The Marshall University Oral History Collection consists of over 800 transcribed interviews with residents of the Tri-State region of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. The majority of the interviews were conducted by students at Marshall University as class projects in the departments of History, Sociology, and Anthropology during the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the original audio recordings were done on reel-to-reel tape recorders or other cassette recording devices and are no longer audible. The oral histories contained here in Marshall Digital Scholar do have complete audio recordings available in addition to the completely transcribed interview. A complete subject listing of all available oral histories in the collection can be found in the guide to the Marshall University Oral History Collection.
-
Oral History Interview: James Campbell Gwinn
James Campbell Gwinn
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, James Campbell Gwinn discusses: his childhood growing up in the country; his service in World War II & the Korean War; his family; his education (including Green Sulphur District High School, West Virginia University, & Concord College) differences between the activities of boys and girls as he grew up; social pressures; gender roles and gender expectations for men and women; his views on religion; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Glen Hager
Glen Hager
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. At the time of the interview, Glen Hager was a staff member of the Veteran's Outreach Center. He discusses: the history, function, and duties of the Center; his service in the Navy during the Vietnam War; alcohol abuse during the war; his interactions with the Vietnamese people; suicide; his discharge from service; enrolling at Marshall University after the war; student protests to the war; his counseling degree; bureaucracies; the relationships between Vietnam veterans and veterans of other wars; and his work with mentally ill patients.
-
Oral History Interview: Leahgreatta Chiles Hairston
Leahgreatta Chiles Hairston
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. The subject of this interview is Camp Washington Carver in Clifftop, WV. At the time of the interview, Leahgreatta was business manager with Merck Human Health Division. She discusses: her experiences attending the camp; activities at the camp; people she remembers from the camp; racial integration at the camp; a story about a thunderstorm where lightning split a tree; an anecdote about sickness at the camp and singing a song about a bottle of Maalox; differences she sees in kids when she was growing up and modern kids; as well as music camp, the West Virginia State College science camp, and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Pauline Marie Clark Hairston
Pauline Marie Hairston
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Pauline Hairston was an African-American woman from West Virginia. She discusses: her experiences during World War II; her family and her husband's family; rationing during World War II; moving to Delaware; working in a rayon company; working in an airplane factory; her husband's service in the Navy; her brother's service in the Army; a brief section on Franklin Roosevelt; raising her children; a black newspaper (the Afro American Digest); canning food; the end of the War; her education (including at Morris Harvey) and her husband's education; her husband becoming a cabinet maker; her children; and her career in social work.
-
Oral History Interview: William Hairston
William Hairston
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. The subject of this interview is Camp Washington Carver in Clifftop, WV. Mr. Hairston discusses: his personal history; his education; his experiences at the camp; activities at the camp; individuals who had an impact on him; friends from camp; racial integration at the camp; camp counselors; a brief mention of finding snakes all over the camp; the Church and their presence at the camp; as well as other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Carroll Hale
Carroll Hale
These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Ms. Carroll Hale (referred to in the interview as Caregiver #7) discusses: her personal, educational, and employment history; detailed information about caring for her mother; help she received caring for her; some information about her family; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Alice Hall
Alice Hall
Alice Hall was born in December 1897 in Cabell County, WV. She lived with her grandfather on a farm in Putnam County, WV, after the death of her parents. During her interview, she discusses quilting and peddling food items in Huntington, WV, with her grandparents, the lack of supplies during World War I, and the rationing of sugar and coffee during World War II. She also focuses on folk medicine, with emphasis on the herbs and barks her uncle used to make medicines. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Hall discusses food preservation, specifically making apple butter and preserves.
-
Oral History Interview: John R. Hall
John R. Hall
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars. At the time of the interview, John Hall was president of Ashland Oil, Incorporated. He discusses: his family and personal history; his education; his employment history; working at Ashland Oil; a brief section on his participation in sports; Marshall's Society of Yeager Scholars and his support of it; individuals such as Bob McCalen, Bob Bell, Thomas Lacey, Dan Lacey, Harry Wiley, Martha Lane Collins, Judy Thomas, and Dr. Dale Nitzschke; Chuck Yeager (whom he met); and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Marjorie Hall
Marjorie Hall
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Marjorie Hall grew up in a farming community in Wirt County and was married to Roy Hall. She discusses: her personal history; her family; the Great Depression; church; school; farming; everyday life; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Gilbert Halton
Gilbert Halton
This interview is one of a series conducted with West Virginia farmers about growing up on farms and about the farming business. Mr. Halton lives in a log house dating back almost a hundred years. He has farmed all his life and at the time of the interview was living in Salt Rock, West Virginia. The interview concerns mainly Mr. Holton's reminiscences of his early life. He also discusses some of the early practices Appalachian farmers employed.
-
Oral History Interview: Graydon Hamilton
Graydon Hamilton
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business owners. Mr. Hamilton is a resident of Blackberry City, West Virginia, and was living there at the time of the interview. He owns a general store where he holds the positions of postmaster, barber, and bus driver. Mr. Hamilton discusses his store, his family, Blackberry City, and school.
-
Oral History Interview: Lawrence M. Hancock
Lawrence M. Hancock
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia town histories. This interview focuses on Montgomery, West Virginia. Born in Montgomery, West Virginia, Mr. Hancock has spent most of his life in Montgomery which was named after his great grandfather. In this interview, Mr. Hancock discusses the history and the changes he has observed in Montgomery. Topics include the importance of the early coal mines, city buildings, medical facilities and doctors, and family history.
-
Oral History Interview: Emma Reip Hanger
Emma Reip Hanger
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mrs. Emma Reip Hanger was born in Calhoun County, West Virginia, moved to Washington County, Ohio, in 1922, and resided in Barlow, Ohio, at the time of the interview. Mrs. Hanger talks about courting, school, discipline, church, clothes, and the house she grew up in. She discusses food such as biscuits, kraut, taffy, apple butter and punkin' butter, drying beans, and churning butter. She reminisces about entertainment, winter recreation, and Christmas celebrations. She also mentions funerals and family cemeteries.
-
Oral History Interview: Stella Jean Hanley
Stella Jean Hanley
This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mrs. Stella Jean Hanley, born June 21, 1939, began working at the Owens glass plant in 1957 as a selector. Her mother had been employed at the Owens facility for many years. In this interview, Mrs. Hanley discusses the details of the job she performed, the physical difficulty of that job, and the problem of balancing work and family. Mrs. Hanley compares her early years at the plant to later years in terms of automation, cutbacks, and increased opportunities for women and blacks. Furthermore, she talks about her family, friends, and social activities she participated in at the plant. Mrs. Hanley was laid off in December of 1993 when the Huntington plant closed. Her husband and son were also among the many laid off workers.
-
Oral History Interview: Matt L. Hanna
Matt L. Hanna
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. The change in the times begins the discussion between Mr. Matt L. Hanna and his son, interviewer John Hanna. Mr. Hanna discusses the school he attended and its conditions, teachers, and games. The conversation turns next to changes in the community, farming, food, barn and house raisings, and land clearing. The church, a singing school, Christmas, and the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Appalachia ends the interview.
-
Oral History Interview: Matt L. Hanna
Matt L. Hanna
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning education in West Virginia. Mr. Hanna served forty years with the Cabell County school system. He begins the interview with some autobiographical information, specifically talking about farming, timber work, and bartering. Some family background is discussed all the way back to the Civil War. Education, family, "shape-note" music, William Jennings Bryan, and Blackes in Appalachia finish the discussion.
-
Oral History Interview: James A. Harmon
James A. Harmon
James A. Harmon was born in 1890 on his grandfather’s farm outside of Red House, WV. Mr. Harmon reminiscences about his childhood growing up on a 350-acre farm. He earned a sixth grade education at a two-room schoolhouse. When he was 14 years old, Mr. Harmon started his career on the river on the Steamer Calvert. During his interview, Mr. Harmon focuses on his varied jobs on many steamboats. Although he performed well in all of his duties, his greatest passion was engineering. He received his engineer’s license when he was 21 years old. In the audio clip provided, Mr. Harmon discusses life on the river, with an emphasis on the boats and jobs he held while employed.
-
Oral History Interview: David Harris
David Harris
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Harris was the Director of Equity Programs and Associate Human Resource Director at Marshall University, as well as the president of the Black Alumni Inc. He discusses: his family and his childhood; his education; his service in the U.S. Army and his experiences in Vietnam; a business he started; coming to work at Marshall University; the McClain family (who were involved in the NAACP and other church and civic functions); civil rights; funerals and cemeteries; church; some history of Huntington (WV); and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Michael Harris
Michael Harris
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Harris was educated in Bluefield, West Virginia up until 11th grade, when he dropped out and moved to California and went on to study at University of California at Berkeley. He then attended school as a dance student, going on to become a choreographer and instructor of ballet and jazz. He first became acquainted with Camp Carver as a 4H-r when he was a young boy. He talks about camp activities, Native American tribes and the tribal songs they had to learn, and how the camp influenced his heritage and strengthened his character. He talks about the dances held at the camp, the swimming pool, the first black swimming pool in West Virginia and the money used to refurbish the pool and other areas of the camp.
-
Oral History Interview: Virginia Harris
Virginia Harris
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Virginia Harris was an African American woman who lived in West Virginia. She discusses: racism and discrimination she faced; segregation in schools (including Barnett Elementary and Douglass High School); the Civil Rights Movement; World War II; the Vietnam War; her family; the Antioch Baptist Church; her Appalachian identity; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Ruby S. Hartz
Ruby S. Hartz
Following the introduction, Mrs. Hartz relates information of an autobiographical nature. Her father's farming and timber work, the family's log house, her schooling and teachers are discussed. Mrs. Hartz speaks of her grandfather, who was a circuit rider, and then goes on to talk about her family's move from Garretts Creek (Wayne County) to Kenova. She attended Ceredo-Kenova High School and Marshall College, graduating from each in 1927 and 1931, respectively. She taught at Ceredo- Kenova, Buffalo, and Vinson High Schools. She talks about her husband and then goes into a discussion of her life on the farm and finishes with the story about her father guarding the railroad bridge in Kenova during World War I.
-
Oral History Interview: Vera Andrew Harvey
Vera Andrew Harvey
A former Marshall instructor and state poet laureate, Ms. Harvey talks about her teaching experiences while at Marshall. She mentions a Henry Tadlish, one of her students, who later worked for the New York Herald Tribune. Also discussed is a pageant written by Ms. Harvey which was performed at Marshall.
-
Oral History Interview: Sid Hatfield
Sid Hatfield
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Hatfield talks very briefly about his family's involvement in bootlegging in the 1920s and '30s, as well as how the feds came close to catching them at times but never did. He talks about how liquor was made and stored, and briefly discusses "rock house round."
-
Oral History Interview: Willis Hatfield
Willis Hatfield
The son of Anderson (Devil Anse) Hatfield of feud fame, Mr. Hatfield devotes most of the interview to autobiographical information. Family, school, farming, and entertainment are topics covered. He has been a farmer, a deputy sheriff, saloon owner, and moonshiner. Some discussion of his father and mother is included.
-
Oral History Interview: Dr. Don V. Hatton and Jane Hatton
Don V. Hatton and Jane Hatton
Dr. Don V. Hatton was a physician and public health specialist in both West Virginia and Kentucky beginning in the 1930s. During his interview, Dr. Hatton discusses Appalachia and focuses on the definition of the region and what it means to be Appalachian. He also discusses his transition from being a public health specialist focused on preventative medicine to a practicing internal medicine physician. In the audio clip provided, he compares and contrasts his public health work in West Virginia and Kentucky through a focus on physical environment, education, and socioeconomic status. Throughout this interview, Dr. Hatton’s wife, Jane Hatton, provides additional information and clarification on specific events and relatives of the Hatton family.