West Virginia Mine Wars
West Virginians are working people. The coal mining industry attracted laborers from around the globe to the plentiful jobs that existed above and below ground. Along with the jobs they relied on to support their families – miners had dreams that those jobs would be stepping stones to a path of economic independence they had not found in their native countries or states.
Far too often, mining companies in the early 20th century failed to protect the best interests of their laborers and their families. Grassroots union activity, particularly in the southern parts of the state, sparked a series of violent conflicts collectively known as the West Virginia Mine Wars.
The first wave of the Mine Wars took place in Cabin Creek and Paint Creek – with help from Mother Jones and the United Mine Workers. Over the course of 1912-1913, violence escalated until West Virginia’s governor instituted a state of martial law.
In 1920, the second wave of Mine Wars broke out in Matewan at the Battle of Blair Mountain.
This year, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum celebrates its tenth year of preserving the legacy of West Virginia’s miners, families of miners, labor activists, and the spirit of the Mountaineer. If you’re traveling in the Matewan area, stop in and see their exhibits! To learn more about the Mine Wars, check out e-WV - Mine Wars.
What does DNA mean for genealogy?
Scientific advancements always present new opportunities and challenges – and the introduction of the use of DNA in the world of genealogy is no exception! While DNA has been widely used in the field of criminal investigations since the 1980s, it remained an expensive proposition for decades. Putting genetic material to work in solving questions of ancestry came right on the heels of its use in criminology – there are incidences of its use in tracing genealogy as early as the 1990s.
With science comes commerce, and public companies began to see the relevance of putting DNA to work helping people research beyond their known ancestors to search for family roots in other countries – or find that long-lost cousin who was thought to be only a legend. In 2000, Family Tree DNA in Houston introduced its genealogy testing to the public. Other companies soon followed, and today’s ancestry researchers have many options for seeing how far back their family can be traced with DNA.
I’m just beginning my own research into how DNA can bolster and enhance family histories. What I do know, however, is that all good historians love tools! Putting technology to work should always enhance, rather than replace, other methods of evidence-gathering. Like many of my colleagues in the field of academic research, facts require corroboration from several sources – we never take one nugget of information as the entirety of the story. Ancestral DNA holds the potential to help solidify leads and offer new signposts to guide the way to building good family trees.
Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia Summer
A friend’s post of West Virginia’s political economy today pointed me right back to my own research – because history is never that far away.
West Virginia’s history is key to its future. When I worked on my dissertation, I focused on the immense political acumen and ambition of the men who steered the statehood convention. Aligning themselves with government resources to fund transportation as a market tool to expand the economic potential of their region was key for decades prior to the Civil War. Couching our memory of statehood with only the events of the Civil War continues to cloud our ability to take hold of the reins of our own resources. Take time this summer to re-invest in West Virginia. Enjoy the mountains and rivers, buy local produce, visit some of the uniquely West Virginia historic sites.
We all know and quote the motto “Montani Semper Liberi” – “Mountaineers are Always Free” which appears on the front of our state seal. The obverse of the seal is rarely seen. It’s motto? “Libertas E Fidelitate” – “Freedom and Loyalty” sits above a scene of hills, farms, trains, factories, and rivers. Be loyal to your state and enjoy the freedoms we have here – keep some of your entertainment and grocery budget within the beautifully odd contours of West Virginia.
Newspaper Databases
One of the best ways to enhance your family’s history is to examine their place in local history. What was happening in the town where they lived during specific time periods? Did your ancestors participate in political, social, business, or athletic activities?
Utilizing a newspaper database can help flesh out details about family histories, particularly if you can locate publications specific to the area related to the family. There are subscription services that are useful, but I would urge you to consider two free options. The Library of Congress’ Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers is entirely free and can be accessed here: Chronicling America « Library of Congress. This database provides access to newspapers through 1963. Many public libraries also offer newspaper database options. The Taylor County Public Library offers its patrons access to Newspaper Archives, with a wide variety of small West Virginia newspapers Resources | Taylor County Public Library | United States.
My grandmother grew up in Kasson (Barbour County), West Virginia on a family-run dairy farm. She was the only child born into a blended family and lost her mother at a young age. Even small snippets about their life are helpful to building an image of what life with her mother may have looked like. Newspaper Archives provided some nice clues. On November 27, 1924, the Grafton Sentinal included a small item in its social reporting for the Dent community that “Mrs. D.F. Bolyard and children of Locust Grove, are visiting relatives and friends of Mt. Pleasant at this writing.”
It's just one small clue – but it aligns with my grandmother’s stories of her mother taking all of the children in the home to church at Mt. Pleasant – which was several miles from their home!
Using newspapers can help you build in small pieces of context and, in some cases, may point you towards information that was previously unknown about your family.
What’s the Deal with the Census?
The use of census records is a common tool for researchers and genealogists. Did you know that the federal government regularly evaluates the types of information it collects from citizens and modifies the decennial census to help them gather that data? For example, the 1940s census was in part used to gauge the effectiveness of New Deal programming. Individuals were not only asked about their families, but also whether they had participated in one of the varieties of federal jobs programs (for example, the CCC) the preceding year. This type of information can be used to help families track whether their ancestors worked on important public projects in their neighborhoods through CCC, WPA, or other federal jobs programs. Each census is unique and provides genealogists with new and exciting clues to the lives of those they research.
Thinking about Local History
Public historian Carol Kammen writes, “Local history is the memory of place.” (Kammen, On Doing Local History). Yesterday’s talk from Titus Swann at the Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendents HCPD focused on developing the stories of those who lived, were treated, and in some many - died - at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. With a robust turn-out, the session confirmed that Lewis County’s residents are highly engaged in their local history. While the preservation of local history tends to be overlooked by practicing academic historians, the practice is well-recognized by public historians as a way to tap into the consciousness of a community. It falls to those in the community to seek out and preserve the stories that are important to the history of people and place - even when those histories are difficult. I encourage you to think about the ways in which your own community preserves and protects its history. Swann’s presentation reminded the Lewis County community that people with mental health challenges often became lost in the narrative of our hometown. Please support those in the field of history who are taking steps to preserve under-represented voices and look for ways to become part of the practice of history where you live.
