From the Carpathians to the Alleghenies: Life, Culture, and Root Heritage of Eastern Europeans in northern West Virginia with an emphasis on Ukrainian communities in Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio Counties
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Among the heavy wave of people coming to Central Appalachia during the early 20th Century’s Industrial Revolution were immigrants from Eastern Europe. Settling in coal camps and industrial centers in northern West Virginia were small, but significant communities of people from the western mountains of Ukraine. These communities were often located parallel to other ethnic populations, such as Polish, Hungarian, Italian, and Russian. Our field study in Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio Counties of northern West Virginia researched how these Ukrainian communities came into being and what has kept their old world traditional and historical root culture strong and vibrant even today. We focused on religion, foodways, celebrations, arts and crafts, and personal histories. Selected individual and family stories as well as church centered group activities served as main avenues into our oral history gathering and field research. Our presentation will share these discoveries.
From the Carpathians to the Alleghenies: Life, Culture, and Root Heritage of Eastern Europeans in northern West Virginia with an emphasis on Ukrainian communities in Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio Counties
Among the heavy wave of people coming to Central Appalachia during the early 20th Century’s Industrial Revolution were immigrants from Eastern Europe. Settling in coal camps and industrial centers in northern West Virginia were small, but significant communities of people from the western mountains of Ukraine. These communities were often located parallel to other ethnic populations, such as Polish, Hungarian, Italian, and Russian. Our field study in Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio Counties of northern West Virginia researched how these Ukrainian communities came into being and what has kept their old world traditional and historical root culture strong and vibrant even today. We focused on religion, foodways, celebrations, arts and crafts, and personal histories. Selected individual and family stories as well as church centered group activities served as main avenues into our oral history gathering and field research. Our presentation will share these discoveries.
