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.
-
Oral History Interview: Edra Davis
Edra Davis
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning education in West Virginia. Mrs. Davis of Huntington, West Virginia, is a retired elementary school teacher. She graduated from Marshall College in 1917, and taught in the Huntington area until her retirement. In this interview, Mrs. Davis discusses student activities at Marshall such as sleigh riding and baseball, her teaching experiences, and taking her first graders to the circus. She also compares teaching of the 1920's and 1930's to that of the 1970's.
-
Oral History Interview: Homer Davis
Homer Davis
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. At the time of the interview, Reverend Homer Davis was president of the Charleston Area NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He discusses: his personal history and family; his education; segregation and integration; teachers he has known; the Methodist Church; his service in the Army during World War II and discrimination he faced; his views on returning black veterans and how the war experience changed them; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Mea Davis
Mea Davis
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia history. Mae Davis discusses the Ku Klux Klan in Mingo County (its duties and activities), prohibition, as well as moonshine and illegal distilling.
-
Oral History Interview: Sharon Davis
Sharon Davis
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars. Sharon Davis was one of the first Yeager Scholars at Marshall University. She discusses: her personal history; detailed information about her education (before and during college); why she applied for the Yeager Scholars program; her experiences in the Yeager Program; individuals such as Joe Engle, Chuck Yeager, Dr. Denman, Joe Hunnicutt, & Dale Nitzschke; a brief section on Yeager Scholar' interactions and relationships with other students; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Raymond Dawson
Raymond Dawson
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Raymond Dawson has lived in West Virginia all his life except for his service in the Navy during World War II. He discusses: shooting marbles; his family; his military service; growing up in Huntington, WV; his participation in baseball; and his activities in the union at International Nickel Inco, including a strike; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Charles W. Day
Charles W. Day
This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mr. Charles Day, born December 9, 1937, began working at the Owens glass plant in Huntington, West Virginia, in 1962 in the shipping department. He was later promoted to crew leader of the maintenance department where he stayed until he retired in 1992. In this interview, Mr. Day discusses the details of the jobs he performed, company-sponsored activities, and friends he made at work. Mr. Day talks about union activities and strikes, serious injuries he suffered on the job, and issues regarding the employment of blacks and women at the plant. Finally, Mr. Day expresses his discontent with management changes that occurred in the 1980's and how those changes made his work experience less enjoyable.
-
Oral History Interview: Margaret Gault Whitehair Day
Margaret Gault Day
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Margaret Gault Whitehair Day was born in Holden, WV in 1913. She discusses: her childhood in Eastern Kentucky, including school, neighbors, clothing they wore, and games they played; her first encounters with modern amenities such as indoor plumbing; mining towns; candy; food; some discussion of churches; working at General Electric in Louisville, KY; her family; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Alcie DeJarnett
Alcie DeJarnett
These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Alcie DeJarnett (identified in the interview as Caregiver #3) discusses: her family and family situation in great detail; a detailed discussion of taking care of her husband; her own health; the decision to care for her husband at home rather than at a nursing home; nurse aids; how life has changed since her husband became sick; and other topics. She also answers a survey consisting of 90 true-or-false questions designed to give an impression about the interviewee's family life.
-
Oral History Interview: Carl Dial
Carl Dial
This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mr. Carl Dial, born May 28, 1923, began working at the Owens glass plant in 1950 in the batch and furnace department. He later moved to the maintenance department and then to the forming department. In this interview, Mr. Dial discusses the details of the jobs he performed at the plant, the friends he made at the plant, and his many family members who also worked there. Furthermore, Mr. Dial talks about work injuries, computerization and automation, union activities and strikes, and gender and race discrimination. Finally, Mr. Dial discusses his family, friends, social activities, and the retirement organization.
-
Oral History Interview: Jack Dickinson
Jack Dickinson
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. At the time of the interview, Jack Dickinson was the bibliographer for the Rosanna Blake Collection at the Morrow Library at Marshall University. He discusses: detailed information about the collection itself (including how Marshall acquired this unique collection, how Marshall has benefited from this collection, organizations who have used the collection, and the materials in the collection); detailed information about Rosanna Blake; and some information about Jack Dickinson's job and his history at Marshall University.
-
Oral History Interview: E. Jane Dillard
E. Jane Dillard
This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. E. Jane Dillard gives us detailed information about her family throughout the interview. She discusses her relatives, children and grandchildren, but two family members are the main focus of discussion: her father and her husband. Her father was a coal miner and lived with a white family for a while; she tells us about her relationship with him, as well as his failing health and his death. Her husband is the other main family member discussed, and she tells us about how he lost his hand in a mining accident, general information about him--both of their work experiences, their marriage, their family life-- taking care of him during his failing health (which kept her at home and affected her social life at the time of the interview), as well as his life as a preacher and how his church was dealing with his illness (Mrs. Dillard was working to keep it going). Mrs. Dillard was Baptist and she discusses religion in her life. She also gives us stories of her childhood home and life, such as slaughtering a pet pig, Christmas, school dances, and her childhood perceptions on poverty. Apart from family and childhood, she gives us detailed information about her education. She attended a one- room school called the Crystal Block Colored School, Aracoma High School, Bluefield State College, and she also earned a master's degree in special education. After college, she began substitute teaching and later taught at Stirrat (the first integrated school she went to). She eventually got involved in special education. She also discusses problems she had with parents and administrators. She recalls segregation in life (such as hospitals) and the desegregation of schools. She also tells of discrimination and race relations, such as interracial dating and marriage. She gives her views on prejudices against African-Americans and women (arguing that black men face more discrimination than black women) differences she sees between men and women, as well as her thoughts on the women's movement and the Civil Rights Movement. Other topics are discussed as well, and they include: World War II; her reasons for pursuing college degrees; white families they were friends with growing up; her thoughts on her life in general; how she has changed over the years; as well as a number of other subjects.
-
Oral History Interview: Ruth Dimick
Ruth Dimick
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia community organizations. At the time of the interview, Ruth Dimick was involved with the Southwestern Community Action Council. She discusses: how she first became involved with the organization as a bookkeeper and then as a comptroller; her work experience with the organization; seminars she has attended; and individuals such as Charles Smith, Alan Harrah, & Joan Ross; as well as more information about the organization.
-
Oral History Interview: Richard diProtoro
Richard diProtoro
This document is a transcript of a statement given by Richard diProtoro 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. Richard diProtoro is a geologist and argues against the permit, saying it would pollute well water and the environment as well as mentioning technical and legal problems with the application.
-
Oral History Interview: Luigi DiTrapano
Luigi DiTrapano
this interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Luigi DiTrapano was born in Italy but moved to the United States in 1905. In this interview, he discusses his family, wine making, immigrating to the U.S., his employment with the railroad and the coal mines. learning to speak English, his decision not to join labor unions, mine wars with the coal companies, his business experiences in a general merchandise store, and his experiences in the army.
-
Oral History Interview: Charles R. Dodrill
Charles R. Dodrill
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia police history. At the time of the interview, Charles R. Dodrill was a member of the F.O.P. (Fraternal Order of Police?). He discusses: what the F.O.P. is, its duties, its activities, and its membership requirements; as well as Golden Gloves (a boxing program?) and an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children.
-
Oral History Interview: Barbara Doherty
Barbara Doherty
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Doherty was a librarian at Marshall University. She discusses: detailed information about her family; her education and her employment history (including work at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh); a brief section on her husband serving in World War II; very detailed information about her job at Marshall as a librarian; her son serving in the Vietnam War; individuals such as Harold Apel, a Mrs. Bobbitt (the head of the reference department at one time), Dr. Slack (the head of the library at one point), & Dale Nitzschke; library administration; librarians receiving faculty status; some anecdotes; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Clarence Donnely
Clarence Donnely
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. This interview contains little autobiographical information. However, it is apparent that Reverend Donnely has acquired an extensive and reputable knowledge of West Virginia culture and history. He mentions having published a history of Fayette County, West Virginia and discusses the numerous West Virginia artifacts he has collected. Other topics discussed include the career of Morris Harvey, the burning of the state capitol building in 1921, slavery and Blackes in the early coal mines.
-
Oral History Interview: Fred Donovan
Fred Donovan
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. Dr. Donovan was a Vietnam veteran who was drafted in 1969 while he was a University of Iowa graduate student studying clinical psychology. He lost his leg in the service. At the time of the interview, he was working at the Shawnee Hills Mental Center in Charleston, WV. He discusses: going back to school after returning from Vietnam; disapproval towards the war and how people related that to him; Agent Orange; the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America), VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States); Ernestine Thornton (who was a combat nurse also interviewed for the Oral History of Appalachia program); and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Edna Mae Duckworth
Edna Mae Duckworth
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia community organizations. Edna Duckworth discusses: her family; Barnette school (a school for African-Americans, which she attended; it was formerly Douglass School); racial integration; sports; a brief mention of St. Joe; Douglass School becoming a national historical site; a Lyceum course; individuals such as S.E. Wade, Lavinia Norman, Frances Woods, Marion Anderson, Martha Ellen, Lories Elizabeth Davis, Chauncey Brown, Henry McClain, William Marshall, Helen Branch, Thelma Butterworth, Carter G. Woodson, and others; speakers and entertainers brought to the school; a child care center; the Lanham Fund; the Red Feather organization; volunteer work; and some anecdotes.
-
Oral History Interview: Edna Mae Duckworth
Edna Mae Duckworth
This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia community organizations. Mrs. Edna Duckworth was an African-American woman involved with the Southwestern Community Action Council. She discusses: her duties and involvement with the organization; her work with elderly people (including teaching them to read and providing meals and medicine); individuals such as Artis Skeens, A.D. Scott, Dr. Joseph Boutwell(?), Lola Holley, Reverend Midkiff, Robert Griffith, & Reverend Paul Houston; Project ABLE; Neighborhood Development; and information and opinions about the organization itself.
-
Oral History Interview: Russell Dunbar
Russell Dunbar
A native of Richwood, West Virginia, Judge Dunbar moved to Huntington, West Virginia in 1933. In 1979, he was Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of West Virginia as well as President of the State Judicial Association. Topics discussed by Judge Dunbar include his education at Marshall College in Huntington and Columbia Law School, his experiences as a judge, and the West Virginia legal structure.
-
Oral History Interview: Verlin E. Dunkle
Verlin E. Dunkle
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, Verlin E. Dunkle discusses: detailed information about his family and his childhood; his thoughts on modern youths and modern life; disciplining children; his service in the military; divorce; domestic violence; his employment at a nickel plant and a strike there; attending a school prom; historical events such as Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic, the Al Smith/Herbert Hoover election, and the battle of Blair Mountain; politics; government welfare; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Alben Duvall
Alben Duvall
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mr. Alben Duvall discusses: his family and his family history; his childhood; his education, teachers who had an impact on him, and problems he sees with the educational system; his employment (including work at banks); his military service; gender differences; discrimination and stereotypes; crime; relationships; church; sports; women in management, the workforce, and the military; homosexuality (including gays in the military); family in general; work ethics (including work ethics in general and work ethics among different races); welfare; as well as race relations and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Lilian M. Dye
Lilian M. Dye
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. In this interview, Lilian Dye discusses: detailed information about her family; a family business; playing basketball; her education; sexism; individuals such as Daryl Rector, Saint Dennis Mill, Dottie Cox, Nasile Cox, Bob Knots, Rosco Carter, & Dee Rymer; her education; Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston); other schools; women's rights; her experiences teaching; a brief section on moonshine; and other topics.
-
Oral History Interview: Audra Mae Earls
Audra Mae Earls
This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. The interview was conducted on February 22, 1994. At the time of the interview, Audra Mae Earls was residing in Huntington, West Virginia. This interview deals with her experiences as a woman working in a bottle/glass factory (the Owens-Illinois Plant?).