[Document 9]

MEMORANDUM
September 8, 1937

TO: STATE DIRECTORS OF THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT
FROM: HENRY 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 information 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 information 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 importance 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. An 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.