MANUSCRIPT THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the master's and doctor’s degrees and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library are available for inspection* Use of any thesis is limited by the rights of the author* Bibliographical references may be noted, but passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission* Credit must be given in subsequent written or published work* A library which borrows this thesis for use by its clientele is expected to make sure that the borrower is aware of the above restrictions* LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ll9^e SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AHQNG COTTOH FAMERS IN THE HILLS AND DELTA OF LOUISIANA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State Uhiversity and Agricultural and Ifeehanleal College in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Sociology By Roy £« Hyde B* A* Louisiana State Normal College, 1927 V* A., Louisiana State University, 1932 June, 1942 UMI Number: DP69238 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. U M T Dissertation Publishing UMI DP69238 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code P r o Q u e s t O K ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 £9C99 42 TABLE OP COHTEHTS Chapter Page I. XBTH0&3CT1OB........................ . ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... 31 The Problen Stated,*........................... 1 Lnplioatlons of the Study. . . 2 Bam General Area Differences.............. I Bsvitv 4f Literature* * . . B Methodology................ IB II. 0KI81W, IG B ttm AMD YSBBBB HISTORY................ 18 Occupation and Tenure of Fam ilies... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . II Birth PUe* of S e e d s .............* .. . . . . .......... 28 {Bugtk of B e s l d e n s e . . . . . . . . . ....................... m Residence History.. . . . . * * . . . . * • 28 The Agricultural Ladder SI Soaary ............ W III* F0P2LAYX0H AMD FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS................................. 40 Agee of Boaters of H o u s e h o l d s . . . . . . ....... 42 Sise of Resident Family and of Household.. . . . . .......... 80 Age at Mhieh They Left Hone of Parent s .......« ••..••••*• 84 Besidenee of Offspring Bet Living with P a re n ts.......... 88 Sueoaary.................... 88 IT. HEALTH* VITALITY ABD MEDICAL PRACTICES...................... 88 Conoral D ifferences........ ............ 82 Vital Statistic a ......... .............. 82 Incidence of Disease and Medical C are.... 71 Gere of Mothers at Childbirth ................••.•••••••«•• 78 BCOSCHIC ABB ASSICCLTURAL DIFFERENCES.................... 72 huilfSM of Belief.*.......................................... 88 BUm and Value of Pams.......... .......... | | Average Value of Land and Buildings................... f | Cotton Y ields....................••••••••................................ |f Pam Sqniposnt ................. gg Transportation. ........... gg Beads for Pamers..................................................... log Pam Management • • •. ....................................... j$g Pam Credit Age&oies ....................................................... jga L33odu 34 V* f> 7 iii o . X Chapter Page TX* THE MATERIAL LEVEL OF LIVIHO •• 1X2 House «d Equipment ........................ 116 Veter Snppl7 ».t»*.«.«* **♦ 126 Sanitary F a c i l i t y * . .......... 12? The U w -it-K «e Program.• . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................ 129 Fuel S u p p l y * . .................. .. 140 Summary***• • • • • • * • • * * • * * * * • • • • • . • • • « * * • • 1 4 2 TO* KD6CASI0M***********...............*............................... 144 General Perish Differences**.••.••...*•••••*•••*• 144 Bi-Raoial E d u c a t i o n * . ..... 147 Seheel A t t e n d a n c e * * * . 160 Literacy*••••••••*••*.••••••*••••••«•••••••••*••••••«... 166 Grade in School Completed.. . . . . . . . .......... 160 Publleatlons Regularly Received. ................ 172 SuDBiry*... 176 T ill. POLITICAL PARTICIPATIOH ..................*................................. . 180 < Crime end Lew ift&foreemexxt 190 8ummary*. •.. • .................. 191 IX. PARTICIPATI OH IH ORGAHIZATIOKAL LIFE...................... 194 Membership la Religious end Fraternal Organisations *•*« • 197 Membership of High. School Students **....................... 208 Summary* ............. *......................... 206 X. LEADERSHIP...............................................................................................* 208 Complete Caste .................... 206 Origin* Residence end Occupation of Tows and Parish Of­ ficials***************.................. 209 Source ef Shite T each e rs* .......* .* ...* ......* .......... 214 Fanners as Offioers in Adult Social Organisations. 216 High School Student Leaders* .............*.......... 2X8 Loss of Potential Leaders........................ 228 Sunmary.**.................................................... •. 224 iv Chapter Page XX. SOCIAL STRATIPICATIOS * ................................ *........... 227 the Class Structured-Brief Characteristic a ......... 227 Opinions Relative to the Welfare of Certain C lasses..... 222 General Soeial I n t e r a c t i o n . . . . 244 Social Mobility...................*......................... 260 Intermarriage among Fans tenure Classes**......................*•** 262 trenda in Farm tenure Which Way Affect S tatus........*** 266 XIX. BAGS AID) STATUS... ..........................**............... 208 Interdependence a & d C a m p e t i t i o n . 268 Segre In itia tiv e .* * ..............*.*••*•••*•*#**••**•**• 267 Specific Disadvantages and Compensations of the Lever Caste R a c e * . 26$ Base Pride and Sees R elatio n s.* ......* ..................... 271 Status arithia the Segro C a s t e . . . . 278 XIII. HEBSDQM, COitBSTWBBt, FATAL! 3J AMD OPTIMISM. .......... 276 Laiesei-faire or Supervision......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Are the Pamers S atisfied !...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... 277 Fatal lea of Farm P eople................... 284 Optimism and Sdueation.• . * • . * * • • • • • • • • • • • « * . . 2 6 6 Pees 1mlam of F a r m e r s * . 289 XX?* SHOCABTf SWSERALIZATIOWS AMD COICL0SIO*. .......... 290 General C onclusion.......... 299 BIBLIOGRAPHY *****.....................*................................................ 502 APPEIDIX—SCHED0US FOSM..................*................................................................. 314 BI06RAPHT........................................................................................................ 315 v LIST OF TABLES Ntaebar Pag* X* PERCENTAGE ?WWM DISTRIBUTION OF FAM HEADS BY AREA AND RACE ............................... . . . ...................... . . . . . . . . . . ............... 19 tmm XX. PEfiomAQs distribution of a ll fai& operators is ST. HELENA ABB TSHSAS, 1940..,..................... SI XIX, OCCUPA?IGNAL DISTRIBUTION OF NQ1S~FAH»S MADS BY AREA AMD RACE,.................. .................................................................................. 22 IF. BIRTHPLACE OF MADS BY AREA* RACE, OCCUPATION AMD TEHUM.. 24 V. PER C8W OF MADS LIVING SPECIFIED WmMM OF YEARS XV PRESS® GSKMUflfT,*. ............ 27 VI. TYPE OF BIRTHPLACE AW RESIBgSCE SIS TORY OF HEADS, BY AREA AM RACSt PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION. ...................... 29 Y II. TSJTOHS HISTORY OF TUB FARM MADS BY AREA, BAGS ASB TENURE CLASS* PERGSXTAOS DISTRIBUTION.. ............. 34 T ill. OCCUPATION AND TENURE OF FATHER OF KALE MAD OF HOUSEHOLD* PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION.................. 34 XX. SEX, FACE, NATIVITY, AND RURAL-FAFK POPULATION OF THE TWO PARISHES * 194Q* PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION................. 41 X. ASM CF KALE BEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS; PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION. 43 XX. AGES OF WIVES AM THOSE FEMALES REPORTED AS MADS OF HOUSEHOLDS.................. 44 XXX. AGE OF SOBS LIVING WITH PARENTS * PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION.. 47 XIII. abbs of daughters living with parents* percentage distri­ bution. . . . ............ 49 XXY. SIZE OF BESIDES? FAMILY BY AREA, RACE AND TENURE* PERCENT­ AGE DISTRIBUTION......................................... 51 XV. SIZE OF HOUSEHOLD BY AREA, RACE AND TENURE t PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION................... 62 XVI, AGS A? WHICH KALE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS LEFT HOSE OF PARENTS* PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION............................................. 33 M * r XVII. AG8 AT WHICH SOSS LEFT HOIS 07 PASKBTS) PERCENTAGE DJB- TRIBOTIOS................................................................................................................ 67 x r m . ask at w eics wivbs add fskale heads of households left HOMES OF PARENTS j PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION.............................. 69 XIX. ASB AS K8XCB DAOGHTBRS IE FT HCKE; PE80I8TAGE DISTRIBDTIOI 80 XX. RBSIBKHCB OF SOBS SOT LIVMS WISH PARENTS; PERCENTAGE DZS- THIBBTION.......................................................................................................... 61 XXI. BXSIBESRCK OF DAUGHTERS SOT LIVING HUB PARENTS; PERCENTAGE DI8THIB0YIQS......... ................................................................................. 64 XXIX. fflKBER 07 BIRTHS, deaths. abd ihfant deaths, and BASES. FOR PARISHES; 1 9 4 0 ...................... 70 XXXII. FSBCKKTAGS OF HEADS REPORTING ILLNBS8 IB FAMILY WITHIB SOS PASS TEAS BITE TYPE OF MEDICAL GARB RECEIVED........................... 72 XXIV. CASK RECEIVED BT BOTHER AS BIRTH OF LAST CHILD > PBBCESSASS DISTRIBUTION BT ABBA. BACK. ABD TBHUHB........................................... 76 XXV. PBRCESTASBS OF FAMILIES ISO BAS COBTACTED THE PARISH WBL- FA8B AGENT ABD THE FERA OK MPA...................... 84 x x n . SIZE OF FARMS (IS ACRES) ST PARISH. 1940........................................... 87 XXVII. LAB) II FABfS. PASS OPERATED BY OWNERS, AM) AVERAGE SIZE OF FARMS BY COLOR ASBTEHURB; 1940...................... 89 XXVIII. FERCfflTAGSS OF FARMERS OPESATIBG SPECIFIED BOBBER OF ACRES 91 XXIX. AVERAGE VALDES, IX DOLLARS, OF LAID AID BUILDIBGS PEB FARM. ABD AVERAGE PER ACREi 1940.................... 94 XXX. FEKCEBTASKS OF FARMERS P0SSE88IBG TRACTOR, COTTOB PLANTER AND MOWER AS SPECIFIED....................................... 96 XXXI. FABBB8 REPORTING HORKSTOCK; FSRCFSTAGE DISTRIBDTION 99 XXXII. PERCEHTAGES OF FAMILIES REPORTIBB SPECIFIED MEANS OF TSARS* PORTATIOB.................................................................................................................. 101 XXXIII. PERCENTAGES OF FARM FAMILIES OSIHG SPECIFIED TYPES OF ROADS WITH DISTANCE PICK H008E TO HODSB....................................104 tw it. PatCBBTACBS OF FAOlBtS REPORT ISO CONTACTS WITH PARISH FARM ASBNT ABD HOIK DfflOHSTRATIOK AGENT..................................................... 108 yii Smfetr P*£* XXXV. PERCENTAGES OF FAFSSSRS WHO HAD CONTACTS WOT HA OH FSA AND FCA OH FARM LAND BASK AS INDICATED.......**....... UO XXXVI. PERCENTAGES OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVING SPECIFIED NUMBER OF ROCKS XX HOUSE.................................................................. 116 XXXVII. PERCENTAGES OF FAMILIES WHO POSSESS KITCHEN SINK, WASH- ISO MACHINE ABD BOUGHT BROOM, AS INDICATED........ US XXXVIII. P8RCSSTAGES OF FAMILIES REPORTING ICE SOX* REFRIGERATOR ABD SEWING MACHINE, AS SPECIFIED................................. 120 XXXIX. FBKCBSYAS1S OF FAMILIES REPOSTINS RADIO ASP TELEPHONE, AS SPECIFIED................................................................................... 122 XL. PERCENTAGES OF HCKE5 REPORT I HO SPECIFIC LIGHTING STS- TKS............................................................................................... 124 XU. PERCENTAGES OF HOKES REPORTING SPECIFIED WATER SUPPLY... 126 XLXI. PERCENTAGES OF FAMILIES BSPGtYIHG SPECIFIED TOT OF SANITARY FACILITY....................... 138 XLXIX* PSRCarrAOES OF FARMERS REPORTING MILK COWS AHD BEEF CATTLE................. ISO XLIY. PERCENTAGES OF FAXKERS REPORTING BOGS. CHICKENS AND GARDEN AS SPECIFIED... .......................... 153 XL7. PERCENTAGE OF FA1KB8S REPORTING FRUIT ABD PECAN TREES... 13$ XLYI. PERCENTAGES OF FARMERS WHO GROW, BUY AHD PRESERVE MEAT AS SPECIFIED.............................. 156 XLVTI* PERCENTAGES OF FARMERS WHO GROW* BUY, COLLECT AND PRE­ SERVE VEGETABLES........................ 138 XLVIII. PERCENTAGES OF FAMILIES WHO GROW, BUY, COLLECT AND PRE­ SERVE FRUIT, AS SHSCIFISD.......................................... 158 XLIX. PERCENTAGES OF FAMILIES WHO GROW, BUY ABE COLLECT FUEL, AS INDICATED...................... 141 L. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR CHILDREN SEVEN TO THIRTEEN YEARS OF AGS 2 PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION ......................... 151 LI. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF MALES FOURTEEN TO NINETEEN YEARS OF AGE AHD LIVING WITH PARENTSi PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION.. 155 viii