This oral history discusses the early life and career of Fred Burkhard. He was the former editor and publisher of the Casey County News. The interview is the first of a three part series.
This oral history discusses the background and career of Alan Gibson, the assistant editor of the Clinton County News. It describes his views on issues in the community as well as the major issues.
This oral history discusses the career of A.B. Gibson, the editor and publisher of Clinton County News. Mr. Gibson describes his early career in the business, as well as the responsibility of a county paper.
In this interview, Mr. Clyde Underwood, publisher of the Wayne County Outlook, recollects on his early life, Naval service during WWII, and his newspaper experiences.
F. M. Burke is a Pike County, KY native. He attended Eastern State Teachers College and Normal School. In this interview, Burke, gives detailed information about his family history, growing up on a farm and his father's timber business. After being rejected for not meeting the requirements for admission to Eastern, he boarded a train and headed to…
In this interview, James Nolan, editor and owner of the Manchester Enterprise, comments on his experience as a journalist. He also details the routine for publishing a newspaper.
Delbert T. Harrison discusses his life experiences and the changes in Estill County that he witnessed during his lifetime. Interview topics include comments on growing up in a family with 14 children, his work history, and the major changes in juvenile behaviors and family dynamics.
Mossies Osborne discusses her life experiences while living in Clark County for most of her life. Interview topics include discussions over her family's farm and family economy, and her experiences as a wife, mother and widow. She concludes that lifestyles were healthier, safer, and, in general, better.
Helen Davis Walker discusses growing up as the daughter of an African American sharecropper and domestic worker. Walker comments extensively on the differences between living in the country as a young girl and later in Winchester KY as a teenager and adult. Walker also comments on changes in race relations, schools, and, more generally, economic…
Emma Woosley discusses growing up in Estill County, where they moved frequently and made do with little money. Woosley also comments extensively on the role that neighbors, religion, education, and, more generally, the community has played in the lives of past and present Estill County residents.
Rachel Hall discusses growing up with her grandparents while living on a farm in Powell County. Hall comments on their daily activities, her chores, and her careers in a factory and the local school system. She also concludes that changes in female equity, and a lack of discipline and neighborly support underscore the major differences between her…
Shirley Richardson discusses growing up on a farm in Clark County and her eventual 30 year career with the Road Department. Richardson comments extensively on the farm life of her youth and the changing economic and social conditions across Clark County, including changes in the number of churches and shopping areas in Winchester. She also shares…
Harvey Robinson discusses growing up as an African American in Clark County. Robinson worked in the tobacco fields before moving to Ohio for a short time, only to return to the Winchester area to work for the American Tobacco Company in the winter and, before it shutdown, the C & O Railroad for the remaining months of the year. Robinson comments…
Irene Woosley discusses growing up in the Kiddville "village"/Trap area of Clark County. She comments extensively on her family life and marriage, changes in community values, and the eventual collapse of the Kiddville area, which she attributes to people leaving the area for employment opportunities in a changing economy.
Ruth Mae Noland Taylor discusses growing up in Trapp, Clark County, Kentucky, and her life after she left the area at age 20. Taylor also comments extensively on the changes she witnessed in Clark County through time, which includes desegregation, the decline of Main Street in Winchester, and the ebb and flow of festivals and recreation…
Edward Drake discusses growing up in Irvine, Kentucky as the son of a railroad worker. Drake details his early childhood and his eventual employment in the same line of work as his father. Drake comments extensively on his education and work history, as well as relevant changes and the constants in Irvine, such as high unemployment rates. He…
J. C. Burnell discusses growing up and living on a farm outside of Richmond, Kentucky. He comments on his chores and eventual responsibilities, as well as the differences between his childhood and adolescence and the experiences of today's youth.
Douglas Browning discusses his eventful life after being raised in Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky. Browning concludes that after leaving Montgomery County, where his family had resided for over 14 generations, he traveled the country and worked at approximately 45 jobs and moved 40 times. Other interview topics include his education…
Martha Neely discusses growing up as the daughter of a sawmill owner in Madison County. Neely comments on her education, common discipline practices, community activities that have changed through time, her marriage and the years she has spent as a widow. Additional interview topics include discussions over the Berea Community, its churches, and…
Ellen Bleecher discusses growing up in a household and family that held education in high regard. Bleecher comments extensively on her family life and education, Berea churches, her father's career in education, and Berea College's influence on the community, both in the past and present. Bleecher provides good insight into Berea's power structure…
Virginia Yeager discusses growing up in Estill County during the early 20th Century. Being the oldest child in her family Yeager took on a great deal of responsibility at a young age; she eventually became a school teacher at 17 years old. Other interview topics include her education, local church histories, changes in crime rates and industry, and…
Mattie Mastin, born in Crystal, Kentucky discusses growing up in the Estill/Madison County area. Mastin comments extensively on her family history and the major changes in transportation, education, and healthcare that she has witnessed in her lifetime.
John Parks shares his experiences of growing up on a farm in Madison County. Interviews topics include discussions about farm life, churches, home remedies, raising livestock, education, discipline, crime rates, and the excitements he felt when attending Court Days, festivals, and fairs.
Marie McCoy discusses her experiences while growing up in Powell County. Interview topics include her education, recreation on her family farm, her family's work history, which included sawmill work and farming, and the role that churches played in the community when she was young. In general, McCoy views materialism and drugs as the greatest…
Roberta Cornelison discusses growing up in Bobtown, Madison County, Kentucky. Interview topics include discussions about Berea, segregation, race relations, and, her home life and education. She also comments extensively on the Bobtown community, and its inhabitants, grocery stores, churches, and services.
Frances Moore discusses her upbringing in Madison County, and her experiences while living in Berea. Interview topics include discussions over her home life, family history, and education, Berea churches and church life, and the distinct East versus West divide in Berea. Moore also comments extensively on her education, and the decision makers,…
Melvin Higgins discusses growing up on a farm in Magoffin County. He also comments extensively on Berea, which is where his parents moved their family so his siblings could have better access to schools. Interview topics include discussions about farm life, his family history, military service and work histories, and Berea College's social and…
Billy Cooper discusses his experiences while growing up in Estill County on a mountain farm. Interview topics include extended conversations about mountain life, including home remedies, farming, raising hogs, gardening, canning, logging, preserving meat, and the social importance of fairs and festivals. The remainder of the interview addresses the…
Darnell Fletcher discusses his experiences as an African American who grew up in Powell County, Kentucky. Fletcher shares his family history and Air Force service record, and other related life experiences. Other topics include tobacco farming and farm life, raising livestock, desegregation, circuit preachers and church life, and, an extended…
Charles Vanhuss discusses growing up in Ravenna, Estill County, Kentucky. Interview topics include discussions about his family history and his father's involvement with the L&N Railroad, the education system and churches, his interest in politics, which began in 5th grade, and the major changes in the Ravenna economy through time. Vanhuss also…
Betty Isaacs discusses growing up and living in Clark County for most her life. Interview topics include discussions about changes in healthcare, education, and entertainment, housing, and access to good jobs.
Betty Smith discusses growing up and living in Clark County for most of her life. Interview topics include discussions about entertainment opportunities and games when she was growing up, Main Street businesses, restaurants, and socializing in Winchester, as well as many comments on Clark County industry and economic trends.
