Growing Up in Southern West Virginia During the 1940\'s and 1950\'s: Agrarian and Coal Camp Lifestyles

Creator: Ashby, Debra A.

: McKinney, Marvin Sr.

: McKinney, Janice

In this project, Debra Ashby intereviewed her parents, Marvin and Janice McKinney of West Virginia about living and growing up in Wyoming and Mercer Counties respectively. Ms. McKinney lived in the coal camp Widemouth (Mercer County) and her father worked for the Piedmont Coal Company. Mr. McKinney grew up on a farm in Wyoming County. Though they grew up in very different communities and were very different, they still share many common experiences. This interview is among projects created by students enrolled in English 446 (initially English 452), “Appalachian Folklore,” 1981-2019, and in graduate level counterparts English 548 and 648 “Appalachian Folk Culture(s)” offered 17 fall semesters between 1987 and 2009. Minimally contain collector’s introduction and analysis, transcribed informant interviews, and excerpted and labeled examples of oral, customary, and/or material folklore/folklife collected primarily within the Appalachian region. Most include also tables of contents, informant information, indexes (outlines) of interviews, photographs, miscellaneous paper items, and indexes of informants, genres, and geographic locations. Accompanying audio recordings (several minutes to 2+ hours). Transferred to McConnell Library Archives & Special Collections from Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center, Fall 2013.