The United Mine Workers of America.
Its history and its people represent the best in the American experiment.
Aspiring, courageous, imperfect, unfinished.
For more than a century, coal miners and their families have been at the margins of American society. Living between work and lay-offs. Working in the most brutal conditions. Facing public scorn as dirty and ignorant. With few friends or allies.
Miners.
Dixie Darby Fuel Company, Marne Mine, Lejunior, Harlan County, Kentucky., 09/13/1946
Today, the coal mining families and communities of Appalachia face a similar set of challenges. Loss of jobs, mechanization, mountaintop removal, threats to community health, and the prospect of the end of coal as a fuel.
As before, coal miners find themselves with few friends or allies. Perhaps the deindustrialization of the coal industry is little different than the deindustrialization of the steel industry or the auto industry. It is simply the efficient process of the world economy - with winners and losers. Communities have to readjuct or die.
And yet, what is happening in the coal country of Appalachia is part of a larger process of the separation of traditional working-class constituencies from the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party from workers in what used to be called "primary" industries. West Virginia used to be a Democratic bastion. It hasn't voted Democratic in a presidential election since 1996.
Mary Harris “Mother” Jones - "the most dangerous woman in America"
War Labor Board - John L. Lewis, President of the UMW (right)
This diary will not recount the history of the United Mine Workers. That can easily be found elsewhere. Suffice it to say that fundamental issues like the 8-hour day, workplace safety, and medical coverage were pioneered by miners and their leaders -
Mother Jones, arrested many times for organizing miners, and John L. Lewis, who demanded and got full health coverage.
The Ludlow Massacre - after the Tent Camp Was Burned
Matewan, West Virginia - Battle between Miners and Baldwin-Felts Agents
These gains did not come easily. In 1914, twenty-one people were killed in the Ludlow Massacre in Colorado. In 1920 and 1921, dozens of people were killed in the battles which raged across southern West Virginia. For the right to organize. Fifty years later, Robert F. Kennedy visited Appalachia and said, "As long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (center) walks up Liberty Street in Hazard, Ky., in 1968.
Photographer – Paul Gordon
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What follows is a presentation of images from the collections of the National Archives and the Library of Congress. They speak for themselves.
1930s - Southern West Virginia
Library of Congress
Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Collection
Williamson, West Virginia. A railroad yard with cars loaded with coal.
Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer. 1935 Oct.
Coal miners' homes by slate and slag heap, Caples, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Feet of children of George Blizzard, Coal miner, Kempton, West Virginia.
Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer. 1939 May.
The next "trip." Coal miners ready to go into the mine. Maidsville, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Group of coal miners, Williamson, West Virginia.
Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer. 1935 Oct.
Miners starting home after work. Part of coal tipple shown at left. West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer, 1938 Sept.
Coal miner with wife and neighbor. Kempton, West Virginia.
Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer. 1939 May.
The Blizzard family, residents of coal mining town. Kempton, West Virginia.
Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer. 1939 May.
Coal miner and family. Pursglove, West Virginia.
He thinks, "Some people are begrudgin' hearted."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Wife and two children of coal miner.
She is sick, has five other children. Marine, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Coal miner's wife carrying home water from the hill, Bertha Hill, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Pursglove Mine, Scotts Run, West Virginia.
One miner's check is as follows: $25.77 total earnings for two weeks with expenses deducted by the company amounting to $23.77. They are as follows: company store, $10.94; company house, $4.50; insurance, $1.00; sickfund, 45 cents; lamp, 75
Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer. 1935 Oct.
Coal miners card gambling Saturday afternoon on porch of company store, Chaplin, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Coal miners' wives making ice cream to sell on Saturday afternoon after payday, Osage, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Mother, wife and child of unemployed coal miner, Marine, West Virginia.
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. 1938 Sept.
Striking coal miners in front of company store. Kempton, West Virginia.
Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer. 1939 May.
1946 - Southern West Virginia
National Archives
Photos of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry, 1946–1947
Lee Russell, 1903-1986, Photographer
Double row houses; garbage and trash are disposed of in this meager stream of water;
there is a well and pump at each end of the row of houses. Panther Red Ash Coal Corporation,
Douglas Mine, Panther, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/26/1946
Miners going into lamp house to get their safety lamps.
U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/16/1946
Miners at the wash house ready for work. U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/16/1946
Miner who is shopping with his family in the subsidiary company store.
This store carries a large selection of good quality merchandise at prices competitive with chain stores.
U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/17/1946
Milong Bond, tipple worker, taking a bath.
There is no washhouse for mine nor tipple workers. Mullens Smokeless Coal Company,
Mullens Mine, Harmco, Wyoming County, West Virginia., 08/23/1946
Wife of miner filling lunch bucket.
They live in company housing project. Pando Coal Company,
Pando #7 Mine, Mohegan, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/06/1946
Mrs. E. R. Kunz and her daughter at the electric refrigerator.
There is no running water in the house.
U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/17/1946
James Robert Howard asks the blessing before eating supper.
Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/13/1946
Wife of miner on washday.
Southern Coal Corporation, Bradshaw Mine, Bradshaw, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/27/1946
Widow of miner. She lives on state old age pension.
Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/13/1946
Dr. R.V. Tokar on house call.
House calls are included in the medical fee of $1.20 per family.
U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/17/1946
Pay slip for a half month period.
Kingston Pocahontas Coal Company, Exeter Mine,
Big Sandy Housing Camp, Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/10/1946
Canned goods in the subsidiary company store.
The supplies in this store were ample and prices were competitive with chain stores.
U.S. Coal and Coke Company, Gary Mines, Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/16/1946
People in the bus station.
Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/24/1946
Saturday afternoon street scene.
Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia., 08/24/1946
Continue to Part II
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