Abstract:
Arthur Palmer Hudson, eminent folklorist, describes \"Poor Naomi\" as North Carolina's \"principal contribution to American folksong.\" A part of the Murdered Girl tradition, the ballad has well-known counterparts in other countries and cultures. But \"Naomi Wise\" has evolved from an earlier date and is now widely diffused in North Carolina and beyond, The historical facts behind the ballad, however, have not been adequately explored.