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  Oral History Interview: Charles Payne

  Charles Payne

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Taking a political theme, Mr. Payne discusses the role of Van A. Bitner in the United Mine Workers and West Virginia state politics. Such notables in West Virginia and UMW politics as Harley M. Kilgore, Homer Holt, Rush D. Holt, Clarence Meadows, John Easten, Homer Hanna, Joe Kenna, Ben Moore, Ned Smith, Fred Mooney, and Percy Tetlowe are mentioned.

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  Oral History Interview: Doris J. Payne

  Doris J. Payne

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Doris J. Payne started teaching at Cannelton Elementary School in the 1950s. She gives us detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including members of her family who were slaves, white and Native American relatives, education in her family, her brother serving in the Navy, family life, as well as the death of her mother. She also discusses her childhood. Education is another large topic, and she tells us about a one-room school she attended (Cannelton Elementary School) and her education at Bluefield State College and West Virginia University. She also played on a basketball team in school. She then discusses her teaching career, recalling coming to work at Cannelton Elementary, teaching in Logan East and Marshall University and at Pratt in Kanawha County (WV), explaining how she came to work at Pratt, and problems she had with a principal at Pratt. Other education-related topics include: her teaching style; students remembering her later on in life; an anecdote about students throwing water on her and her response to that; different types of students she taught; and how schools are changing. She remembers the desegregation of schools as well, and trouble she had getting a job because of her race. Race relations is another focus of the interview, and she describes race relations in Cannelton, segregation and racism, slavery, how black women face more discrimination than white women, how she doesn't want a company hiring her for no other reason than her race (a "token" position), different treatment of black and white students at schools, and the importance of including African-Americans in committees, organizations, classes, etc. Women's rights and women's issues are also discussed. There are numerous other discussion points in this interview as well, and some of them include: physicians she knew; coal companies; slaughtering hogs; indoor and outdoor toilets; a local prison; her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha); organizations she has belonged to; alumni associations; her self-perceptions about her childhood; her self-perceptions in general; unfulfilled dreams in her life; the importance of being able to read and write; and many other subjects.

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  Oral History Interview: Jeff Payne

  Jeff Payne

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. In this interview, Mr. Payne discusses: his personal background and his family; his education; his experiences in the Vietnam War (he was part of Charlie Company Seventh Engineer Battalion); returning to school (college and flight school); his employment as a pilot; legal problems he experienced in Indonesia, which cost him his pilot license; subsequent employment (including at a service station, as a bartender, as a trucker, and as a child care worker); his views on Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder; his experiences after re-enrolling in college; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: William R. Payne

  William R. Payne

  This interview is one of several in the Oral History of Appalachia collection in which the primary focus of conversation is national and world history. Mr. Payne was born in Acme, West Virginia. He talks about his family, school, chores, and preserving food. He also discusses mining, the Battle of Blair Mountain, and the 1916 Cabin Creek Flood. Mr. Payne recites some of his poems and talks about the Depression. As of 1973, he was residing in Sharon, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Doris Peaks

  Doris Peaks

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. The subject of this interview is a 4-H Camp (Camp Washington Carver?). Doris Peaks discusses: her experiences as a staff member at the camp; activities at the camp; people she has worked for at the camp; people's perceptions of the camp; individuals such as Elizabeth Jones, John B. Jones, & Stokley Carmichael; racial integration at the camp; ROTC visiting the camp; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Goldie Perkey

  Goldie Perkey

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Goldie Perkey was born in Ceredo and lived in Huntington all her life. She discusses her employment at the Owens-Illinois glass plant in Huntington, WV, including topics such as women in employment, sex discrimination, race relations, and company social groups.

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  Oral History Interview: Gertrude B. Perry

  Gertrude B. Perry

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Mrs. Perry discusses organization such as Students for a Democratic Society, the Huntington Women's Club, and the Campus Christian Center.

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  Oral History Interview: Martin A. Perry

  Martin A. Perry

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Mr. Perry has worked in the Monogalia County, West Virginia, coal mines since he was eighteen years old. He is a coal mine section boss at Osage Mine No. 3 of the Consolidated Coal Company. This interview is concerned primarily with conditions which miners encountered in early West Virginia mines. Mr. Perry describes technical aspects of mining in the 1930's as compared with today. At the time of the interview, Mr. Perry was living in Westover, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Maxine Perry

  Maxine Perry

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Maxine Perry discusses her employment at the Owens-Illinois glass plant, getting into topics such as women's rights, her work experiences, race relations, some company social activities.

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  Oral History Interview: Eliza Persinger

  Eliza Persinger

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mrs. Eliza Persinger was born in Elmwood, West Virignia, and was residing in Poca, West Virginia, at the time of the interview. She discusses food, school, church, and music. She also talks about social gatherings, clothing, and how her maternal grandfather tanned leather.

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  Oral History Interview: Keith Peters

  Keith Peters

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. There are release forms for two interviews, one dates Feb. 28 1986 and the other dated April 7, 1986. However, the April release has a note saying "this tape is blank." At the time of the interview, Keith Peters was an instructor in Social Studies at Marshall University. The interview deals specifically with the controversy over the recognition of the Students for a Democratic Society. He also discusses his background and education, activism in general, Communism, Mrs. E. Wyatt Payne, newspapers and magazines, a brief section on theatre and entertainment, Mel Miller and other individuals, race relations, Michael Bottino, and Kent State.

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  Oral History Interview: Sandra Peterson

  Sandra Peterson

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Ms. Sandra Peterson, born July 30, 1941, worked at the Owens glass plant for twenty-eight years as the Personnel secretary. In this interview, Ms. Peterson discusses the details of her job, company-sponsored activities, worker-management relations, and the many changes which occurred over the years with both management and technology. Ms. Peterson talks about the many friends she made at the factory and the difficulty and sadness of the final months at work before the plant shut down. Ms. Peterson was laid off when the plant closed in December of 1993.

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  Oral History Interview: Wilcie L. Pierson

  Wilcie L. Pierson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Born in Gassaway, West Virginia, Mrs. Pierson was living in South Charleston, West Virginia, at the time of the interview. She discusses her family, farming, food preservation, home remedies, and recreation. Mrs. Pierson also mentions her church, school, and the Depression.

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  Oral History Interview: Virginia Plumley

  Virginia Plumley

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. This is a lively interview, conducted with a somewhat atypical ex-Owens employee, Dr. Virginia Plumley, who at the time of the interview was employed at Marshall University. Dr. Plumley describes the trajectory of her career before, during, and after her years at Owens (where she worked in a primarily secretarial and bookkeeping capacity), in the process of which she discusses her experience of sexual discrimination and gives her opinion of various union activities and management techniques. She gives a rich detailed description of the time she spent at Owens doing selecting work, one of the most tedious jobs in the factory. The interview ends with a discussion of Plumley's stance toward the feminist movement.

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  Oral History Interview: Eunice Plybon

  Eunice Plybon

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia medicine. In this interview, Eunice Plybon discusses: home remedies for various ailments; a story of a doctor treating a family member for dropsy; head lice; horses; her family; farm life; and a brief mention of the Great Depression.

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  Oral History Interview: Lake Polan III

  Lake Polan III

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. Lake Polan III discusses: the history of the tobacco business and how it came to Huntington; the process of selling tobacco; different types and grades of tobacco; and individuals such as Jack Knight.

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  Oral History Interview: Ken Pollatin

  Ken Pollatin

  This document is a transcript of a statement given by Ken Pollatin 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. Ken Pollatin gives a closing statement.

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  Oral History Interview: Mrs. Ethel Porter and Mrs. Joan Porter-Green

  Joan Porter-Green

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Joan Porter-Green and Ethel Green discuss their childhood in Charleston, WV, including their experiences in education (primary, secondary, and college) and their experiences in dealing with racism.

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  Oral History Interview: Karen Porter

  Karen Porter

  These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Karen Porter (identified in the interview as Caregiver #2) discusses: her personal history; a very detailed discussion about taking care of her father (who has Parkinson's); her own health and activities; other members of her family; some discussion of religion; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Mattie Spencer Price

  Mattie Spencer Price

  Born at Henderson, West Virginia, Mrs. Price was a teacher for Kanawha County, West Virginia for forty-four years. As of 1972, Mrs. Price was retired and residing in Hernshaw, West Virginia. Mrs. Price relates the story of her reasons for entering the teaching profession and her career while teaching at one-room schoolhouses. She also discusses some of the situations and problems involving transportation and employment confronting the people of Hernshaw, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Anna Priestley

  Anna Priestley

  These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Anna Priestley (referred to in the interview as Caregiver #13) discusses: her family and diseases they've suffered; detailed information about caring for her husband, who suffered a stroke; a series of true/false questions about her family; some of her own health problems; other people who help her care for her husband; Medicare; stories about her husband and her family; a discussion of their economic situation; some discussion of taking care of her mother after she had a stroke, which started in elementary school, and other topics as well.

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  Oral History Interview: Mebane Pritchett

  Mebane Pritchett

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars. At the time of the interview, Mebane Pritchett was president of the Coca-Cola Scholar's Foundation, Inc. She discusses: her personal, educational, and employment background; being Associate & Executive Director of the Morehead Foundation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a detailed discussion of the Morehead Foundation (including its history and the students selected by the program); the Yeager program and how it compares to the Morehead program; individuals such as Dale Nitzschke, Joe Hunnicutt, William Denman, Ralph Albertazzie, Chuck Yeager; the Coca-Cola Scholar's Foundation; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Jim Probst

  Jim Probst

  This document is a transcript of a statement given by Jim Probst 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. Jim Probst argues against the permit. He mentions individuals such as Delbert Burchett, Sandra Perry, Keith Burchett, Congressman Wise, Doris Wilson, & Rita Geramello.

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  Oral History Interview: Curtis Eldwood Puckett

  Curtis Eldwood Puckett

  This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Curtis Eldwood Puckett was a U.S. Marine and a veteran of the Korean War. He discusses: his family; a very brief section on his education and employment; joining the Marines; information about Camden (Ark.), where he was stationed; other places he was stationed; an assignment aboard the USS Juneau, which took him around the world; friends he had in the service; fighting that took place when North Korea attacked South Korea; duties aboard the ship; time he spent in Formosa (Taiwan); a battle with Chinese soldiers; being hospitalized after receiving a wound; being discharged; his life after discharge, including getting married and having children, finding employment, and working; as well as people he has known and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Lucy Quarrier

  Lucy Quarrier

  Lucy Quarrier was a renowned weaver and a member of the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild. During the Depression, representatives from the state of West Virginia chose Mrs. Quarrier to teach rural women how to weave. She was also an accomplished gardener and used her green thumb to create vegetable dyes for her thread and weaving materials. Mrs. Quarrier taught weaving classes and her pupils became known as “The Lucy Quarrier Weavers.” She showcased her talents at arts and crafts festivals and often gave tutorials during the festivals. In her interview, Mrs. Quarrier discusses how she learned to weave. She focuses on different techniques to making thread and weaving. She also discusses the process of vegetable dying. In the audio clip provided, she discusses her technique for working up a loom using a warp board.