African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Strange Ways and Sweet Dreams

To finish up this week of 19th-century folklore collections, here is the monumental book edited by Donald Waters which collects folklore items from the Southern Workman published by the Hampton Institute: Strange Ways and Sweet Dreams: Afro-American Folklore from the Hampton Institute.

In the introduction to the book, Waters explains how the folklorists associated with the Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) gathered and disseminated African American folklore in the 1890s. Some of those materials were later republished in articles in the Journal of American Folklore (see this earlier post about Alice Bacon), but much of the material has not been published elsewhere. Dr. Waters has done a great service in preparing these materials for publication, and also for releasing the book with a CC0 (public domain) license, reflecting the public domain status of the materials reprinted in the book that were originally published between 1893 and 1900. Given that the other 19th-century books I was sharing this week were all created by white authors, it is such a pleasure to share the work here of so many African American folklorists who published their work in the Southern Workman. (Find out moare at Wikipedia.)

To get a sense of the contents, here are the titles of the items you will find in the book: Introduction to Student Papers on Conjuring ~ Excerpt of a Letter from a Hampton Graduate on the Habits of the People ~ Conjure Doctors in the South ~ Letter and Editorial Reply on Collecting Superstitions ~ Excerpt of a Letter from a Hampton Graduate concerning Conjuration ~ About the Conjuring Doctors ~ Correspondence about Conjuring ~ Editorial Introduction to the "Department of Folklore and Ethnology" ~ Circular Letter seeking observers ~ More Letters Concerning the "Folklore Movement" at Hampton ~ Folklore Meeting: Superstitions ~ Hags and Their Ways ~ The Conquest of a Hag ~ A Contribution from South Carolina ~ Folklore Meeting ~ Excerpt of a Letter entitled "A Lamp in a Dark Corner" ~ Some Side Lights on History. ~ News from Washington Workers. ~ Folk Medicine ~ The Asheville Folklore Society ~ Our Hampton Folk-Lorists: Games ~ Address by William Wells Newell, "The Importance and Utiity of the Collection of Negro Folklore". ~ Paper by Mrs.Anna J, Cooper ~ Bre'r Rabbit and Bre'T Elephant. ~ The Donkey, _the Dog, the Cat and the Rooster ~ Mr. Claytor's Story ~ Mrs. Spennie's Story. ~ Mr. Patterson's Story ~ Contributions from Correspondents ~ Old Time Courtship. ~ American Folklore Society ~ Negro Folk-Songs ~ Folk Medicine. ~ Hag Lore ~ The Witch Cats. ~ Religious Experience ~ Notes from Alabama ~ Riddles ~ Notes on Hords ~ Conjuring and Conjure-Doctors by Leonora Herron ~ Conjuring and Conjure-Doctors by A.M.Bacon ~ Conjuring and Conjure-Doctors by A. M. Bacon ~ A Religious Song of the Yoruba People of West Africa ~ Courtship Customs. ~ Superstitions about Animals. ~ Weather-Lore by J.H.Evans. ~ Courtship in Old Virginia. ~ The Rhode Island Vampire. ~ Brer Rabbit Outdone ~ The Ceremony of "Foot Wash" in Virginia ~ Why the Tiger is Striped. ~ The Foot-Wash in Alabama ~ The Foot-Wash in North Carolina ~ Why the Fox's Mouth Is Sharp, Why the Possum Has No Hair on His Tail, and Why the Rabbit Has a Short Tail and a White Spot on His Forehead ~ Annual Meeting of the Hampton Folklore Society ~ Folklore by Prof. W.H. Scarborough. ~ Folklore in an African's Life by Heli Chatelain ~ Captain Moton's Story ~ Lemar's Story ~ Creole Folk-Tale. ~ How Brer Wolf Divide de Hog. ~ How Brer Holf Caught Brer Rabbit ~ Old Saws. ~ A Difficult Courtship ~ Beliefs and Customs connected with Death and Burial ~ Some Conjure Doctors We Have Heard of ~ Why the Terrapin Has Red Eyes. ~ Why the Mole Has No Eyes. ~ Where de Owl Fus Come From ~ A Race for a Wife. ~ The Hog Thief. ~ Two Ghost Stories ~ Slave Marriages ~ Wednesday Night, Wife Night ~ How the Slaves Cooked and Ate ~ How They Were Dressed. ~ Morality and Relgion in Slavery Days ~ Fish Stories ~ The Rabbit and the Busard ~ The Rabbit and the Girl ~ How the Jays Saved Their Souls. ~ The Jay and the Martin ~ Why the Dog Cannot Talk, and Why the Rabbit Has a Short Tail ~ Why the Clay Is Ked ~ Snakes and Conjure Doctors ~ The Rich Ghost ~ The Boy and the Ghost ~ Why the Rabbit Has a Short Tail and the Dog a Wide Mouth. ~ The Goose and the Drake ~ A Navaho Indian Story of the Creation. ~ A Chost Story ~ Story of a Fox and a Pig ~ Proverbs and Sayings ~ Searching for Hidden Treasure ~ How the Rabbit and the Frog Caught a Deer ~ Conjuration by Daniel Webster Davis ~ Brer Rabbit's Box, With Apologies to Joel Chandler Harris by T.J.Bolden. ~ Why the Crab Has no Head. ~ Why the Buzzard Eats CarTion ~ Why There Are Moles. ~ Why Hens Are Afraid of Owls. ~ The Snail's Smartness. ~ Old Sayings ~ Echoes from a Plantation Party by Daniel Webster Davis ~ Sickness in Slavery Days by R.R. Moton ~ The Trick Bone of a Black Cat ~ How to Conjure ~ Remedies to Cure Conjuration ~ A Word of Courtship. ~ Why the Wren Does not Fly High. ~ Brer Rabbit_Beats Brer Fox. ~ Watch Meeting ~ Iyotandapi and the Black Horse ~ Irishman Storles ~ Editorial. ~ The Fool Hunter. ~ Jack and the King ~ A "Crazy Spell" ~ Chills Cured. ~ Palsy Cured ~ A Negro Ghost Story ~ Don'ts ~ Birds of Ill OTnen ~ Alabama Folklore by Susan showers ~ Alabama Folklore, II by Susan Showers ~ Sermon ot an Ante-Bellum Negro Preacher by Jerome Dowd ~ Why the Buzzard Has a Red Head. ~ How the Guinea-Hen Got Ahead of the Rabbit ~ Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox ~ Proverbs. ~ Signs. ~ Some Geechee Folklore by Monroe N.Work ~ Some Geechee Folklore (Concluded) by Monroe N.Work ~ The Theology of the Songs of the Southern Slave by H.H. Proctor ~ The Theology of the Songs of the Southern Slaves, Part II by H.H.Proctor ~ Some Slave Superstitions by Clement Richardson.

Conjuring, proverbs, superstitions, courtship... and (my favorite) animal stories. Just jump in and see what you can find!

 Strange Ways and Sweet Dreams:

Afro-American Folklore from the Hampton Institute

by Donald J. Waters

African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Emma Backus

Carrying on with the theme of folktale collectors of the 19th century, I wanted to share the stories collected by Emma Backus; they were not published in book form, but I have combined the articles she published in the Journal of American Folklore, all public domain, here: Emma Backus in the Journal of American Folklore (a PDF that I uploaded to the Internet Archive):

You'll find 35 different stories in these 5 different articles:

Animal Tales from North Carolina: When Brer Deer and Brer Terrapin Runned a Race ~ When Mr. Terrapin Went Riding on the Clouds ~ Why the Spider Never Got in the Ark ~ How Come Brer Bar Sleep in the Winter ~ How Come Mr. Buzzard to Have a Bald Head  ~ The Woolly Crows 

Folk Tales from Georgia: When Brer Rabbit Get Brer Bear Churched ~ When Brer Rabbit Was Presidin' Elder ~ When Brer Wolf Have his Corn Shucked ~ Brer Rabbit's Cool Air Swing ~ When Brer Fox Don't Fool Brer Rabbit ~ When Brer Frog Give a Big Dining ~ When Sis Coon Put Down Brer Bear ~ How Come the Mooly Cow Don' Have No Horns ~ When Mr. Pine-Tree and Mr. Oak-Tree Fall Out ~ How the Little Boy Went to Heaven  

Negro Ghost Stories: Miss Julie Ghost ~ Ole Man Cesar ~ Munsta  

Negro Tales from Georgia: When Brer Rabbit Saw Brer Dog's Mouth So Brer Dog Can Whistle ~ Bro' Rabbit an' de Water-millions ~ Bro' Fox an' de Foolish Jay-bird ~ When Brer Rabbit Help Brer Terrapin ~ When Brer Possum Attend Miss Fox's House-party ~ How Brer Fox Dream He Eat Brer Possum ~ Superstition of the Graveyard Snake and Rabbit ~ Why Mr. Owl Can't Sing ~ The Negro's Superstition of the Spanish Moss ~ How Brer Rabbit Practise Medicine

Tales of the Rabbit from Georgia Negroes: Why the People Tote Brer Rabbit Foot in their Pocket ~ Brer Rabbit Born to Luck ~ Why Mr. Dog Runs Brer Rabbit ~ How Brer Rabbit Bring Dust out of the Rock ~ When Brer Rabbit Save the Pig ~ How Come the Pigs Can See the Wind

I have not been able to find any biographical information about Emma Backus, so if anyone has any information to share, please let me know! Meanwhile, enjoy the stories; the Journal of American Folklore is full of valuable material, and these stories make for good reading.

Emma Backus

in the Journal of American Folklore

African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Bahama Songs and Stories

For this week's theme of "classics" from the early years of story collecting, here's another book from the Caribbean, this time from the Bahamas: Bahama Songs and Stories by Charles Lincoln Edwards, published in 1895 by the American Folklore Society.

The stories and songs were recorded during the summer of 1888 at Green Turtle Cay and in 1891 at Harbour Island when Edwards was conducting research in marine biology; he was a specialist in the study of sea cucumbers! Luckily for us, he also developed a great interest in the folklore traditions of the Bahamas during his work there. You can read more about his career at Wikipedia.

There are 38 stories in the book, many of them about the adventures of B'Rabby, the trickster rabbit! Here is a list of the titles: B' Rabby in De Corn-field ~ B' Helephant and B' W'ale ~ B' Rabby, B' Spider, an' B' Bouki ~ B' Man, B' Rat, an' B' Tiger-cat ~ B' Bouki an' B' Rabby ~ B' Baracouti an' B' Man ~ B' Loggerhead and B' Conch ~ B' Crane-crow, B' Parrot, and B' Snake ~ B' Cricket and B' Helephant ~ B' Crane-crow an' B' Man ~ De Big Worrum ~ B' Rabby an' B' Tar-Baby ~ B' Big-head, B' Big-gut, an' B' Tin-Leg ~ B' Rabby Had a Mother ~ B' Man, B' Woman, an' B' Monkeys ~ B' Rabby, B' Bouki, an' B' Crow ~ De Man an' De Dog ~ B' Loggerhead, B' Dog, an' B' Rabby ~ B' Devil an' B' Goat ~ B' Hellibaby an' B' Dawndejane ~ 'Bout a Bird ~ A Young Lad an' 'is Mother ~ B' Parakeet an' B' Frog ~ 'Bout B' Dog, B' Cat, B' Rabbit, an' B' Goat ~ The Lady an' 'er Two Dawtahs an' 'er Husband ~ A Young Lady an' 'er Son ~ B' Goat, B' Bouki, an' B' Rabbit ~ The Woman an' 'eh Husban' ~ B' Big-Head an' B' Little-Head ~ A Boy an' Sheep ~ De Girl an' De Fish ~ Three Boys an' One Woman ~ A Lady an' 'er Two Dawtahs ~ B' Jack an' B' Snake ~ B' Little-Clod an' B' Big-Clod ~ De Woman an' De Bell-boy ~ Greo-grass an' Hop-o'-my-thumb ~ De Debble an' Young Prince Had a Race.

There are also 40 songs, with the music included:

So, especially if you are a fan of the Brer Rabbit stories from the American South, this is a book you will definitely want to explore, learning about the adventures of B' Rabby in the Bahamas.

Bahama Songs and Stories

Charles Lincoln Edwards

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African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Mama's Black Nurse Stories

Carrying on with this week's theme of "classics" from the early years of story collecting, I have an old book from Jamaica today: Mama's Black Nurse Stories by Mary Pamela Milne-Home, published in 1890.

Milne-Holme (1860-1936) was the daughter of a British military officer, Major Charles D. C. Ellis who was stationed at Fort George in Jamaica; she dedicated the book to him. In 1889, she married Colonel David Milne-Holme, and the book was published the year after their marriage. 

Major Ellis was the son of Augustus Frederick Ellis, who was in turn the son of Charles Ellis, the first Baron Seaford, whose wealth came his father's six sugar planations and over 1200 slaves. When the slaves of Jamaica were emancipated in the 1830s, Ellis received money from the government in compensation for over 1000 emancipated slaves; see Wikipedia for details.

As a member of one of Jamaica's wealthiest families, Milne-Holme's prejudices come through loud and clear, yet at the same time her publication of these stories gives us some insight into the stories in circulation in Jamaica at the time. There are 14 stories in the book told by Milne-Holme: Anansi and Alligator ~ Brother Death ~ The Lady and the Bull ~ The Snake and the King’s Daughter ~ The Story of Anansi and Tiger ~ The Snake ~ The Affassia ~ Goat and Anansi ~ Anansi, His Wife, and Tiger ~ The Story About Rat and Cat ~ Anansi, Tiger, and Goat ~ Garshan Bull ~ The Lady and the Little Doggie ~ The King and the Peafowl.

Another intriguing feature of this book is that it includes some stories published by folklorist George Webbe Dasent (1817–1896) who had published some "Ananzi" stories in an appendix to Popular Tales

From the Norse, published in 1859; Dasent learned the stories as a child growing up on the island of St. Vincent. Milne-Holme includes all but one of Dasent's stories (she omits Nancy Fairy for some reason), although she arranges them in a different order: The Lion, Goat, and Baboon ~ The Little Child and the Pumpkin-Tree ~ The King and the Ant’s Tree ~ The Girl and the Fish ~ The Dancing Gang ~ Anansi and Baboon ~ Anansi and the Lion ~ Anansi and Quanqua ~ The Brother and His Sisters ~ Why the Jack Spaniard’s Waist Is Small ~ The Man and the Doukana Tree ~ The Ear of Corn and the Twelve Men.

In addition to the Anansi stories that form the core of the book, Milne-Holme also summarizes some traditional duppy stories in the introduction, which is definitely worth reading too (if you can stomach the condescending racism which permeates the introduction, as usual in these 19th-century books).

There is also some music included, which you can find quickly using the thumbnail view.

And it's all waiting for you, just a click away, at the Internet Archive!

Mama's Black Nurse Stories

by Mary Pamela Milne-Home

African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Old Rabbit, the Voodoo, and Other Sorcerers

Carrying on with the "classics" theme for this week (see the Martha Young post from yesterday), here is a book of African American and Native American folktales published in 1893: Old Rabbit, the Voodoo, and Other Sorcerers by Mary Alicia Owen.

The illustrations are by Juliette Owen (the author's sister) and Louis Wain (a British illustrator best known for his cat pictures; see Wikipedia):

You can find out more about Mary Alicia Owen (1858-1935) at Wikipedia. There is also a biography about Mary Owen and her sisters, Luella and Juliette, which you can find at the Internet Archive: Daring to Be Different : Missouri's Remarkable Owen Sisters.

Mary Owen also worked with the Meskwaki (Sac and Fox) people, documenting their tales and stories in this book: Folklore of the Musquakie Indians, published in 1904.

So, especially if you are interested in the intersection of African American and Native American storytelling traditions (see this earlier post), Mary Alicia Owen's books are an important resource, all just a click away at the Internet Archive.

Old Rabbit, the Voodoo, and Other Sorcerers

by Mary Alice Owen

African Diaspora at Internet Archive: Martha Young

For this week, I'm going to review some of the important 19th-century sources for African American folktales. These are collections, usually in some form of dialect (or faux dialect) written by white authors who, for their own reasons, became collectors of African American stories. As such, the books are all highly problematic (see my comments about Joel Chandler Harris in those posts for more about that), but at the same time they provide precious indirect evidence for the African American storytelling arts of the time.

So, the author for today is Martha Strudwick Young (1862-1941; see Wikipedia), who started her career publishing under a male pseudonym, Eli Shepperd, although after her first book came out, she began publishing under her own name. Over the course of her writing career, she published two substantial collections of folktales: Plantation Bird Legends in 1902 (containing 45 stories) and Behind the Dark Pines in 1912 (containing 55 stories).

Both books were published with illustrations by J. M. Conde, a famous artist of the time who also did illustrations for Joel Chandler Harris; see more at Wikipedia. Here is one of his illustrations for Plantation Bird Legends for a story about the crane:

And here is one form Beyond the Dark Pines showing the rabbit and his wife:

These books never acquired the fame of Joel Chandler Harris's books and they are largely forgotten, but Virginia Hamilton published a book of stories retold from Plantation Bird Legends; you can read about that in this blog post: When Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing.

It features beautiful illustrations by Barry Moser, one of Virginia Hamilton's regular collaborators:

So, if Martha Young's dialect writing is not your style (understandably; the 19th-century dialect books are disturbing in so many ways), the take a look at Virginia Hamilton's lovely version instead. It's all just a click away at the Internet Archive!

Plantation Bird Legends

by Martha Young

Behind the Dark Pines

by Martha Young