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 at https://mds.marshall.edu/sc_finding_aids/50/ . For additional information about this collection, please contact the Special Collections Department at Marshall University at 304-696-2343 or at speccoll@marshall.edu.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Oral History Interview: John Williams
John Williams
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Mr. Williams was a Marshall student and a veteran. He discusses: his personal background and family (including a brother who served in Vietnam and later worked for a power company in Covington); enlisting in the Army; his experiences in the Army; his experiences as a Marshall student; his employment experiences; counseling; alcoholism; the experiences of Vietnam veterans when they returned home; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Tom Woodruff
Tom Woodruff
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. This interview deals with : student activism and the Students for a Democratic Society organization at Marshall University; other organizations such as ROTC, United Mine Workers, National Hospital and Health Care Workers, and the Campus Christian Center; the Vietnam War; and a brief section on newspapers.
-
Oral History Interview: Calvin Jean Zirkle
Calvin Jean Zirkle
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. This file contains an appendix of writings, photographs, and supporting information. Calvin J. Zirkle discusses: his family; his personal background; his service in the Korean War; difficulties he faced finding a job after the war; joining the military again (in the Air Force); his service in Vietnam (including being superintendent of vehicle maintenance); West Virginians in military service; his Bronze Star medal; his retirement; and other topics. This folder also contains works of poetry and prose.
