In order to elicit personal stories of early life illustrating important themes and values that had shaped their lives, southern older adults (N=400) participated in a series of "in-gatherings" in groups of 20-30. Participants in each setting were relatively homogeneous socio-culturally but the locations were varied in race, class, and size of community. Each in-gathering consisted of four sessions centered around a central topic designed to elicit personal stories in a semi-structured format. Participants also made comparisons with contemporary society. A modified content analysis of the session tapes revealed that themes and values such as a hard early life, belief in the work ethic, and the importance of family, church, and community were common to all groups. An important difference among blacks and whites, however, was that hard work had resulted in upward mobility for most whites but not for blacks. This project provides more understanding of rural southerners who migrate to the city and of early experiences and values which contribute to their adjustment to urban life. (AG)