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