Coal in Kentucky: The Emergence of an Industry Oral History Project
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This is a collection of interviews with people who lived and worked in coal mining towns in Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Hopkins, Letcher, Leslie, Martin, Perry, and Pike counties. Interviewees include religious leaders, coal miners, equipment operators, and representatives from coal companies. Topics include mining equipment, mining technology and methods (primarily strip mining and mountaintop removal mining). Workers' rights issues are also discussed, including mine conditions and safety, state and federal regulations, labor relations, unionization, strikes, health benefits and wages. Life in coal camps, housing, recreation, churches, schools, company stores, scrip, Jack Dalton, "Devil" John Wright, and the French-Eversole feud are also mentioned.
Interviews
- Oral History Interview with Rufus Bailey
- Oral History Interview with McKinley Morgan
- Oral History Interview with Carl Short & Thelma Short
- Oral History Interview with Harry Laviers, Jr.
- Oral History Interview with Mark Eastin
- Oral History Interview with Mr. Higgins
- Oral History Interview with George Blalock & Leona Blalock
- Oral History Interview with George Blalock & Virgil Kington
- Oral History Interview with Ms. Walter Fitch
- Oral History Interview with Dave Rash, Roy Rash & Bill Owen
- Oral History Interview with Richard Estep
- Oral History Interview with Henry Scarrbury
- Oral History Interview with Mrs. Rife
- Oral History Interview with McCollum Cook
- Oral History Interview with T.E. Chadwick
- Oral History Interview with Frances Turner
- Oral History Interview with Marvin Gullett
- Oral History Interview with Charley Crawford
- Oral History Interview with Tim Smith
- Oral History Interview with Charles Eversole