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.
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Oral History Interview: Dr. Charles Moffat
Charles Moffat
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Dr. Charles Moffat was professor emeritus at Marshall University. He discusses: his family and personal history; detailed information about his education (including some discussion of his thesis); how he came to work at Marshall; his experiences as a teacher at Marshall; individuals such as Lloyd Brown, Lucille Chapman, Clemente Eaton, Betty Commati, Gresham Toole, Herschel Heath, & Herman Well; information about the faculty & administration at Marshall; and other topics as well.
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Oral History Interview: Emile Milo Molle
Emile Milo Molle
Emile Milo Molle was born in Point Marion, Pennsylvania but moved to Charleston, WV, where he was employed at the Libbey Owens Ford Glass Plant. In his interview, he discusses his family, his job at the glass plant, the Great Depression, his views on Communism, and his views of politics and government. This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia.
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Oral History Interview: Mary F. Montgomery
Mary F. Montgomery
This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Mary F. Montgomery began teaching in the 1950s at Bluff City Elementary School in Virginia. She gives us very detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including the illness and death of her mother. She also provides detailed information about her education, which included Lawson Street Elementary and Bluefield State College, and she tells us about being a member of Delta Sigma Theta (a group of college educated women that stand for public service). She gives us very detailed information about her employment history (including a job at Bluefield Sanitarium) and her teaching career, and describes: a discrimination trial she was involved in after several black teachers were dismissed from their job in Giles County, Virginia; the desegregation of schools; a change she saw in school children after people removed prayer from school and banned old forms of discipline; teachers she knew; her students; different needs and treatment of black and white students when she lived in Giles County; and her philosophy of teaching. The Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Movement, and race relations are also discussed. There are numerous other discussion points, such as: anecdotes and information about her life while teaching in Oakvale, West Virginia; church and church activities; social organizations and events; her self-perceptions and her feelings about her life; other organizations she belonged to; her driving experiences and getting a car; her friends; major events that changed her life; her retirement; World War II; her views on her life in general; as well as numerous others. The interview also includes a poem she wrote.
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Oral History Interview: Dave Moore
Dave Moore
This document is a transcript of a statement given by Dave Moore 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. Dave Moore argues against the permit, citing questions of business ethics.
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Oral History Interview: Fannie I. Moore
Fannie I. Moore
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Moore was interviewed by her granddaughter and discusses: her husband's service in the Navy during World War II; Pearl Harbor; life during the war; food and gas rationing; her childhood in Clay County, WV; food and cooking; a brief discussion of herbs and teas used for illnesses; life in the coal fields before the war; life after her husband's retirement from the railroad; some aspects of Clay County History and genealogy; as well as other topics. Mr. & Mrs. Moore were named WV History Heroes shortly before Mr. Moore's death in March of 1998.
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Oral History Interview: Mark Moore
Mark Moore
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Mr. Moore discusses: his family, including his father and brother serving in Vietnam; his college career and his degree in art; art in general as well as painting and printmaking; other artists and veterans he knew; his employment (including a story about emptying mud from a field for a construction crew); a story of being physically assaulted in Washington D.C.; and his service in the Navy.
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Oral History Interview: Samuel R. Moore
Samuel R. Moore
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, Rev. Samuel Moore discusses: detailed information about his family (including members who worked in coal mines and his father who was a minister); some personal history; the area he was from (Gary, WV); race relations; segregation in schools; community life; churches; as well as character education, child discipline, and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: George Frederick "Peck" Moran
George Frederick Moran
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Only the transcript for tapes 2 & 3 of 3 are available. In this interview, George F. Moran discusses: jobs, duties, and procedures of police officers; detailed information about a police chief named Sam Davis; other police officers such as Sergeant Wilson and a man named Clingenfield; a carnival concession called "Crazy House"; how carnivals scam people and what the police do to stop it; a very brief section on a Red Light District; information about places in Huntington, Guyandotte, and Wayne County; brief information about police officers such as John J. Dawson, Lieutenant Hud Vernatte, Lindon P. Carter, and others; politics and politicians in Huntington, WV; businessmen and other individuals in Huntington; some information about Marshall University; brief information about the interactions between the police and the news media; police photography; Mr. Moran's family; gun laws in the past, namely the "Johnson Pistol Toting Law"; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: George "Peck" Moran
George Peck Moran
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia communities, focusing on Huntington. Mr. Moran discusses the Huntington Police Department, different uniforms, the denomination of the mayor and commissioners, Sam Davis, the first patrol wagon and treatment of prisoners. He also talks about various people he has known throughout the community of Huntington. People mentioned were the Birkes, the Buffingtons, the Ritters and the Rosses'. He speaks briefly about the hangings in Ritter Park, the saloons of the red light district, and wrestling matches and circuses that used to come to town. He concludes with the names of buildings that are still standing and their current occupants.
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Oral History Interview: Bill & Jean Morris
Bill Morris
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. & Mrs. Morris discuss: their personal histories; their families; their education; the history of Milton, WV (Bill & Jean spent all their lives in Milton); the coal mines of southern West Virginia; Bill's service in World War II; their experiences working for the railroad; Bill's father (who was a mechanic, lumberjack, and had some other jobs as well); their pride in West Virginia; religion and the Baptist Church; music; a brief mention of Blenko Glass; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: Woodrow W. Morris
Woodrow W. Morris
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Mr. Woodrow W. Morris was former chairman of the Marshall University Education Department. In this interview, he discusses: his family, his education at Glenville State University, Duke University, and Ohio State; his service in the Navy; individuals such as Dean Banks Wilburn, his secretary Grace Haeberle, and President of Marshall Dale Nitzschke; his employment at Marshall University, as a teacher and as an administrator; laboratory school; comparing and contrasting Marshall as it was then to as it was at the time of the interview; former presidents of Marshall; and racial integration during the 1950s and 1960s.
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Oral History Interview: Woodrow W. Mosley
Woodrow W. Mosley
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning Lincoln County History. Woodrow Mosley was a coal miner for several decades, and he discusses: his personal background; his family (including a father who worked for the Kingston-Pocahontas Coal Company in Kingston, West Virginia); his experiences coal mining and coal mining in general; life in a mining community; labor unions and a brief mention of some strikes; individuals such as Don Chafins, Cap Adkins, Charley Bates, Warney Chapman, & John Salstrom; mining methods, equipment, and procedures (including strip mining); livestock and farming; wells and well water; his retirement; road maintenance and building; gas lines; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: Mr. and Mrs. Eli Mullins
Eli Mullins
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. In this interview, Mr. and Mrs. Mullins discuss briefly a variety of topics, including farming during the Great Depression, mining, the Battle of Blair Mountain, transporting coal, a payroll robbery at Warren Cliff and moonshining. Mr. Mullins also talks of his job as constable in the Huff Creek District, the gathering of ginseng, his work in a mill in Kentucky, blacks in the coal fields, and food. Mother Jones is also mentioned.
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Oral History Interview: John Mullins
John Mullins
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mr. John Mullins is a native of Webster Springs, West Virginia. This interview is a discussion of his fishing and hunting experiences in Webster County since 1910.
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Oral History Interview: Silas Mullins Jr.
Silas Mullins Mullins Jr.
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Silas Mullins Jr. was born in McDowell County (WV), was raised in Wyoming County (WV), attended Plymale High School, entered the Army in 1964, and was discharged in 1967. There is a very brief section on boot camp and basic training, but the bulk of the interview contains detailed information about serving in Vietnam. He provides much discussion about combat, the Viet Cong, the Vietnamese People, and his opinions about the Vietnam War in general. However, there are numerous smaller topics contained in this interview, including: his first impressions on the country, orientation sessions, soldiers of other ethnicities, celebrities coming to Vietnam, entertainment and recreation the American soldiers had, drugs and alcohol, the black market in Vietnam, helicopters, medics, how he was treated when he returned, movies about Vietnam, Agent Orange, draft resisters, the anti-war movement, the Vietnam Memorial, his opinions about the draft, and other subjects. There is also a brief section about Wyoming County and many other topics as well.
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Oral History Interview: Betty Napier
Betty Napier
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Napier discusses: her family; her childhood; childhood activities; her education; her early love life; her pregnancy and her children; social and political movements (such as the Civil Rights Movement); her Appalachian identity; women's rights and the role of women; technology and innovations; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: Mr. and Mrs. William NcNeer
William NcNeer
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, William McNeer discusses: his family (including a brief mention of their employment histories); his childhood and his life on a farm; a discussion of his education (including at a one-room school, Morris Harvey College [now the University of Charleston], and Marshall University); a discussion of cars and automobiles (including a Maxwell and the Model T Ford); social activities; marriage and courtship; the Great Depression; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: Roscoe J. Neal
Roscoe J. Neal
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Neal begins by talking about his first job in the coal mines, his early childhood, home remedies for illnesses, and some of their neighbors. He continues with the election of the National Labor Board in 1946 in Widen. He mentions the Depression briefly, then the interview turns back to a discussion of coal mining again. He also briefly discusses baseball and people he knew.
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Oral History Interview: Joseph Clair Nelson
Joseph Clair Nelson
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the lives of men who worked on the railroad in West Virginia. Mr. Nelson was born at Alexander Station in Carter County, Kentucky. He was an employee of the C&O Railroad for more than sixty-four years. He talks about farming, school, working for the railroad, the Depression, and his painting. As of 1974, Mr. Nelson was residing in Huntington, West Virginia.
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Oral History Interview: Roland Nelson
Roland Nelson
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Dr. Roland Nelson was President of Marshall University from 1968 to 1970 and was also on the faculty of University of Greensboro and with Creative Leadership Systems. He discusses: his personal background and his education (which include Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia; Duke; and Harvard); his employment history; Reverend Charles Aurand, Page Pitt, and Sam Clagg; newspapers; Marshall University as he sees it today; a comparison of students from the past and present; and campus politics.
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Oral History Interview: Virgle E. Nelson
Virgle E. Nelson
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Virgle Nelson discusses: a very brief section on his education; his employment history (including at the Elk River Coal & Lumber Company and the Buffalo Creek and Gauley); his family; detailed information about a strike and violence during that strike; shootings, arrests, and abuse during the strike; the aftermath of the strike; individuals such as Gandy (he is discussed in detail but his full name is omitted), Garland Craft, Bill Blizzard, Jim Foley, Dewey Triplett, & Judge Duffield; medical treatment and medical benefits; some discussion of labor unions; and other topics.
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Oral History Interview: Blaine Nestor
Blaine Nestor
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia town histories. This interview focuses on Phillipi, West Virginia. A long time resident of Phillipi, West Virginia, Mrs. Nestor discusses life in a small mountain community. In addition to the town of Phillipi, she talks about her childhood, her education including her college years, her parents, early teaching experiences in rural areas, courtship practices, religion, Billy Sunday, medical practice in rural areas, the Depression and its effects on Phillipi, and her job with the WPA as a caseworker. A picture is included with this transcript.
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Oral History Interview: William B. Newcomb
William B. Newcomb
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. This interview concerns the history of the Anderson Newcomb-Stone & Thomas Company. He discusses: the Cable Cash Carrier System; flooding problems; credit systems and problems with them; different departments of the store; problems in the working relationship between Newcomb's father and E. G. Anderson; and individuals such as William B. Anderson, E. G. Anderson, & Charles Anderson; store displays; the effects of World War 1 on the business; and problems they experienced with Huntington newspapers.
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Oral History Interview: William B. Newcomb
William B. Newcomb
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. This interview continues the interviews about the history of the Anderson Newcomb-Stone & Thomas Company. Mr. Newcomb discusses: problems with special treatment and credit; individuals such as Charles Anderson, John Long, John Valentine, & William B. Anderson; his father and his activities outside of the business world; prohibition and his father's anti-liquor stance; medical problems with the speaker and how it affected his education; the speaker and his experiences working at the store of his father; pricing standards; and business during the Great Depression.
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Oral History Interview: William B. Newcomb
William B. Newcomb
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. This interview concerns the history of the Anderson Newcomb-Stone & Thomas Company. He also discusses his family in depth (including during the 1800's), his family's business and employment history (including sections on railroads, fabrics and clothing, china, & dry goods), men's working relationships with women, and individuals such as John Valentine.