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  Oral History Interview: Roland P. Haught

  Roland P. Haught

  Mrs. Haught, native of Ravenswood, West Virginia, taught thirty- two years in the Jackson County, West Virginia school system. In 1976, she was retired and living in Ravenswood. This interview deals with the teaching career of Mrs. Haught. She discusses early teaching qualifications, one-room school teaching, and her experiences as principal of Gilmore grade school.

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  Oral History Interview: Wallace Hayner

  Wallace Hayner

  Mr. Hayner was born and reared in Logan County at the turn of the century. Vivid recollections of a teenage cross-country hobo trip are the basis of this interview. During this trip Mr. Hayner worked as a dishwasher in St.Louis, a wheat harvester in Nebraska, and a goat herder on a Montana ranch. Other reminiscences include early family history (his ancestors include Hessian soldiers during the Revolution, an Indian chieftan, and Methodist circuit riders), railroad building in coal country, John D. Rockefeller's interests in West Virginia, moonshining, and the Hatfields.

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  Oral History Interview: Lillie Heaberlin

  Lillie Heaberlin

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Page one of the transcript is missing. Lillie Heaberlin discusses: her family; her childhood; her religious faith; charity work she has done through the Church; individuals such as Clovis Shepard, Jay Rockefeller, Cecil Underwood, Grover Vance, & Bobby Nelson; how Huntington has changed during her life (including how Marshall University has changed the city); her education; other places she had traveled to or lived in (including Cleveland, Ohio); amusement parks such as Camden Park, Cedar Point, and others; pets she owns and animals she has raised (such as a horse); family members who died from work-related illnesses (black lung & white lung); some discussion of raising children; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Herbert Henderson

  Herbert Henderson

  This document is a transcript of a statement given by Herbert Henderson at a public hearing conducted by the West Virginia Department of Energy on June 28, 1988, in Lincoln County. The purpose of the hearing was to give residents a chance to voice their opinions concerning an application by two coal companies to strip-mine at Six Mile Creek in Lincoln County. Mr. Henderson was a lawyer representing several clients in opposition to the permit (including Sandra Miller, Sue Short, Thelma Stepp, & Jackie Miller), and he discusses legal problems with the permit as well as environmental damage it would cause.

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  Oral History Interview: Odell Henry

  Odell Henry

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. In this interview, Odell Henry discusses country stores in Cabell and Mason Counties. He also discusses: country stores and the surrounding community; dairy products such as milk and cream, and soft drinks. Also included is interview 323b. At the time of the interview, Odell Henry was the weigh man for the Huntington Pride in Tobacco Company in Huntington, West Virginia. He discusses: some company history and statistics; tobacco growers; different grades of tobacco; the process of selling tobacco; and youth groups involved in tobacco such as Future Farmers of America and 4-H Clubs.

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  Oral History Interview: Herbert O. Hensley

  Herbert O. Hensley

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Mr. Hensley is a retired teacher and coal miner who was born in Oppy, Kentucky. At the time of the interview, Mr. Hensley was residing in Charleston, West Virginia. The interview concerns Mr. Hensley's childhood experiences from birth to retirement.

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  Oral History Interview: Wilber A. Henson

  Wilber A. Henson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Born in Amhurst County, Virginia, Mr. Henson worked as a coal miner in the Beckley, West Virginia area since 1941. In 1975, he was residing in Beckley, West Virginia. This interview deals exclusively with Mr. Henson's recollections of working in the early coal mines. Subjects include: wages, equipment, safety, drilling, roofing, and ventilation.

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  Oral History Interview: Nancy Hesson

  Nancy Hesson

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, Nancy Hesson discusses: her personal history; Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his policies; the Great Depression; her employment history; changes she has observed in Huntington (WV); her childhood experiences; getting her first car; World War II; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Roy A. Hicks

  Roy A. Hicks

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mr. Roy A. Hicks, born January 15, 1914, began working at the Owens glass plant in 1943 as a sweeper in the hot end. He later was promoted to operator in the same department. In this interview, Mr. Hicks discusses the details of the jobs he performed. He also talks about his many family members who also worked at the plant and his memories of the plant, friends, co- workers, and family.

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  Oral History Interview: Rev. Avis L. Hill

  Avis L. Hill

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Kanawha County textbook controversy. The subject of this interview is the Kanawha county textbook controversy, where numerous people protested materials taught in school that they believed immoral, resulting in some violence. Rev. Hill describes his beliefs and family values, his attempts to protest the books, as well as threats made against his family.

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  Oral History Interview: David Hill

  David Hill

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. At the time of the interview, David Hill was the owner and operator of David Hill, Ltd in Barboursville, West Virginia. He discusses: company history; stamp collecting; his clientele; his competition; buying and selling items; and his education.

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  Oral History Interview: James F. Hill

  James F. Hill

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. In this interview, Mr. Hill discusses: his personal history and his family; entering the military; working in the Air Force; his experiences in Vietnam; alcoholism; his experiences in Germany and Europe with the Air Force; his experiences in Korea; a Korean women he had a relationship with and eventually married; his discharge from the military; reentering college; his work experiences; entering counseling; counseling in general; his experiences and activities as a veteran; the VVA's relationship with other veteran organizations; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and discrimination against Vietnam veterans.

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  Oral History Interview: Leonard Hill

  Leonard Hill

  Leonard Hill was employed at the Eastern Coal Corporation. In this interview, he discusses life in the mining town, Henry Ford, labor unions, and strikes, violent confrontations with the coal company, fishing, and slaughtering and curing meat. This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia.

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  Oral History Interview: Margaret Hill

  Margaret Hill

  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. Margaret Hill discusses: some information about her personal history, her family, & her education; her experiences at the camp; the Homemaker's Club; segregation and integration (at the camp and in general); being on the board of directors at Jackson's Mill (another camp?); current renovations at Camp Washington Carver; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Willie Hise

  Willie Hise

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Willie Hise began teaching in Aracoma High School in West Virginia during the 1940s. She gives us detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including her father (who was a miner and a deacon of a Baptist church), her children (including a son who participated in ROTC), family life during childhood, as well as her husband and her marriage. She also tells us about activities (social and personal) during her childhood. Her education is also discussed in detail, and she attended West Virginia State College and Cornell University. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and discusses a protest by an African-American at Cornell. Although she considered being a nurse, she became a teacher and tells us about her career history: coming to work at Aracoma High; teaching at Holden Junior High School and Logan Junior High; the desegregation of schools; teachers she knew; changes she sees in modern students; her own teaching methods; and activities at her children's schools (such as band). World War II is an important discussion point since her husband & family served in that war and she worked in Washington notifying next of kin of servicemen who had died. Church and religion is also important (she converted to Catholicism and discusses that decision and process as well as Catholic churches). Race relations, segregation, and racism are discussed, such as the double-burden of sexism and racism faced by black women (especially with job opportunities), segregation, and a brief section on the Ku Klux Klan. She also discusses women's rights and her own independence, as well as running her household. There are numerous other topics as well, such as: social organizations in Logan and her social life there; her interested in sewing and clothing design; thoughts about her life in general; thoughts on the elderly; health problems; an incident of prejudices faced by Logan County students; and many other subjects. The interview also contains a section that defines the philosophy behind this oral history project and how the interviewers narrowed down the teachers they would interview.

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  Oral History Interview: Gralen Hobble

  Gralen Hobble

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. In this interview, Gralen Hobble discusses: being drafted; his military training; detailed information about his service and experiences in Vietnam; wounds and injuries he received; the Veterans Administration; his employment; his marriage; his family; people he has known; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Richard Hodge

  Richard Hodge

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia communities, focusing on Ceredo. At the time of the interview, Mr. Richard Hodge was the chairman of the deacons at the First Baptist Church in Ceredo. He discusses: his work at the church and at Marshall; leading Bible study; his previous employment at the church; his educational history; pastors at the church (such as Alan Harrod, Robert Davis, Hubert Six, and Dr. Wade Armstrong); and the mission and purpose of the First Baptist Church, as well as their methods.

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  Oral History Interview: Dr. Frank Hodges

  Dr. Frank Hodges

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Dr. Frank Hodges first came to Huntington in 1919 as a resident physician at the Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital. He discusses: that hospital and other hospitals in the area, very brief information on typhoid fever; other physicians he knew; a brief section unusual diseases (black widow bites and "rabbit fever" [tularemia]), which he published articles about; health care advances; why he came to West Virginia and the health care situation in West Virginia; his opinion of modern health care; information about the field of pathology; his current practice and occupation; a small section on his opinion of government health organization such as the FDA; and humorous anecdotes.

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  Oral History Interview: Florestine Hopkins Holland

  Florestine Hopkins Holland

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Florestine Hopkins Holland began teaching in Martinsville, Virginia, in an elementary school during 1943. She gives us very detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including family history research she has done (which revealed many white relatives), her children, her son Ronando becoming the first and only black student to be president of the State and Student Council, her mother making costumes and graduation clothes for the children at school, her marriages (including her divorce and her first husband), Christmas in her family, her younger sister's interest in music and piano, childhood duties in her family, clubs and organizations she and her family were part of, the deaths of family members, and her family's home. She also tells us about her childhood, such as childhood activities, teachers she knew, prom, and seeing the Silas Green Variety Show. Her education is another subject, and she attended Genoa Senior High School and Bluefield State College and tells us about teachers she knew. Her employment history is a very important subject as well, and she discusses choosing to be a teacher, her first job, how child discipline at school has changed, teaching in Blackstone (Virginia), her teaching methods (including in special education classes), information about special education, her students, getting permission from parents to have prayer in her classroom, the desegregation of schools and how it affected black students, working in West Virginia schools, and trouble she had with other teachers. Race relations and prejudices are also discussed, and this includes segregation, how being African-American has affected her life and how it hasn't, and equal pay between blacks and whites. There are many other topics as well, such as her social activities, her self-perceptions, child discipline and how it affects schools, organizations she was a part of, her thoughts about her life and her development as a person, and numerous others.

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  Oral History Interview: Lou Holley

  Lou Holley

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mr. Lou Holly was born in Mason County, West Virginia. He and his brother began the Holley Brothers Store in Milton, West Virginia, in 1919. Subjects discussed in the interview include: schooling, trading with farmers, and the Depression.

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  Oral History Interview: Bertha Holton

  Bertha Holton

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. This interview is mostly autobiographical information about Mrs. Holton's life, with some mention of her husband's work as a miner and a sharecropper.

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  Oral History Interview: Gilbert Holton

  Gilbert Holton

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. This interview focuses on farming and farm life. Mr. Holton discusses his life as a farmer. He talks about his family, farm equipment, timber work, trade, the effects of World War I on farming and the railroad, the Great Depression, farm agencies, roads, local gas wells and he mentions World War II. General lifestyles in the early years of Mr. Holton's life is discussed, along with the availability of doctors and midwives.

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  Oral History Interview: Ronald H. Hooser

  Ronald H. Hooser

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. At the time of the interview, Ronald H. Hooser was vice-president of R.J.R. Drilling Co. He discusses: his family; the history of R.J.R. Drilling Co; and information about the business itself.

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  Oral History Interview: Anna Casto Hopkins

  Anna Casto Hopkins

  Born in Jackson County, West Virginia, Mrs. Anna Hopkins spent most of her life on a farm near Beech Fork, West Virginia. After breaking her hip in 1971, she moved to Ripley, West Virginia, where she was still residing at the time of the interview. Mrs. Hopkins reminisces about her childhood experiences, farm chores, neighborhood gatherings, and holiday celebrations. She also discusses the Depression and the two world wars.

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  Oral History Interview: Helena Venturino Howell

  Helena Venturino Howell

  Helena Venturino Howell was born on September 19, 1913. She was the first child of her family to be born in the United States. Her father emigrated from Italy to Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 16. He first worked as a pin boy in a bowling alley and then took a job on the railroad. Her mother immigrated to Williamson, WV, with Mrs. Howell’s older sister in 1912. Mrs. Howell’s family lived in neighborhood in Williamson comprised primarily of Italians. Her family moved to New Boston, OH, when she was a young girl. During her interview, Mrs. Howell discusses being an Italian immigrant in the United States. She focuses on the tight-knit Italian communities in which she grew up, as well as, the prejudices, racism, and discrimination she and her family faced. She also discusses her love of school as a child, arranged marriages, and food preparation. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Howell discusses her mother’s arrival to Williamson, WV, and the Italian community in Williamson.