Voices from the Dust Bowl

MIGRANT WORKERS’ SONGS IN CALIFORNIA
by Charles Todd and Robert Sonkin

Todd-Sonkin 1940 Fieldnotes
Arvin FSA Camp, Arvin California, August 1, 1940

Baseball, Tulare Migrant Camp, Visalia, CA
Photographer: Authur Rothstein, FSA, March 1940

Arrived in camp at three p.m., and set up equipment in Camp library. The Librarian left us in charge of the building for the rest of the day. She is a W.P.A. librarian (“I think these camps are wonderful — never believed it before”); her hours are from two to eight each day except Sunday. The library is a branch of the Wakersfield library. “Plenty of books–now have more than we know what to do with. So long as we have enough Western stories they’re satisfied. There are just a few good readers in camp”.

Most of the men were out in the field chopping grapes but plenty of women around. First visitors were Lois Judd, her Mother, Mrs. Spainhard, and Nathan — plus the two babies. Mrs. Judd offered to read her poem “Back to Arkansas” [1:18 mp3]. She had been “studying it up” for us. The poem first appeared in the Arvin Camp paper — “The Tow-Sack Tattler”. Written in Sept., 1939. Asked her if she really wanted to go back to Arkansas. Reply: “Not now — I did then….We went back”. From Imo, Ark.

Mr. Whitworth and family from Clinton, Ark. were called on in Unit 117. Mr. Whitworth had asked us to call on our last visit. Sprawled on the grass for a while with a dog, two boys, a guitar and Mr. Whitworth. A comfortable rocker outside the tent. Mrs. Whitworth stayed inside because she was “too dirty to be seen”. We talked to her through the screen. Went out and got Scarborough and began a conversation about old ballads. She remembered many of them — including “Pretty Polly”, and others. Whitworth said he had spent a lot of time and money on his own voice. A nice looking couple, with a little more refinement than some others. W. in blue trousers, and good shoes. After a long talk, they agreed to come over. Mrs. Whitworth appeared later in very clean blue sacks, with her hair well done, and looking about ten years younger than when we first saw her. Zelmer Ward came along with his guitar (Mr. W. had been coaching Zelmer for the occasion.)

Todd letter to Alan Lomax,
Arichve of American Folksong,
Library of Congress

The first song was “The Wildwood Flower” [2:24 mp3], with Zelmer doing a fine accompaniment. This she learned from a Carter family record. During recording the Whitworth little boy laid on the table top, running a fever. Had stepped on a bur. Sonkin baffled by words to “Wildwood Flower” — ex. “I twined with my mangles and wavy black hair”. This was probably “I toyed with my bangles and waving red hair”. This was followed by “Storms are on the Ocean”.

The next disk is a recording of an original poem ["The Job's Just Around The Corner" 2:24 mp3] by Mrs. [Imogene] Chapin. She came from Marshall, Arkansas, and arrived “a year this June” with seven cents. Came originally from Missouri. Wanted to be a school teacher. Had also lived in Iowa. Biography is in poem. Appeared In Sept. 29 issue 1939 of Tow-Sack Tattler. “I’m always writing some little old verses whenever we’re off on a trip or anything, an’ I Just wrote this down the last minute, an they asked me to let em print it in the Camp paper. Didn’t like Cal. when we first came, but “changed my mind a lot since first came”. “Landed here with just seven cents so we had to stay. “Cant live on scenery back in Ark.”

We still felt that something better could be done with “Cotton Fever”. Mr. Ross had confessed (not for publication) to having written it. Made one for Ross himself. Used Quinten and Jones again for music. Had musicians fade back at end of song [1:31 mp3].

Quinten and Jones did a square dance tune called “Billy in the Low Ground” [1:55 mp3]. Both refused to admit that they knew any tunes — had to be pried.

Nail Driving contest, Arvin Camp, 1939
Photographer: Robert Hemmig

The next disk is a poem ["The Government Camp" 3:19 mp3] by Mrs. [Rosetta] Spainhard about cleaning up the Camp. Appeared Oct. 28, ’39. “Lots of confusion in camp, you know, big bunch like there is here, kinda fussin around — had to clean up utility buildings and things like that.”

Drove over to Adobe 10 with machine to call on Gussie and Earl Stone. Two room house, with sleeping porch. Very clean and well furnished. Motto and poem about Mother on wall. Gussie, 18, was sitting on bed pouring over a road map. Had a difficult time talking with her. “Didn’t know any songs — hadn’t played since she got married four months ago”. Gussie belongs to Ward family. This family, Harrison, Father, Zelmer, lives near a packing plant in Lamont. Mail delivered at Camp. Whole family except Mother sings. Mother (Ma Joad type) said she had been busy working so that the others could sing.

Sussie sang “Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad” [1:11 mp3] with great spirit.

Among other things, she explained that she was used to singing with her sister, and could sing alone. She is the one who gave the Spurlock girl the “Nine Little Devils” which she had learned in Arkansas.

Incidental

Fire call in afternoon up on the ridge, sixty-five men signed up. Got 30 cents per hour. One man went who had just put in a ten hour day.

Just as we left, a little boy broke his arm by falling off a a fence. Little towhead. Ross rushed out and picked him up. Carried to a car which wouldn’t start. Mother became hysterical. Kid bit his lip and turned on her “Aw, shet up Maw…I ain’t never hurt a bit….Shet up, Maw.” From then on not a word or tear from him. Arm broken squarely at the wrist. Father finally found a car that started and took him 16 miles to Bakersfield Hospital. Same boy who had been whipped the day before by his father — after which Ross had called father to task and threatened to send him to Labor Camp at Weedpatch. “Listen Ross, this is my kid!” etc.

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