ossible to locate only a very
few ex-slaves, but an attempt should be made in every state.
Interesting ex-slave data has recently been reported from Rhode
Island, for instance.

April 22, 1937

STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES

The main purpose of these detailed and homely questions is to get the
Negro interested in talking about the days of slavery. If he will talk
freely, he should be encouraged to say what he pleases without reference
to the questions. It should be remembered that the Federal Writers'
Project is not interested in taking sides on any question. The worker
should not censor any material collected, regardless of its nature.

It will not be necessary, indeed it will probably be a mistake, to ask
every person all of the questions. Any incidents or facts he can recall
should be written down as nearly as possible just as he says them, but
do not use dialect spelling so complicated that it may confuse the
reader.

A second visit, a few days after the first one, is important, so that
the worker may gather all the worthwhile recollections that the first
talk has aroused.

Questions:

1. Where and when were you born?

2. Give the names of your father and mother. Where did they come from?
Give names of your brothers and sisters. Tell about your life with them
and describe your home and the "quarters." Describe the beds and where
you slept. Do you remember anything about your grandparents or any
stories told you about them?

3. What work did you do in slavery days? Did you ever earn any money?
How? What did you buy with this money?

4. What did you eat and how was it cooked? Any possums? Rabbits? Fish?
What food did you like best? Did the slaves have their own gardens?

5. What clothing did you wear in hot weather? Cold weather? On Sundays?
Any shoes? Describe your wedding clothes.

6. Tell about your master, mistress, their children, the house they
lived in, the overseer or driver, poor white neighbors.

7. How many acres in the plantation? How many slaves on it? How and at
what time did the overseer wake up the slaves? Did they work hard and
late at night? How and for what causes were the slaves punished? Tell
what you saw. Tell some of the stories you heard.

8. Was there a jail for slaves? Did you ever see any slaves sold or
auctioned off? How did groups of slaves travel? Did you ever see slaves
in chains?

9. Did the white folks help you to learn to read and write?

10. Did the