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2409 West Eleventh Street, Pine Eluff, Arkansas
Age 85
"Yes ma'm, I was born in slavery days. I tell you I never had no name. My old master named me --- just called me
'Puss' and said I could name myself when I got big enough.
"My old master was named Mac Williams. But where I got free at was at Stricklands. Mac -illiams' daughter
married a Strickland and she drawed me. She was tollable good to me out her husband wa'nt.
"In slavery times I cleaned up the house and worked in the house. I worked in the field a little but she kept me busy
in the house. I was busy night and day.
"No ma'm, I never did go to school --- never did go to school.
"After I got grown I worked in the farm. When I wasn't farmin' I was doin' other kinds of work. I used to cut and
sew and knit and crochet. I stayed around the white folks so much they learned me to do all kinis of work. I never
did buy my children any stockins --- I knit 'em myself.
"After old Master died old Miss hired us out to Ben Deans, but he was so cruel mama run away and went back to
old Miss. I know we stayed at Ben Deans till they was layin the crop by and I think he whipped mama that morning
so she run away.
"Yes ma'm, I she do member bout the Klu Klux --- she do. They looked dreadful --- nearly scare you to death. The
Klu Klux was bad, and the paddyrollers too.
"I can't think of nothin' much to tell you now but I know all about slavery. They used to build 'little hell', made
something like a barbecus pit and when the niggers didn't do like they wanted they'd lay him over that 'little hell'.
"I've done ever kind of work --- maulin rails, clearin up new ground. They was just one kind of work I didn't do and
that was workin' with a grubbin' hoe. I tell you I just worked myself to death till now I ain't able to do nothin'."
Ella Pittman's son, Elmira Pittman was present when I interviewed his mother. He was born in 1884. He added this
information to that Ella told me:
"She is the mother of nine children --- three living. I use to hear mama tell about how they did in slavery times. If
she could hear good now she could map it out to you."
I asked him why he didn't teach his mother to read and write and he said, "Well, I tell you, mama is high strung. She
didn't have no real name till she went to Louisiana."
These people live in a well-furnished home. The living room had a rug, overstuffed furniture and an organ. Ella was
clean.
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
