This thread says that Lomax got The Wild Miz-zou-rye from Major Spalding. Other sources agree but how do we know that? The only link in American Ballads & Folk Songs is that Major and Mrs. Spalding are listed in the Acknowledgment chapter. You would think there would be some mention of their friendship in Adventures of a Ballad Hunter but it isn't there. Alan Lomax speaks of being guests at the Spalding residence in Alan Lomax - The Man who Recorded the World. That's all I can find. This may seem like splitting hairs but it would be good to be able to verify this source.