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  Oral History Interview: Sergeant David Sias

  David Sias

  This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. David Sias was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He discusses: his experiences as a helicopter gunner and mechanic; very detailed information about his experiences in the service and the Vietnam War; a brief discussion of his education in West Virginia; some discussion of weapons; a brief discussion of the Iraqi War (Operation Iraqi Freedom?); some discussion of torture and corpse mutilation; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Dennis M. Silvis

  Dennis M. Silvis

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mr. Dennis M. Silvis was the plant manager at Owens-Illinois, Inc. in Huntington, West Virginia, from September of 1990 until the plant shutdown in December of 1993. In this interview, Mr. Silvis discusses his career with Owens-Illinois, Inc., the changes he made when he came to the Huntington facility, and the reasons for the shutdown. The decision to close the plant, Mr. Silvis believes, was largely due to decreased demand due to plastics and global markets as well as high raw material and transportation costs. Mr. Silvis also talks about union-company relations, gender and race issues in employment, the hierarchical structure at the factory, and the social activities at the Huntington plant. He goes into great detail describing the factory in terms of the number of employees, technology and machinery, and profit level. Mr. Silvis also talks about management styles and his personal views on the KKR leveraged buyout of the Owens company.

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  Oral History Interview: Eloise Singer

  Eloise Singer

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Eloise Singer discusses: her personal history; her family; her education (including education for different genders and a story about someone banning a girls' basketball team); living on a farm; women working during World War II; her employment (including work at a war plant and at Owens Illinois glass plant; men and women in employment; labor unions; her involvement in politics; women's rights; some anecdotes; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Margaret Sisson

  Margaret Sisson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia history. Margaret Sisson discusses the Great Depression and its effects on her family and the surrounding community. She also discusses: differences between then and now, the T & T Plant, her son being bitten by a copperhead, folk medicine, and alcoholism.

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  Oral History Interview: John Skeans

  John Skeans

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the experiences of West Virginian war veterans. A native of the Huntington, West Virginia area, Mr. Skeans is a veteran of World War II. At the time of the interview, he was working for the C&O Railroad and residing in Huntington. This interview concerns his World War II experiences, focusing on his participation in the Battle of the Bulge. Topics include: his role as a chaplin's assistant, effects of the extreme cold, and the psychological strain of warfare.

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  Oral History Interview: Emma Skeens

  Emma Skeens

  These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Emma Skeens (identified in the interview as caregiver #4) discusses: her family; a detailed discussion of taking care of her mother; a series of true/false questions about her family; social support and help she gets taking care of her mother; a brief mention of working in a nursing home; Medicare and SecureCare (a supplement to Medicare); and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Suzanne Slaughter

  Suzanne Slaughter

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Suzanne Slaughter was the principal of Keystone-Eckman Elementary Integrated School in Keystone, West Virginia, as well as other high schools. She gives us information about her family and her childhood, including her stepfather working in the coal mines, how her father died, an anecdote about her mother working at Calhoun Restaurant, her relationship with her mother and other family members, her family living and working with a Dr. Washington in Logan, her husband (who got black lung from working in the mines), and her adopted children. She also discusses a lethal hate crime involving a black-white relationship her cousin had. Race relations is another focus of this interview, and she describes in detail the desegregation of schools, the stigma she has faced for being black, black-white relationships, as well as a brief section on interracial dating. She also talks about the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and organizations she belonged to. Her education is another topic, and she attended Bluefield State College and New York University--she tells us about those schools and her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha). She also discusses her career and numerous other topics, which include: very brief sections on World War I and the Depression; the town of Keystone; her social life in Keystone; an area called Cinder Bottom; churches; being a Girl Scout leader; how she once wanted to be a nurse; her relationships with other teachers; organizations she belonged to; community leaders and numerous other people she knew; sports and athletics at her schools; many discussions based on books, articles, and photos distributed during the interview; a story about Cinder Bottom catching fire; Christmas; her views on single parents; her views on the new generation of youth; her views on her life and herself; and many other subjects.

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  Oral History Interview: John Small

  John Small

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Kentucky newspapers. John Small was the General Mine foreman at Pontiki Coal Corporation's #1 mine in Martin County, Kentucky. He discusses Homer Marcum, who he personal knew and who edited the Martin Countian. Mr. Small starts with a very brief section about his background and job, and then the interview moves onto its detailed subject of the Martin Countian and Homer Marcum himself. This includes Marcum's personality and opinions, his tactics in running the newspaper, the impact of the Martin Countian on the community (Mr. Small argued it helped keep local businesses and authority figures accountable), how Mr. Small and the Pontiki Corporation dealt with Marcum and his newspaper, and the community's reactions to Homer Marcum (Mr. Marcum has faced lawsuits, threats, and physical attacks). There are numerous other topics as well, including: information about the un-mined minerals tax, problems Mr. Small sees in the news media in their portrayal of mining companies, education in the community of Martin County, and Mr. Small's opinions about the future of Martin County. The interview ends with more information about Homer Marcum.

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  Oral History Interview: Abbott M. Smith Jr.

  Abbott M. Smith Jr.

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Smith was a bombardier in the 303rd Bomb Group, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He discusses: his war-time experiences; his work helping to test proximity fuses in preparation for the dropping of the atomic bomb over Japan; humor as an antidote against combat fatigue; medical care, food, accommodations, and social life while the 303rd was based in Molesworth, England; the high losses of the unit; people he knew; his business life; the recent interest in World War II; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Carol Ann Smith

  Carol Ann Smith

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars. At the time of the interview, Dr. Carol Ann Smith was Vice- President of Academic Affairs at Marshall University. She discusses: her personal history; her family; her education (including a nursing degree); her employment history; how she came to work at Marshall; her feelings on Huntington, WV; her responsibilities at Marshall; Chuck Yeager; the formation of the Yeager Scholars program and promoting the program to the public; as well as other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Charles E. Smith

  Charles E. Smith

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Smith grew up in Chapmanville, WV. He describes: births and weddings in Logan County; his education; his service in the Navy; flooding; how his family raised vegetables and hogs for a living; his jobs as manager of a dairy in Logan, owning businesses such as a Chrysler dealership, a new and used furniture store, and a few others; his interest in WV Cavalry, the Civil War, and coal mining in West Virginia; an anecdote about traveling to a basketball game; some talk of food and cooking; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Mrs. Stewart (Evelyn) Smith

  Evelyn Smith

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Mrs. Evelyn Smith was the wife of Stewart Smith, President of Marshall University. Mrs. Smith mainly discusses her husband, including how she met him, his education, his career at Marshall, their home in Huntington, Marshall obtaining university status, and their activities after he retired. She also discusses her family and educational background, racial integration at Marshall, as well as brief sections on the Great Depression, the Campus Christian Center, and babysitting arrangements.

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  Oral History Interview: Jan Smith

  Jan Smith

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Much of this interview is concerned with the matter of race relations at the Huntington Owens factory. Mrs. Smith describes her experiences as an Owens employee, and explains how her minority status (being both Black, and a woman) affected her career. She began work at the factory in 1966 and was employed there until the December 1994 shut-down. Mrs. Smith's time at Owens was spent exclusively in the selecting department, and she describes the physical and social conditions in this, the traditionally all-female section of the Owens factory.

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  Oral History Interview: Linda Smith

  Linda Smith

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Linda Smith worked at the Owens-Illinois glass plant for 23 years, and talks about her experiences at the factory, including subjects such as race relations and woman in business. She also comments on the factory going from high ranking to low when new management stepped in, discusses medical insurance/benefits, and discusses her fear over her lack of employment opportunities after the plant closed.

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  Oral History Interview: Lyle A. Smith

  Lyle A. Smith

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Lyle Smith was a state senator from Cabell County. He discusses: the process of changing in Marshall's status from a college to a university as well as opposition and support to that change; various political figures such as Jack McKown, Governor Barron, Carmine Cann, Kenneth Stettler, Ned Watson, and John Amos; and the liquor by the drink bill.

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  Oral History Interview: Sara Jane Smith

  Sara Jane Smith

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Sara Jane Smith was a nurse's aid for many years. In this interview, she discusses: brief information about her family and her education; very detailed information about her marriages; U.S. Army benefits; her family life; domestic violence; detailed information about chemicals used at a campground (where they lived?) and how they affected people's health; a brief mention of diseases at the camp; welfare programs, food pantries, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Sara's children, who participated in the interview; taking responsibility for her brother's children; foster homes; Sara's father; some information on farming; her future hopes for her children as well as their hopes; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Eva Waller Smoot

  Eva Waller Smoot

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Smoot discusses her family background (Including her father's experiences with the Hatfields and McCoys), religion, moonshining, work during her childhood, travel and health care, her educational background and her experiences as a teacher, the Great Depression, World War II, her experiences working at the Armco Steel Mill during World War II, former Chief Justice Frederick Vinson and John Dietrick, and the experiences of her late sister Mary Tudor.

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  Oral History Interview: Mary Snow

  Mary Snow

  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. Mary Snow was a staff member at the camp. She discusses: her personal history and education; her work at the camp; girls in the camp; programs at the camp; a camp newsletter; racial discrimination; getting her master's degree; her job as an exchange teacher in Britain; her students; some stories about the camp; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Mary C. Snow

  Mary C. Snow

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Mrs. Mary C. Snow was a school teacher and principal who retired in 1989. She gives us detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including Christmas and holidays in her family, raising her son Winn (nicknamed "Rags"), and her relationships with family members growing up. Her childhood is also discussed in detail, and she recalls: styling hair when she was a kid; detailed information about race relations during her childhood; dating; child punishments; childhood games and activities; childhood chores; her skills at being a dramatic orator and actress as a child; and her growing awareness of racism. Race relations is a very important topic in this interview; Mrs. Snow was the first black exchange teacher from West Virginia to Cardiff, Wales, and she tells the interviewers about that. She also discusses the differing perceptions of light-skinned blacks and dark-skinned blacks, competition between African Americans, her opinion on progress made since the Civil Rights Movement, the burdens of racism and sexism, equal pay, and the desegregation of schools. She discusses her own education and her teaching career as well, such as college, her first jobs, becoming the principal of Booker T. Washington Grade School, other schools she worked at, opening her own children's theater, her views on herself as a teacher, and her philosophy on teaching. There are numerous other discussion points as well in this interview, such as: books and reading; local businesses; her insecurity; becoming a director of a Girl Scout Camp at Clifftop (Clifftop, West Virginia?); her friendships; racial integration at schools; a brief section on how children in general have changed over the years; social organizations; her poems and writings; a brief section on World War II; her marriages; turning points in her life; her self- perceptions; her analysis of her life as a whole; and many other topics.

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  Oral History 2: Lawrence Purdy Somerville

  Lawrence Purdy Somerville

  Mr. Somerville lived on a farm near Ravenswood, West Virginia, until age fourteen. He then enlisted in the army and served in the Spanish-American War as a member of the occupational troops in the Phillipines. Subjects he discusses include: life on the farm, medical and educational facilities and opportunities. Mr. Somerville also discusses the reasons for his enlistement into the army at such an early age. At the time of the interview, Mr. Somerville was residing in Vienna, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Sesco W. Sowards

  Sesco W. Sowards

  This interview is one of a series conducted with West Virginia farmers about growing up on farms and about the farming business. Autobiographical information is followed by information concerning farm techniques; equipment used on the railroad, in sawmills and on the farm. Mr. Sowards discusses types of food consumed on the farm, including its preparation and preservation. Tools and home remedies are also covered.

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  Oral History Interview: Sylvia E. Sowards

  Sylvia E. Sowards

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. The main focus is on farm life and education. Mrs. Sylvia E. Sowards was born on Coon Creek in Putnam and Lincoln Counties. She talks about growing up on a farm, her teaching experience, doctors, and county fairs. At the time of the interview, she was living in Culloden, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Roscoe Spence

  Roscoe Spence

  Mr. Spence is a resident of Logan, West Virginia and is the owner of the Logan News. This interview concerns his feelings about Appalachia, its people, and its problems.

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  Oral History Interview: Labon Spurlock

  Labon Spurlock

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Spurlock began work at the plant in January of 1926 when he was nineteen. He had previously been employed by the railroad and had received a specialized education in the field of transportation. Most of this interview consists of Spurlocks reminiscences (which date back to the days of the Charles Boldt glass factory) concerning his work in the Traffic deparment at Owens (the department which handled the conveyance of everything in and out of the plant on railroad cars). This is one of the few interviews in this series conducted with a retired member of the management at the Huntington Owens plant. Spurlock tells many anecdotes concerning his work history, including one illustrating his opinion of the early hiring practices at the plant.

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  Oral History Interview: Harvey N. Stackpole

  Harvey N. Stackpole

  Mr. Stackpole grew up in Tyler County, West Virginia. In 1976, he was residing in Huntington, West Virginia. In this interview, Mr. Stackpole reminisces about his childhood, family history, cooking, and his work on a riverboat. He also discusses his jobs as a carpenter and a casket maker.