Mississippi
The Lomaxes spent the night of May 22 in Greenville, Mississippi, across the Mississippi River. It was a stormy night; much damage was done by the wind and rain, but the next morning they had clear weather for their drive to Parchman State Farms. John Lomax had made his first recording visit to Parchman in 1933. The Lomaxes could not see the Superintendent when they arrived, but his assistant gave permission for them to visit Camp #10. Rain had set in and the prisoners could not work. The Lomaxes set up the machine in the wide hall of the barracks, that separated the white dormitory from that of the African-Americans. Singers were not plentiful or enthusiastic.
We discovered that one barrier was the idea that we were there to make money out of the boys without "divvying-up". This they were told by one of the boys who had made some commercial records. After Mr. Lomax made it clear to them the prupose of the recording and the use to-which their songs would serve, they were more generous, and helpful. 1939 Southern Recording Trip Fieldnotes
In the evening the Lomaxes tried again with fair results. Recordings made include ► Early in the Mornin' and ► Dollar Mamie'. ► Eaton Clan, a feud ballad, was sung by Roger "Burndown" Garrett
"Burndown" gets his nickname from the charge on which he was convicted. According to his and Sergeant Connor's story, he was working for a white man who ordered him to lay kindling and spread oil around an outhouse which was insured for $250.00. Neighbors discovered the fire from the smoke. Burndown and his employer set to work to help put out the fire. Burndown was convicted of arson; his white employer's trial was postponed on an insanity plea. Burndown said he knew he oughtn't to do it, but he thought he had to obey his boss. 1939 Southern Recording Trip Fieldnotes
The next day, Sunday, after lunch the Lomaxes visited Camp #1. Several of the prisoners there remembered John Lomax, among them Big Charlie Butler, the gateman. They were all more willing, but they had very few interesting songs of which the Lomaxes did not already have more interesting versions. Monday morning the Lomaxes visited the women's camp, but the women were at their laundry work and they made no recordings. After bidding Parchman officials goodbye, they set out for Livingston, Alabama.
