The Son of a Coal Miner: A Glimpse into the Broomsfield Mining Community
Creator
Gliebe, Amy
Kipps, Jack
In this project, Andy Gliebe interviewed Jack Kipps about growing up around the Broomsfield and Merrimac mines in Virginia. Mr. Kipps explained how the folks lived in the mining camps, including talk of what games the children played, how neighbors helped each other, and even about things they were superstitious about. While Kipps did not work in the mine, his father did, so his stories are about miner families and communities. 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.