was at the desk and the phone rang so she uh answered it. {NS} And uh the voice on the other end asked her a very very very obscene question. And just out of the blue she said uh she waited a minute and then she realized what he had said and she said uh is that a reference question?
Interviewer:  Oh n-. #1 {NW} #
342:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  {NW} That's beautiful that is that's #1 {D: wonderful.} #
342:  #2 I'm telling you # we have laughed.
Interviewer:  #1 that's really quick thinking. #
342:  #2 And that # and uh she said they waited and waited and waited and {X} they just hung up. #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah they didn't they they didn't know what to say # {NS} You know when I taught at uh #1 U A E #
342:  #2 {X} #
Interviewer:  {D: each year} we had the library #1 had trouble with obscene #
342:  #2 {NS} #
Interviewer:  phone calls all the time.
342:  Well you know the funny thing uh they call that that one and then they called both of our branches main branches.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And asked the same identical question.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  #1 {D: And it likely} #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  scared the girls #1 to death out #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
342:  there.
Interviewer:  Yeah the #1 the girls. #
342:  #2 That Helen was # just so quick #1 the that #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  was about #1 the cutest #
Interviewer:  #2 that was #
342:  #1 thing I #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: the best} #
342:  #1 had heard in a long #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  #1 time. #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: ever heard.} #
342:  {NW}
Interviewer:  What are some of the uh major religious denominations around here?
342:  Well I think the major ones are the Methodists and the Presbyterians and the Baptists and the {NS} Catholics.
Interviewer:  Yeah. you know I think the Jehovah's witnesses are creeping in on us here I noticed
342:  #1 Oh #
Interviewer:  #2 that in Florence they just #
342:  #1 talk about that we have #
Interviewer:  #2 built one of these. #
342:  one up yonder.
Interviewer:  {NW} There in Florence they just built one of the what they call Kingdom #1 Hall. #
342:  #2 Mm-hmm. #
Interviewer:  And I noticed driving over here tonight there's a new one out on #1 the highway #
342:  #2 Yes. #
Interviewer:  there so they must be kinda they're
342:  #1 Well #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  #1 they have just #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  #1 recently #
Interviewer:  #2 in my part. #
342:  they have just recently um built this one they'd been having a little meeting out and they had a little Kingdom Hall out {D: here uh I think} it was off. {X} {C: background noise}
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm. {C: background noise}
342:  But um we ha- {NW} let me see wha- oh uh speaking of that {NS} uh we have a service of course up at the library now that uh uh called community services and this young lady who is head of that is uh it it's the blind and the deaf #1 department
 you know. #
Interviewer:  #2 {D: Alright. Mm-hmm.} #
342:  So this person she had uh {NS} uh we tape books they have people to come in and uh tape the books for the blind #1 you know. #
Interviewer:  #2 Mm-hmm. # Mm-hmm.
342:  So uh she wanted one of these Jehovah's witness books taped. Well uh Joyce had it taped for her. So uh yesterday morning she was reading the letter that she had gotten of thanks from her and in braille it'd been typed in braille. And Joyce was read- {NW} {D: and he} told her that uh God knew uh Jehovah knew that she was doing this. {NS} But that she had better get right with Jehovah because {NW} oh blah blah blah blah. #1 Well I never heard such a long rigmarole #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh my goodness. #
342:  of stuff in my life.
Interviewer:  And this was all typed out in #1 braille? #
342:  #2 And was # all typed out in braille every bit of it. And it we do get some fun but you speaking of reference questions you know people will call about things that you've never even dream of they'll call and ask you if they supposed to wear what kind of w- we- uh clothes they're supposed to wear to a wedding.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  They'll call and ask {D: you if you're} supposed to wear a hat you know to this or that and after dark if you're supposed to have this and that and the other. And they'll call and ask you how to set the table.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
342:  They call and ask of course five hundred times a day uh about uh if we'll look up an address in the phone books. #1 You know from #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  some other city.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And uh well I um one of the cutest things I ever had though to ask this little boy called one day and he said uh is this the library and I said is this the library? {C: pronunciation}
Interviewer:  Mm-hmm.
342:  And I said yes this is the library. {NS} And he said well how much rent how much will the back rent be on Little Women? {NW}
Interviewer:  The back rent. {NW} Oh me.
342:  {NW} I said honestly I said uh what did you say son? And he says how much will the back rent on little women be?
Interviewer:  Back rent.
342:  Well of course he didn't tell me how long the #1 book had been #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  overdue or anything #1 about it you know. #
Interviewer:  #2 Well he figured that #
342:  #1 #
Interviewer:  #2 #
342:  #1 But he yeah. #
Interviewer:  #2 you just knew #
342:  I'm supposed to know I've settled bets over the telephone.
Interviewer:  Yeah now I can imagine
342:  #1 I've settled #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} #
342:  arguments. I spent one whole lunch hour up there one day trying to uh prove to a man to two men. And uh they wanted to they were asking they were having a quarrel about who was about {X} {NS} where he was born and that he was president and I said I'm sorry but one of you wrong now who bet the other one? So I said now who's {X} stakes. {NW} {NW} #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 Oh #
342:  #1 they were #
Interviewer:  #2 boy. #
342:  drunk but you could they were just enough you know that #1 you you #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
342:  could tell. But they would call every minute. Now wait just a minute you've got to tell this other one. You've got to tell Bill and John or whatever his name was you know so he'll know and he'll pay me off.
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  And I told him {X} was born in Tennessee well they didn't believe that you know. {NS} Wanted to know where he was born well I had to tell 'em exactly when where and how. But he was president of the United States. I said no he was Secretary of State. {C: background noise}
Interviewer:  {NW}
342:  Oh boy
Interviewer:  He had a major building in {NW} civic building in Nashville is the {X} building.
342:  Well certainly. But uh they didn't they got in an argument over it.
Interviewer:  That's some.
342:  And then you'd find out family history for you d- you'd get things I have one person that called there one day and they read me the act of everything that this one person had done and I kept trying to hang up on 'em and I told 'em I was not the least bit interested.
Interviewer:  {NW}