Appalachian Studies Commons^™

Oral History Interview: Helen Adams, Helen Adams

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Helen Adams was born on January 13, 1898, and was raised in Strange Creek, West Virginia. She lived on a farm with her family. She was one of seven children and her parents also raised two other boys who were orphaned. During her interview, Mrs. Adams discusses working on the farm, raising livestock, and preserving food. She discusses going to church and attending social events like box suppers and socials. She also focuses on folk medicine and the uses of alcohol for medicine and recreational purposes.

Oral History Interview: Alice Hall, Alice Hall

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Alice Hall was born in December 1897 in Cabell County, WV. She lived with her grandfather on a farm in Putnam County, WV, after the death of her parents. During her interview, she discusses quilting and peddling food items in Huntington, WV, with her grandparents, the lack of supplies during World War I, and the rationing of sugar and coffee during World War II. She also focuses on folk medicine, with emphasis on the herbs and barks her uncle used to make medicines. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Hall discusses food preservation, specifically making apple butter and preserves.

Oral History Interview: Fay Ball, Fay Ball

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Fay Ball was born on March 28, 1904, in Lincoln County, West Virginia. She was raised on a farm and shared most of the farming responsibilities with her family. Mrs. Ball discusses social interactions within the farming community of Lincoln County, including barn raisings and harvesting. She focuses on entertainment during her childhood and explains styles of popular music and games. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Ball discusses how to play games like “Blind Man,” “Aunt Me Over,” and “Nay Hide.”

Oral History Interview: Josephine R. Gorby, Josephine R. Gorby

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Josephine Gorby was born on February 24, 1908. She began her teaching career in a one-room school in Wimmer, McDowell County, WV. In 1931 she began teaching in Lawrence County, OH. Mrs. Gorby’s interview focuses on growing up on a farm near Proctorville, OH, her experiences as an educator, her family’s experience during World War I, and the 1937 flood of the Ohio River and its tributaries. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Gorby discusses the impact of the 1937 flood on the school house in Athalia, OH. During her interview, she also focuses on the construction and use of …

Oral History Interview: Edward C. Jackson, Edward C. Jackson

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Edward C. Jackson was born on January 17, 1911, in Canfield, Braxton County, WV. In 1926, he moved to Fenwick, Nicholas County, WV, to pursue jobs in saw mills. In his interview, Mr. Jackson describes in great detail the design and structure of the log home he lived in as a child. He focuses on growing up on a farm and places emphasis on the type of work he did and food preparation and preservation. Mr. Jackson also discusses the tight-knit community in which he was raised. In the audio clip provided, Mr. Jackson discusses working in the lumber industry. …

Oral History Interview: William Allen Cross, William Allen Cross

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

In his interview, William Allen Cross discusses Prohibition and bootlegging in Huntington, West Virginia. Mr. Cross was a theater manager for the Keith Albee Theater (referred to as the State Theater) in Huntington, WV. Although he did not make moonshine, he was a buyer during Prohibition. He discusses how bootleggers sold their whiskey and provides locations for stills. Mr. Cross also focuses on how to make moonshine, whiskey, and wine. He reminiscences about “the Strip” between 10^th and 11^th Streets in Huntington, WV, that served from 1925-1945 as a red-light, gambling, and bootlegging district. In the audio clip …

Oral History Interview: Doris Copley Miller, Doris Copley Miller

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Doris Copley Miller resided in Wayne and Cabell Counties, West Virginia, for the majority of her life. She discusses the history of Marshall Academy and its progression to college and university status. She also focuses on education in West Virginia. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Miller discusses teaching in Wayne County, West Virginia. She focuses the decor of her classrooms, the number of students, and the typical school day schedule. She also discusses games and recreation played by her students.

Oral History Interview: Lucy Quarrier, Lucy Quarrier

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Lucy Quarrier was a renowned weaver and a member of the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild. During the Depression, representatives from the state of West Virginia chose Mrs. Quarrier to teach rural women how to weave. She was also an accomplished gardener and used her green thumb to create vegetable dyes for her thread and weaving materials. Mrs. Quarrier taught weaving classes and her pupils became known as “The Lucy Quarrier Weavers.” She showcased her talents at arts and crafts festivals and often gave tutorials during the festivals. In her interview, Mrs. Quarrier discusses how she learned to weave. She focuses …

Oral History Interview: William T. Arnold, William T. Arnold

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

William T. Arnold (Bill Arnold), a Native West Virginian, lived the majority of his life in Clay County. Mr. Arnold spent his early childhood on a farm on Galon Mountain. After the death of his father, Mr. Arnold moved with his family to various towns within Clay County. In 1911, when he was eleven years old, Mr. Arnold started his first job in coal mining, working thirteen hours a night as a water dipper. When he was eighteen years old, Mr. Arnold began working as a postman and delivered mail on a route near the New River, between the towns …

Et Cetera, Marshall University

Et Cetera

Founded in 1953, Et Cetera is an annual literary magazine that publishes the creative writing and artwork of Marshall University students and affiliates. Et Cetera is free to the Marshall University community.

Et Cetera welcomes submissions in literary and film criticism, poetry, short stories, drama, all types of creative non-fiction, photography, and art.

0067: C. C. Henking Collection, 1795-1861, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The C. C. Henking Collection consists of land patents, deeds, titles, abstracts of titles, and indentures dating from 1795 to 1861. Also included are tax receipts, maps, notes and certificates. Many of the documents are in French. They are of particular interest to this region because all of the properties are located in what is now the state of West Virginia. In addition to the register, a more complete description of the contents of each folder will be found in the box.

0073: Harmon Blennerhasset Papers, 1764-1831, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Journals, correspondence, and financial and legal papers of Harman Blennerhasset and his role in the Aaron Burr conspiracy of 1806.

0089: Ora Patterson Biddle Papers, 1913-1968, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Member of the Colonel Charles Lewis Chapter NSDAR, local, state and national officer. Contains correspondence, programs, yearbooks, newspaper clippings concerning the Daughters of the American Revolution on the local, state, and national levels. Also newspaper clippings and papers concerning the local history of Mason County and Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

0147: Almetta P. Gay Records, 1929, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Copy of cemetery markings at the Evangelical and Lutheran St. Peter's Cemetery, Raymond Cemetery, and Wheeler Cemetery, all near Bruceton Mills, Preston County, West Virginia.

0085: Lexington, Kentucky Clinic, 1928, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Contains daily list of names of patients and notes on their treatment, 1920s.

0144: Howard B. Grant Papers, 1934, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Mimeographed copy of "The Presbyterian Church at Philippi, West Virginia" a brief history of the Barbour County church; includes a church membership list with genealogical notes.

0146: Alderson, Wv Old Greenfield Baptist Church Papers, 1776-1798, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Old Greenfield Baptist Church in Alderson, West Virginia register. Copy of marriage register kept by Reverend John Alderson, Jr., containing Greenbrier County marriages.

0066: Harry Edmund Danford Papers, 1902-1969, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The Harry E. Danford papers consist primarily of the original manuscripts of his books Soakum (1910), The West Virginian (1926), Trail of the Gray Dragoon (1928), Ohio Valley Pioneers (1931), Builders of the West (1959), and Paths of Glory (1969). Also included are resource material related to his books and his personal comments and criticism of the books. Correspondence about the publication of the books, papers concerning his political interests and career as an educator, printed material, and a small number of photographs are also a part of the collection.

To view materials from this collection that are digitized and …

0087: Campbell-Staats Family Papers, 1875-1925, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The Campbell-Staats collection consists of two separate series of information. The first series is comprised of the Jennie Ratliff Campbell papers. These papers consist mainly of personal correspondence to Miss Ratliff dating from 1875-1888. The majority of these letter were from two particular individuals, R. G. Drysdale and W. S. Livengood, and concerned everyday occurrence and mutual acquaintances. The remainder of the series is made up of samples from her schoolwork, songs she had copied, business correspondence, and a book of poetry given to her by her fiancee, C. W. Campbell.

The second series is comprised of the Campbell-Staats family …

0113: Jesse Stuart Papers, 1929-1986, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The Jesse Stuart Collection consists primarily of magazines given by Mr. Stuart which contain articles, stories, or poems written by him or about him. Approximately half of these items are in the original publication; the others are photoreproductions of originals lent by Mr. Stuart.

Another significant part of the collection was purchased from International Bookfinders, Inc., of Pacific Palisades, California, and includes first editions of Mr. Stuart’s works, galley proofs, and some manuscript material.

A third group of material is comprised of articles, stories, or poems written by or concerning Mr. Stuart which have been located and added to the …

0121: Banner Printing Company Papers, 1902-1904, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The papers of the Banner Printing Company are comprised primarily of minutes of the board of directors of the company from January 1902 until July 1904. There are also items of correspondence and some financial papers of the Huntington, West Virginia firm.

0161: Wilson Family Papers, 1901-1920, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Cabell County, West Virginia, family. Collection contains correspondence; receipts, including a statement from Barboursville College; and photographs, mostly unidentified.

0148: Monongalia In The Revolution Manuscript, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Typescript compiled by Elizabeth Ludington Hagans Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution). `Monongalia in the Revolution,' is a history of the formation of Monongalia County, West Virginia, and of Revolutionary War service of its residents.

0191: Kate Harris Typescript, 1912, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection is composed of a manuscript written by Kate Harris entitled, “Parkersburg: history of the city from time of its settlement to the present in gripping narrative from the pen of the late Miss Kate Harris.”

Oral History Interview: Forrest Atkinson, Forrest C. Atkinson

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

During his interview, Forrest Atkinson reminisces about growing up on a farm in Cabell County, West Virginia. His father was a tobacco farmer and timber cutter. He focuses on food preservation processes and home entertainment, including music and books. He also focuses on changes in technology during his lifetime. In the audio clip provided, Mr. Atkinson discusses raising and selling tobacco.

Oral History Interview: Frank Brooks, Frank Brooks

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Frank Brooks was born in Fayette County, WV, but grew up in Carter County, KY, in the early 1900s. He attended a one room school house through the third grade. Mr. Brooks began working in coal mines with his father in Borderland, WV, when he was 13 years old. In the audio clip provided, he discusses his first time in a coal mine. He focuses on how he tried to appear bigger than he was in order to be able to work. In his interview, Mr. Brooks compares and contrasts the labor conditions in the mines before and after unionization. …

Oral History Interview: Charles R. Knightstep, Charles R. Knightstep

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Charles Knightstep was born in Jackson County, WV, but resided in Mason County WV, for the majority of his life. Mr. Knightstep reminiscences about his life growing up on a farm. He describes the process of drying fruits and vegetables and burying apples and potatoes for use during the winter. He explains how his grandmother and mother made lye soap, cottage cheese, and apple butter. He also describes courting his wife and visiting her by horse and buggy. Mr. Knightstep worked for the Kanawha and Michigan railroad beginning in 1915, when he was 15 years old. He describes the changes …

Oral History Interview: Beulah Mckeand, Beulah Mckeand

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Beulah McKeand grew up in the Ceredo-Kenova area of West Virginia. During her interview, she focuses on her childhood experiences and family history. She discusses working at Abbotts, a store in Huntington, West Virginia. She also focuses on folk medicine, specifically uses for yellow root and ginseng. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. McKeand discusses growing ginseng and the market value for the plant.

Oral History Interview: Dr. Don V. Hatton And Jane Hatton, Don V. Hatton, Jane Hatton

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Dr. Don V. Hatton was a physician and public health specialist in both West Virginia and Kentucky beginning in the 1930s. During his interview, Dr. Hatton discusses Appalachia and focuses on the definition of the region and what it means to be Appalachian. He also discusses his transition from being a public health specialist focused on preventative medicine to a practicing internal medicine physician. In the audio clip provided, he compares and contrasts his public health work in West Virginia and Kentucky through a focus on physical environment, education, and socioeconomic status. Throughout this interview, Dr. Hatton’s wife, Jane Hatton, …

Oral History Interview: Ethel Barnes, Eva Ethel Barnes

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Eva Ethel Barnes, who is referred to as Ethel Barnes during her interview, was born on February 25, 1900, in Ivydale, Clay County, West Virginia. She attended a one room school house as a child. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Barnes discusses her education as a child in a one room school house. She focuses on the classroom schedule and her teachers at this school. During her interview she also discusses preserving and preparing food and soap with her mother.