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Records an interview with Austin C. Judd, whose father, W. Lee Judd, owned a general store near Luray, Virginia, from the turn of the 20th century until the advent of Shenandoah National Park in the mid 1930s. Discusses the retail business at that time and his impressions of the mountain people who would patronize the family store. Most of the store's interaction with the mountain people was based on a barter system, where chestnuts, ginseng and farm produce were exchanged for store credit. Also describes his time with the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC), during the 1930s. Includes references to local entrepreneur, George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort, and George Corbin, who built Corbin Cabin, near what is now the Appalachian Trail. Mr. Judd's wife, who is identified only as Mrs. Judd in the transcript, but who is believed to be Gladys Judd, contributes throughout the interview.

Records an interview with Gladys Judd, (née Beahm), who lived near Thornton's Gap, in Page County, Virginia, prior to the advent of Shenandoah National Park. Describes home and family life in the mountains. Discusses the life of her grandfather, B.F. Beahm, a Confederate veteran, who ran a general store and post office in the area for more than thirty years. Mr. Beahm was also responsible for collecting the tolls on the private road that ran through the mountains. A second, unnamed interviewer contributes throughout the interview.

Records an interview with Howard Maiden, who grew up near Swift Run, in Rockingham County, Virginia. Mr. Maiden went to work for Shenandoah National Park in 1935, maintaining trails and roads, and was still employed by the park 42 years later, at the time of the interview. Describes home and family life before the advent of the park and his work throughout the entire park system, including his part in the building of Skyline Drive.

Records the reminiscences of James Burner, who was born in Page County, Virginia, not far from the future site of Shenandoah National Park. Mr. Burner served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC), during the construction of the park and later became a park ranger in the National Park Service. Describes his experiences working with local mountaineer men in the CCC camps, their history and social conditions in the 1930s. Mr. Burner refers to numerous local mountain families and prominent individuals involved in the creation of the park. Topics include mountain agriculture and wildlife, folk music and dancing, traditional medicines, clothing, schooling, feuds and moonshiners. Mr. Burner was present at the founding of the first CCC camps in Virginia and discusses them in great detail. As a naturalist and conservationist, he discusses the local flora and fauna of the region in great depth as well. Identifies numerous local plant and animal species and their habitats. Comments on early efforts to rebuild the local deer population while reducing the number of wild bears. Comments on the social and economic effects of the Chestnut Blight of the 1930s on local families.

Records an interview with Frances Grove and her brother, J. Maurice Grove, whose father owned large tracts of land in the Rocky Branch area of what later became Shenandoah National Park. The Grove family raised beef cattle at the time and Mr. Grove would drive hundreds of head of cattle to mountain pastures each summer, and then on to the rail yards in New Market in the fall. Describes cattle raising, food production, and preservation. Includes references to local entrepreneur, George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort.

Records an interview with Lena Meadows, (née Taylor), who lived near Jollet Hollow, in Page County, Virginia, prior to the advent of Shenandoah National Park. Describes daily life in the mountains, including local agriculture, livestock and food preservation, as well as important cash crops, such as apples, chestnuts, and moonshine. Recalls popular community activities, including storytelling, quilting parties and apple butter boilings.

Records an interview with Louis Grannis, who operated a sawmill on Mt. Marshall, near Browntown, Virginia in the early 1920s. The mill produced railroad ties of various sizes, as well as telephone poles, until the commonwealth banned such activities in the proposed park area in 1924. Grannis discusses the economics and logistics of operating a mill in such an isolated location. A woman identified in the transcript as Mrs. Grannis also contributes to the interview.

Records an interview with Nelson Nicholson and his wife, Claudia, who lived in Nicholson Hollow, within the future boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies, hunting and fishing. Discusses the limited economic opportunities available to the mountain people, such as the apple and chestnut harvests, bark peeling and moon-shining. Includes references to local entrepreneur, George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort.

Records the reminiscences of Ralph Cave, who was born and raised in Dark Hollow, Virginia, prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park in 1934. Describes his early home and family life, schooling, marriage and community events. Mr. Cave recounts the history of the Cave family in Dark Hollow as well as marriages and other interactions between the Caves and other local families. Numerous references are made to individual members of the Breeden, Thomas, and Weakley families. Describes his own experiences working on Skyline Drive and Camp Hoover in the early 1930s, as well as his personal memories of Skyland developer, George Pollock. Among the topics discussed are farming, raising of livestock, local wildlife and the bark peeling industry. Includes references to community activities such as corn shucking and apple butter boiling, herbal remedies and the record snows in the 1920s and 30s.

Records the reminiscences of Reverend John Dubosq, who came to the Naked Creek Mission in Jollett Hollow in 1932. Describes his early years as a minister among the mountain people and their acceptance of him into their tight-knit community. Recalls his pastoral duties delivering sermons and officiating at weddings and funerals. Describes the lifestyles of the mountain people, their means of growing and preserving food, as well as the fruit, chestnut and ginseng harvests. Also reflects on the importance of moonshine to the local economy.