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Mrs. Janie Bradberry
Harris
(Georgia)
Mrs. Henry was sitting at her desk busy
making out reports. Are you too busy to talk to me this morning? I asked
her. "It all depends on what it is and how long it will take you. You know
I can't take my working hours to talk personal matters. But first tell me
what is is you want to know? I told her I would like to get her life
history and wanted one of a WPA Project Supervisor. "What do you want me
to tell you." I asked her if I could see her at her home. "Why, yes if you
have a way to get out to my house, but I live way out on Tallassee Road. I
guess I can talk and work too. I am waiting for my head boss to come and
since I am not so busy this rainy day I expect you had better see me now.
She is a large woman weighing about two hundred pounds, has gray hair and
wears glasses. She was wearing a one-piece black dress, the skirt and
sleeves were crepe and the body of the waist was cut velvet. She also wore
black slippers and gray hose. And shows she is very much interested in her
work.
She began, "I was raised right here in Clarke County and was the oldest of
seven. There were three girls and four boys in our family. There is
nothing interesting about my childhood. We played and scrapped as children
will do, and when we were large enough we helped in the field if there was
anything for us to do. I dropped corn and beans many a day and picked
cotton I was a good cotton picker.
"I remember distinctly there is a big difference back when I was a child
and now. My father was an overseer for a man who had a large farm. We had
plenty to eat and wear. We raised everything we ate at home. My father was
also a basket weaver and made some of the daintiest little baskets you
ever saw. He sold lots of them, the most of his income was from selling
cattle, he raised lots of them for sale.
"When my sister and I wanted a new hat or dress, we sold eggs, milk,
butter, apples or anything else we could find to sell.
"We lived near Barnett Shoals and we could always dispose of any surplus
supplies we couldn't use, selling things to the people who worked in the
mill. I remember I had a cousin who worked in the cotton mill at Barnett
Shoals, whenever I went to see her, she would save up all the tin buckets
and give them to me to take home. We thought we were rich when we got them
tin buckets, they were rare things for country people to have. When I was
14 years old I bought a sewing machine. I ordered it from Sears' and
Roebuck, and paid for it sewing for Negroes.
"When they were building the electric plant at Barnett Shoals my sister
and I used to sell buttermilk to the men working on the plant for 5¢ a
glass. My favorite sport was horse-back riding believe it or not. You
wouldn't think it true to look at me now.
"We attended Sundayschool in a country school house, the same building we
went to school in. All my people are Baptist. I was 14 years old when I
joined church at Corinth Baptist church and was baptized in Big Creek, not
far from the church.
"I knew my husband all my life we were both reared in the same
neighborhood and went to school together. When we married we didn't have a
wedding, just came to Athens and got married at my cousin's house her
husband was a preacher.
"My husband worked for the Athens Railway and Electric Company, now the
Gergia Power Company. He started to work for them when he was 15 years old
and was still in their service at the time of his death 11 years ago. He
started working for them as a errand boy until he learned what to do, than
when the plant was made built they gave him a regular job making $90 a
month. When he was made plant manager he made $165 a month. My husband
didn't go to war because he was operating the power plant. We had been
married 11 years when he died. I have 4 children two girls and 2 boys, The
oldest a boy is 17.
"The day he was killed at the plant at Tallassee where we were transferred
from Barnett Shoals in 1926. We had just returned from a 2 weeks vacation.
The children were cross and sleepy so I told him I would give them a bath
put them to bed and after I got the house in order I would go to the plant
and stay with him, as I often did. He agreed to this as the boss from
Atlanta was coming the next day on an inspection trip and my husband
wanted everything shining for them as that was the orders his boss here
had given him. I had just gotten the children in bed and was tying the
sheet of soiled clothes to be sent to the wash woman the next day when the
telephone rang and a man at the plant told me to come down quick my
husband had been hurt. I ran all the way he died soon after I got there.
His death was caused from a broken insulator. It probably wouldn't have
killed him, but he had been watering the grass and his shoes and clothes
were damp.
"After his death the company paid me $50 a month until the workman's
compensation was paid, which was about three thousand and six hundred
dollars. After that was paid, they gave me a job looking after the
property at Tallassee until the new plant was built and they put men out
there. Than I had to look out for myself. I got $25 a month a house to
live in and lights and water furnished free. They let me live in the house
now. That is the reason I don't move in town.
"The first year I took charge after my husband's death, and paddling my
own canoe I made $85 that year selling milk, butter, chickens and eggs. I
was out of work from December, 1937 until March of 1938. Did I try every
where to find work I asked everyone I knew for a job. Many a day I have
gone back home wondering where to try next. Finally one day I went to the
Welfare Office, asked for work and they sent me to the sewing room. What a
revelation that was to me. That was my first job on WPA and if it wasn't
for the government work I don't know what people like us would do. In this
day and time you can't get office work to do or even a job as saleslady.
The people employing help want young attractive people with pep and
energy.
"My work at the sewing room was very pleasent, however I didn't stay there
very long before I was transfered to another project paying more. I was
there from March until July. I was sent to the Housekeeping Aid Project as
an Aid and in October of last year I was made Supervisor of the project."
Someone knocked on the office door Mrs. Henry answered it: "Good morning,
what can I do for you this morning? "Good morning," said the visitor.
"Carson is my name I work over here at the University at the barn, I heard
about your work and thought I would investigate about getting a nurse to
wait on my wife and son, my wife had been sick since Christmas, now my son
come down sick and I need some help. I went to the Welfare Office and they
sent me to you." "Where do you live?" asked Mrs. Henry." "Over her on Ag
Hill." "What is the address?" "Taint got non 'cept Ag Hill." "Well, you
take this blank to the Welfare Office and they will fill it out for you
and you bring it back to me then I will see what I can do for you." He
left, but was back in a few minutes. "Say, lady I took this slip where you
told me too. I didn't get to talk to the one you told me too as a big head
lady was coming out the office, she took the paper, read it and told me to
give it back to you they didn't have nothing to do with it." "All right,
just give it to me and I will look after it for you, as there was a
misunderstanding on the part of the person with whom you talked to.
He started to leave, with the door open his hand on the door knob, he
turned back and stuck his bald head through the open door. "Look here
lady; if you want a recommendation just call Sheriff Jackson he will tell
you all you want to know about me. I am a depty sheriff of this county, I
have a daughter working here in town, my son has been working for the city
and I have a daughter working in Atlanta, but she has got to go back
today. I have been working all my life and married when I was 17 years
old. This is the first time I have ever asked for help before. We need
somebody right away. The bills have piled up on me so since Christmas it
has got me down, and I would appreciate anything you can do for me." "Now,
you must remember Mr. Carson our aids are not nurses. They do practical
nursing and look after the home while the mother or whoever is in charge
of the home is not able to see after it." "I understand, but I need
somebody bad and would like to have them today.
He left Mrs. Henry was silent a few
moments: "Now, I don't see why they can't hire someone to do the work
however, when a case is reported we have to investigate whether its a
worthy one or not. You know this is one way I think the government is
spending their money that really is worth while, of course all the
projects are or they wouldn't have been created. But this one helps
humanity in more ways than one. It gives us work and in doing this it
helps othere who are not able to help themselves.
"We have 8 workers most of the time. Seven of them are white and we have
one Negro helper. This negro is a practical nurse. She hadn't had a job in
months when she was put on this project, and was only on the job a day and
a half when she got outside work to do making $15 a week, she worked 2
weeks. When a person gets outside employment to do, which we are suppose
to do, they are automatticaly dropped from the project and if by any
reason they lose their job than they are taken back again after the case
is thoroughly investigated.
"As I have all ready stated this project was created to help those who are
not able to help themselves, and to make living conditions in the home
worth while. You know yourself when you are in the dumps and everything
goes wrong all we need is a friendly pat on the back to help us along, and
that is the objective of WPA. We train these women on the project to go
into homes where the families are not able to hire help when they are
sick, to have their work done. They do practically everything there is to
be done, except the family washing and heavy scrub work. Of course you
know your self if you had illness in your home and no one to help you, and
there were several small children you wouldn't have time for that sort of
work. They clean house, cook, sew or mend if it is necessary, care for the
children as well as cooking the proper food for the family and patient and
they do wash the patients clothes. In fact they do everything a nurse and
housekeeper does, but give medicine that is not allowed.
"Than after the mother is well again, before the Aide leaves meals are
planned by the aid showing them how to cook it to get the best food value
out of it. You know some people cook their food all day, in that case the
food isn't fit to eat. We also teach children as well as the grown ups how
to eat at the table, also how to set the table and serve a meal. As well
as to keep a clean neat house. We also encourage them to be clean with
themselves, however, there are people who wont do any better no matter how
much you talk to them. After the aids leave a home, they drop in as if for
a friendly chat just to see how their plans are progressing. It is
remarkable to find the improvement in some homes and very discouraging to
go into the home of those who don't have any pride what so ever.
"We have a group meeting of the workers in my office once a week, we get
an outsider to talk to us sometimes its the head of the Red Cross here in
town. She tells us how to make bandages, make beds and care for the sick.
We also have our Clarke County Home Demonstration Agent to give us a talk
on how to prepare food for the sick as well as for the children. How to
set the table and table manners. You would be surprised how little some
people know about such things. I didn't know as much as I thought I did
myself about lots of things I have learned since I came on this project.
"We had a group meeting one day, presided over by our Home Demonstration
Agent, talking about how to care for the home, food, setting the table and
manners. One of the workers were so impressed she went home and began with
the children up to her mother. Teaching them the nice ways of doing in the
home. Now it's attractive as it can be considering what she has to do with
in her home.
"The other night I got so mad at my oldest son, he came rushing in without
washing his face and hands. He went to the table grabbed up his cup of
coffee without setting down to the table. I said, 'Son why don't you sit
down and eat like you ought to instead of gobbling your food up like a
hog.' 'Oh, mama I ain't go no time to fool with table manners hang with
it, I have got to go.' And off he went. Now you know that won't the way
for him to act.
"One way we make money for our project, as our sponsors did not supply any
for it. I made marmalade at night and the aids sold it after they got off
from work. However, we didn't make a great deal it did give us a little to
carry on in our project and the money needed could not be obtained. This
money was used to buy provisions for demonstrations we have once a week in
teaching the aids how to prepare diets for sick people. Most of our food
is furnished by the commodities, but not what we use otherwise.
"We have a loan closet, most of the linen was donated by the aids,
however, several organizations have given a few sheets, pillow cases and
gowns. These things are loaned to the sick attended by our aids. When the
patient is well again they are taken up laundred and put back in the
closet. You know lots of people don't have what they need and these things
have to be provided for.
"One day a case was reported, so I went to investigate it. I found a widow
with two children, she and one of the children were sick in bed. There was
no one to do anything for them but a man she had hanging around. She
called him her boy friend. We went in that home and took the woman and
child in charge. We cleaned the house washed their clothes and cook their
food, the man never left. We got tired of him staying there doing nothing
while we waited on him too. She didn't realize he didn't care anything for
her only to eat up what she had, and a place to sleep. I put him to work
cleaning yard and burning trash. So the next day I made him scrub floors,
each day we gave him a different job. He soon got tired of working and
left. Of course we had to get rid of him in a nice way, so she wouldn't
get mad with us about it, and not let him know what we were up to.
"The aids wear white uniforms, and go quietly about their work in the home
just like any nurse would do. It is strictly against the rules to relate
anything they see and hear other than what they go to do.
"One of the most pitiful cases we have on record, is a blind woman who
lives alone, and as far as we could learn has no relatives living in town
or any other place. The house was very good, but the interior was terrible
to see. This case was reported to us, so one day one of the aids went to
the house, and found her in bed sick. She did not have any food in the
house and hand't had anything to eat in several days. The aid went in and
did everything that was necessary. She has been on the case two weeks.
Every day before, she leaves the aid brings in wood to make a fire, coal
and put it in reach so if she should have to get up in the night she
wouldn't hurt herself or take cold going out for it. She also places her
food and water on a table by the bed. The doctor told us this one case was
worth all the money alone spent in the county from this project.
"There was an old woman who didn't have anyone but two boys to wait on
her. They didn't even have a change of sheets nor the proper clothes. So
we got clothing and food for them, as well as to care for her a long time.
We went back to that home to see how they were getting on and you wouldn't
know it there was such a change At first the yard was littered with
everything under the sun. When we went back the yard and house was as neat
and clean as could be. There was clean cover on the beds, a clean cloth on
the eating table and a flower pot in the center of it. Things like that
makes us know our work is worth while. Our work is very interesting, but
since our project is not such an old one I believe I have told you all of
any importance. I have heard of people in other places having doors
slammed in their face, water thrown on them as well as being cursed out,
but that has never happened to us. People we have dealt with are only too
glad to have us go into their homes and help them."
Her son came in: "Mama we will have to get a new cross member for that
car." "Well, I can't get it fixed today." "Yes, you can and I have to have
a new wheel too. It shimmies so I can't hold it in the road." Well, you
ought not have run in the ditch and broke it." You know I couldn't help it
the road was slick. The garage man said he will sell me a wheel cheap." I
reckon he will, but I need to buy a pig to fatten so we will have some
meat to eat next winter. Did you see any pigs this morning?" "Naw, I
didn't look for none." "You had better go back to school." "I ain't going
to no school today. I want -the car fixed." "Hush! about that car it will
run a few days longer." I asked him where do you attend school? "At the
University High." He answered.
"I am glad you came." said his mother. "I want you to mail these letters."
"I ain't going to mail no letters, less you have the car fixed." "Now, as
soon as I can, I will. I need it now in my work I have got to go way on
the other side of town, since it isn't raining I will have to walk. Now go
on I am busy and can't take up anymore time today I have other things to
do." The last thing I heard as I thanked her, saying good-bye, was. "Well
I am going, but ain't you going to have the car fixed today.?"
(There are several more pages of
attachments to this life history which do not have anything to do with
this story. Much of the addenda are duplications from the
"Mr. Doolittle" life history, and a few
have unknown connections.)
February 25, 1939
Mrs. Janie Bradberry Harris (White)
Tallassee Road
Route No. 2
Athens, Georgia
WPA Project Supervisor
Sadie B. Hornsby
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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