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  Oral History Interview: Michael Thomas

  Michael Thomas

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. At the time of the interview, Mr. Thomas was president of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and the topic of this interview is the Civil Rights Movement. He discusses: his education; his employment history (including working at Allied Corporation and as Housing Director for the City of Huntington); racism he faced; organizations such as the NAACP; Douglass High School; the desegregation of schools; economics and businesses run by African-Americans; government programs; restaurants; black/ white relations; churches; cross burning and the Ku Klux Klan; being married to a white woman; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Roscoe C. Thornbury, Sr. and Bertha T. Thornbury

  Roscoe C. Thornbury

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Mr. Thornbury worked in the coalfields of Logan County, West Virginia, for forty-three years. He relates information about coal companies, early Logan, and mining techniques. The Blair Mountain War of 1921 is discussed, as is his autobiographical information and unionization of the mines.

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  Oral History Interview: Ernestine Thornton

  Ernestine Thornton

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Ernestine Thornton was a nurse during the Vietnam War and, at the time of the interview, she had been elected president of the West Virginia Council of the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America). She discusses: the National Convention of the VVA; individuals such as Robert Mueller (who was elected president of the organization) and Jeremiah Denton (a senator); the VVA in general; the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and its interactions with Vietnam veterans; controversy among some members of the organizations; her work as the president of the State Council of the VVA; Vietnam veterans in general; the public image of Vietnam veterans; Appalachian culture; employment and suicide rates among Veterans; her future plans with the VVA; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Ernestine Thornton

  Ernestine Thornton

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Ernestine Thornton was a nurse during the Vietnam War. She discusses: her family and personal history; her experiences during the war; the anti-war movement; post-traumatic stress disorder; the organization Vietnam Veterans Against the War; re-enrolling in school after the war; the Vietnam Memorial; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Willa Mae Tinsley

  Willa Mae Tinsley

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia town histories. This interview focuses on Logan County, West Virginia. In this interview, Mrs. Tinsley discusses her life in Logan County. She covers such topics as life in the coal camps, schools, religion, the union movement in Logan, John L. Lewis, the Hatfield family, and the Great Depression.

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  Oral History Interview: Elsie Tredway

  Elsie Tredway

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia communities, focusing on Ceredo. Mrs. Elsie Tredway discusses: her family and her personal history; pastors and church officials (such as Reverend Phil Kessee, Alan Harrod, Hubert Six, Dr. Wade Armstrong, & Dr. Laken); other members of the church; the process of getting a new church building; the methods of the church; and influences she has had on other church members and children.

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  Oral History Interview: Jesse J. Trent

  Jesse J. Trent

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Trent grew up in the coal camps of Logan County, West Virginia. In this interview, he tells of his life growing up in those camps and how it is different from today. He had nine other siblings. His mother (Allifair Trent) was a housewife and his father (Sampson Trent) was a coal miner. Mr. Trent discusses: his childhood; his family; the mining community; the mining business; his employment history (including mine working and as a bus driver); stories about the mines; how he met his wife (Edith); his opposition to mountaintop removal; how he lived through the Buffalo Creek Flood; as well as a small sections on automobiles (such as the Model T Ford), religion, World War I & II, the Great Depression. There is also an anecdote about tripping over a cow and being scared by a police dog; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Nell Howes Trent

  Nell Howes Trent

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. The main focus is on education. Mrs. Nell Howes Trent was born in Milton, West Virginia, but was residing in Huntington, West Virginia, at the time of the interview. She was a school teacher until 1947, when she began working with Professional Nurses Registry. Mrs. Trent talks about farming, preserving food, education in Appalachia, and her teaching experience.

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  Oral History Interview: Sharon Trimble

  Sharon Trimble

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning labor union women. Sharon Trimble was involved with the Communications Workers of America union. She discusses: her work for the union; strikes; women in the union; information about the union itself; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Wilburn Triplett

  Wilburn Triplett

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. At the time of the interview, Wilburn Triplett was a teacher at the Charles Yeager Career Center in Hamlin (WV). He discusses: detailed information about his educational history (including much discussion of Marshall University); his time in a fraternity (Alpha Kappa Pi, which merged with Alpha Sigma Phi); his family; teachers he remembers; a very brief mention of his own experiences as a teacher; friends from the Army and from college; dances; some discussion of World Wars I & II (including rationing); veterans returning to school (including discussion of the GI Bill); and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Dr. Pat Tuckwiller

  Pat Tuckwiller

  Dr. Pat Tuckwiller was born on April 13, 1905, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, in 1929 and began practicing internal medicine in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 1, 1932. Dr. Tuckwiller discusses making house calls in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and focuses on the most common illnesses he treated and the medicines and procedures he used. He also discusses the differences in medical practice from the 1930s to the 1980s. In the audio clip provided, Dr. Tuckwiller discusses the issue of venereal disease in West Virginia and focuses on the treatment for the most common diseases.

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  Oral History Interview: James A. Tweel

  James A. Tweel

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. James A. "Jim" Tweel was the owner of Jim's Steak & Spaghetti House. He discusses: his family and his childhood; a brief section on courting his wife; buying his house; World War II and rationing; racial integration and an African American general manager; pricing meals; and managing the restaurant.

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  Oral History Interview: Velma W. Twyman

  Velma W. Twyman

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Mrs. Velma W. Twyman was born in Rayville, Louisiana. She gives us very detailed information about her family and childhood throughout the interview, which includes a small section on holidays during her childhood, her perceptions on her family's wealth, the dating situation in her family during her childhood, her husband and children, domestic relations and family life, and very detailed information about her experiences with race relations during childhood and how her parents shielded her from the worst of the discrimination. Race relations is a very important topic, and she goes on to discuss struggling to get proper wages, racist events she remembers, Civil Rights, and racially biased media portrayals. She also tells us about her childhood high school (including sports and a dance) and her education at Grambling College in Louisiana, as well as teachers and professors she knew. Her teaching career is another topic, and she describes the schools she taught at as well as friction between her and the students & parents. There are numerous other discussion points to this interview as well, including: losing their house in a fire and a merchant (one of their cousins) who helped them out afterwords; religion in her life; World War II and the Korean War (three of her brothers served in these wars); relationships between husbands and wives in general; her teaching career; language and slang; music; schools she taught at; how she came to WV; social events; her domestic relations; people who influenced her; her perceptions about herself; regrets she has and her dreams in life; significant events in her life; God and her spirituality; and many other topics. She ends with a story about a racist incident she dealt with.

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  Oral History Interview: A. Mervin Tyson

  A. Mervin Tyson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Dr. A. Mervin Tyson discusses: his educational and employment background; his Ph.D. dissertation on a play titled "Every Woman in her Humor"; how he got a job at Marshall; problems the English Department faced; a literary magazine at Marshall titled "Et Cetera"; activities of the English Institute for High School Teachers; the Book of the Semester plan at Marshall; a faculty committee for the encouragement of graduate studies at Marshall; his experiences as Vice-President of Academic Affairs; an African-American studies group during his tenure as vice-president; Students for a Democratic Society; student protests and some bomb threats; the Impact Program; his retirement; and Marshall gaining university status.

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  Oral History Interview: A. Mervin Tyson

  A. Mervin Tyson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. In this interview, A. Mervin Tyson discussed his experiences as a teacher, President of Marshall University Dr. Stewart Smith, other individuals such as Dr. Frank Aldred and Dr. Sam Clagg and Dr. Dale Nitzschke, and Marshall University in general.

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  Oral History Interview: Jean Dolan Vaeley

  Jean Dolan Vaeley

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In her life, Jean Dolan Vaeley has been a secretary and a bank president, the Administrative Aide to the State Highway Commissioner, and president of Ashland Coal. She discusses: her personal history; very detailed information about her family; farming and farm life; neighbors; renting a house from a black family; the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company; buying a house; a short discussion of the Jackson County Junior Fair; her education and her views on education; dairy farming; her employment history (including at Charleston National Bank, the Kaiser Aluminum Plant, the State Highway Commission, & Ashland Coal [Ashland Coal, Inc.?]); church, churches, and teaching Sunday school; health problems in her family; as well as other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Walter Vance and Marion Vance

  Walter Vance

  Includes a book, "Thoughts in Verse," by Walter Vance. Walter Vance was born in Onego, West Virginia and in 1926 married Marion, a native of Virginia. In 1975, they were residing in Hamlin, West Virginia. Both are retired teachers. Mr. Vance has also written and published poetry. This interview is concerned primarily with reflections upon their many years of teaching in primary and secondary schools. From the turn of the century to 1972, the Vances discuss the effects of the Depression, rural education, school administration, and their college careers. Family background is mentioned and Mr. Vance recites and interprets some of his poetry. Mrs. Vance also discusses her years of teaching driver's education.

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  Oral History Interview: Magdalene S. Varney

  Magdalene S. Varney

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, Ms. Varney focuses on her life in rural Appalachia. She discusses: her family and women in her family; family life; education (including her education at Pikeville College); coal camps; highway development; religion and a grandmother who was a preacher; differences between now and then; some anecdotes; her experiences as a teacher; her retirement; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Richard Vaughan

  Richard Vaughan

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the experiences of West Virginian war veterans. Born in Hot Springs, Virginia, Mr. Vaughan was living in Charleston, West Virginia when America entered World War II. After serving in the Navy he returned to Charleston where in 1979, he resided. Mr. Vaughan discusses his experiences in the Navy during World War II. He focuses on the sinking of his ship and his years in Germany as a prisoner of war.

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  Oral History Interview: Fred Vinson and Ruby Vinson

  Fred Vinson

  The interview begins with Mrs. Vinson covering her childhood chores and teaching experiences. Mr. Vinson then joins in relating his own experiences as a teacher. He and Mrs. Vinson then relate their life in the country to their work. Teachers pay, community dances, gun fighting, church and "socials" are among the topics discussed.

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  Oral History Interview: Giles B. Walker

  Giles B. Walker

  This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Giles B. Walker was a veteran of World War II in the Army (although he discusses the Air Force in detail). He also discusses: his personal history and employment history before the war; being drafted; officers he knew; being stationed in England and his views on the English; where he was during Pearl Harbor and D-Day; detailed information about his experiences during the war; his employment after the war; his military training; public opinion on the Germans, the French, the Russians, and the Japanese; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Sue V. Walker

  Sue V. Walker

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mrs. Sue V. Walker was born in Beckley, West Virginia, and has lived there her entire life. She discusses her life history including clothes, quilting, preserving meat, Christmas, and her family's first car.

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  Oral History Interview: John Wallace

  John Wallace

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Dr. John Wallace, director of the Small Business Institute at Marshall University, discusses his views on the closing of the Owens-Illinois glass plant. In this interview, Mr. Wallace discusses his personal career history, statistics on the glass industry, and the possible reasons for the Huntington plant's shutdown. He goes into great detail about management styles in U.S. industries and around the world. He discusses theories of economic development and how those theories relate to this particular plant.

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  Oral History Interview: John T. Walton

  John T. Walton

  Mr. Walton begins with a dedication to his parents followed by his family history starting with their migration from Virginia during the Civil War. Topics discussed by Mr. Walton include: Black Cat, West Virginia, mining communities, traveling photographers, mining tools, blacks, railroad cars, the Battle of Mucklow, and Mother Jones. Medical care and entertainment in the mining community is discussed. The "Bull Moose Special" train is mentioned, as is the origin of the name Kayford, West Virginia. Mr. Walton also talks about his childhood experiences, floods, school, movies, his family's first automobile, and ferryboats. Work under a coal tripple is detailed. Mr. Walton's experiences at Allegheny Collegiate Institute and the Greenbriar Military Academy are talked about. The city of Huntington as it was during the 1920's and 1930's is described, including flapper hangouts, gambling, and bootleggers. Mr. Walton's extensive work for C & O Railroad, his experience as a small business owner, and his hobbies complete the interview.

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  Oral History Interview: Alex Warrix

  Alex Warrix

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia coal mining. Born in Iaeger, West Virginia, Mr. Warrix worked most of his life in the coal mines of southern West Virginia. He also served as a minister for forty-four years. At the time of the interview, Mr. Warrix was living at Ikes Fork, West Virginia. Topics discussed include: child rearing, family history, food preservation, and coal mining. Mr. Warrix also mentions his experiences as a rural church pastor.