Oral History Commons^™

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.

Oral History Interview: Bertha May Asbury, Bertha May Asbury

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Bertha May Asbury was born in 1888 and began attending school in a one-room school house in 1894 at the age of six. She attended school through the ninth grade. She left school at the age of 17 when she began “courtin’” with young men. In her interview, Mrs. Asbury discusses living on Route 4 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. She focuses on food preservation and preparation, planting and harvesting crops, building a new home, going to square dances, and quilting. In the audio clip provided, Mrs. Asbury discusses what it was like to attend a square dance. She focuses …

Oral History Interview: Anna Casto Hopkins, Anna Casto Hopkins

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Born in Jackson County, West Virginia, Mrs. Anna Hopkins spent most of her life on a farm near Beech Fork, West Virginia. After breaking her hip in 1971, she moved to Ripley, West Virginia, where she was still residing at the time of the interview. Mrs. Hopkins reminisces about her childhood experiences, farm chores, neighborhood gatherings, and holiday celebrations. She also discusses the Depression and the two world wars.

Oral History 2: Lawrence Purdy Somerville, Lawrence Purdy Somerville

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

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.

0034: Henry A. Smith Letter, 1881, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Marshall College student's letter to R. W. Vandal of Schilling, Roane County, West Virginia, discussing his courses, his boarding house and the community.

0028: John L. Hawkins Letters, 1928-1929, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Huntington, West Virginia, resident. Included are manuscript of a history of West Virginia compiled from secondary sources and oral tradition, personal reminiscences of 'Devil Anse' Hatfield, poetry, and personal papers. Correspondence between John L. Hawkins and Franklin D. Roosevelt, concerning the National Democratic Convention of 1932.

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Tape recordings and transcripts of oral interviews with residents in the West Virginia-Ohio-Kentucky Tri-State region regarding such topics as farming, schools, health care, folk customs, and many others related to life in this Appalachian region.

To view materials from this collection that are digitized and available online, search the Marshall University Oral History Collection here.

Oral History Interview: Mattie Spencer Price, Mattie Spencer Price

0064: Marshall University Oral History Collection

Born at Henderson, West Virginia, Mrs. Price was a teacher for Kanawha County, West Virginia for forty-four years. As of 1972, Mrs. Price was retired and residing in Hernshaw, West Virginia. Mrs. Price relates the story of her reasons for entering the teaching profession and her career while teaching at one-room schoolhouses. She also discusses some of the situations and problems involving transportation and employment confronting the people of Hernshaw, West Virginia.