Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History

Interview with Minnie Long, October 20, 1988

Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
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00:00:18 - Long's family / education and career

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Partial Transcript: Ms. Long, tell me your whole name.

Segment Synopsis: Long talks about her parents and grandparents and where her ancestors came from. She talks about working for the Kentucky Relief Organization and the National Youth Association. She talks about other women going off to college. She talks about childhood Christmases.

Keywords: African Americans; Ancestors; Black people; Business colleges; Christmas; Kentucky Relief Organization; Parents; Women; Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalachians (People); Families.; Genealogy

00:12:04 - Growing up in the country

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Partial Transcript: What kind of a house did you live in?

Segment Synopsis: Long describes her childhood home and says that she was lucky to not have to work as hard as some other children. She talks about her mother making clothes and the housework she did, and the livestock and food that they raised.

Keywords: Chores; Coal mines; Farming; Farms; Gardens; Great Depression; Houses; Mothers; Playing; Schools; Sewing; Shoes; Wool; Working

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social life and customs; Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Country life; Families.

00:21:36 - Women's suffrage / labor unions and life in the coal camp

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Partial Transcript: Did your mom and dad talk politics at all?

Segment Synopsis: Long's parents differed in political opinions, and her mother was passionate about women's suffrage. She talks about the United Mine Workers getting organized in Harlan County and mentions her opinions on the documentary "Harlan County, USA." She talks about the Italians and Poles that she knew when she lived in McRoberts, Kentucky.

Keywords: Coal miners' wives; Documentaries; Foreigners; Immigrants; Italians; McRoberts (Ky.); Money; Parents; Poles (Polish); Politics; United Mine Workers; Women's suffrage

Subjects: Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Women's rights

00:32:31 - Social life in the coal camp

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Partial Transcript: Now you were staying with an older sister?

Segment Synopsis: Long explains more about how she felt that women didn't manage their money well. She talks about the mine officials and their kids, and talks about the differences between the houses of the mine officials and the miners. She talks about all the different things that young people did for fun.

Keywords: Dating; Entertainment; Friends; Houses; Managing money; Mine officials; Recreation; Social classes; Women

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social life and customs; Appalachians (People)--Kentucky--Social conditions; Mining camps