Interview with David Lee Webb, November 19, 1988

Partial Transcript: Sir, tell me your whole name.

Segment Synopsis: Webb talks about his childhood experience going to school, and talks about his teachers.

Keywords: Elementary school teachers; Elementary schools

Subjects: Childhood; Education--Kentucky; Teachers--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Did you go to kid--school with black kids?

Segment Synopsis: Webb responds to questions about segregation of schools in Van Lear and the African American community in Jenkins, Kentucky.

Keywords: African American churches; Circuit riders; Pie

Subjects: African Americans--Kentucky--Van Lear; Coal miners--Kentucky--Jenkins; Consolidation Coal Company; Education; Jenkins (Ky.); Segregation in education--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, do you remember hearing any, oh, snobby remarks by management either the actual superintendent or the line foremans or the kids or anything about coal camp people? Was there any snobbiness or any class division?

Segment Synopsis: Webb explains the neighborly cohesion of the Van Lear community.

Keywords: Community centers; Food; Hot dogs; Socioeconomic classes; Socioeconomic status; Soda fountains

Subjects: Economic conditions; Social classes--Kentucky--Van Lear

Partial Transcript: But now, um, now tell me again when were you born.

Segment Synopsis: Webb describes his family's experience and perspective living just outside the incorporated community of Van Lear.

Keywords: Farm produce; Free school; Land tenure; Sympathy; Timber

Subjects: Coal miners--Labor unions--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Consolidation Coal Company; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: And, uh, do you remember any of the movies you saw down there?

Segment Synopsis: Webb describes recreation in Van Lear and how it was a weekend hub of entertainment for the surrounding area.

Keywords: Dime theaters; Entertainment; Films; Gene Autry; Movies; Roy Rogers; Tex Ritter; Weekends

Subjects: Motion pictures; Paintsville (Ky.); Van Lear (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, you know, um, the police--do you feel like the police were the same, uh, fair and strong police as in the county?

Segment Synopsis: Webb explains his views of the Van Lear coal company police force and his experiences with them.

Keywords: "Hollers"; Coal company police force; Curfews; Hollows; Soda fountains

Subjects: Police--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, do you think that in a household there should be a head of the household?

Segment Synopsis: Webb talks about his opinion on family structure, and his relationship with his parents.

Keywords: Facts of life; Gender roles; Gentleman; Head of household; Honesty; Leadership; Parenting; Patriarchy; Sex

Subjects: Gender; Gender issues; Marriage; Sex role

Partial Transcript: Was life here in, in, uh--I know you weren't right in Van Lear, but living close to Van Lear, was life here ever boring?

Segment Synopsis: Webb talks about the odd jobs he was hired to do, as well as the recreational activities that kept him busy as a child.

Keywords: Employment; Jobs; Schools; Working

Subjects: Childhood

Partial Transcript: Well I've asked you a lot of these questions just going along.

Segment Synopsis: Webb talks about how his father made money, and talks about how most people did not earn much at the time. He talks about food from his childhood compared to today. He talks about having rheumatic fever as a child.

Keywords: Discipline; Fathers; Illness; Meat; Money; Rheumatic fever; Salary; Timber; Wages

Subjects: Childhood; Food habits; Nutrition

Partial Transcript: Did your dad ever talk about, uh, giving up all this farming and lumber business and all that and, uh, working in the mines?

Segment Synopsis: Webb says his father never considered working in the mines.

Keywords: Attitudes; Fathers; Personality; Working

Subjects: Occupations.

Partial Transcript: I've asked you all the questions.

Segment Synopsis: Webb talks about his pride in his family as well as Van Lear.

Keywords: Family; Proud

Subjects: Families.; Van Lear (Ky.)