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MEMORIES FROM DANTE: The Life of a Coal Town
Folks, I want to call an archival/oral history/editorial project to your
attention. While I would not claim to be an unbiased observer --
indeed, this project has been dear to my heart -- I truly think it is
well worth your consideration.
Thanks,
Frank
Memories From Dante: The
Life of a Coal Town
is a hardbound collection of 525 pages
of oral histories, commentary, and over 800 historical photographs.
It tells the story of a small town in Southwestern Virginia that
developed from the little crossroads of Turkey Foot into the headquarters
of the Clinchfield Coal Corporation at the beginning of the 20th century,
to the closing of the last Dante mine in 1959, and then to life there at
the end of the 20th century. This book is more than just the story
of the coal industry; it gathers the memories of a vibrant past.
The oral histories and photographs (all contributed by residents and
friends) recount the life of a thriving, multicultural mining community
of 3,800 people in 1930 to a quiet town today of a thousand souls.
I was raised about seven miles from Dante and heartily recommend this
book to you personally and/or as an addition to your repository's library
if your mission is documenting the impact of industrialization on America
and related topics. In addition to coal mining the book includes
chapters on: "Coming to a New Life, The Company Town, Life in the
Hollows, Life on the Hill, Life's Pleasures, Courtship and Marriage,
School Days, Getting Religion, The Doctors Made Housecalls, Dark Days,
Nearby Neighbors, Changing Times, and Precious Memories."
Edited by Katharine C. Shearer and published by People Incorporated of
Southwest Virginia, the book sold out its first printing and the second
printing has just been received. Purchase orders are accepted. It
may be ordered ($48 plus $8 S&H) from:
Memories From Date
People Inc.
1173 West Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
This has truly been a labor of love for the editor. People Inc. of
Southwest Virginia is a community action agency whose mission is to help
people and communities solve their problems. If you would like
further information on the Dante project or People Inc., please contact
her:
Kathy Shearer
kshearer@naxs.com
276/619/2271
www.peopleincorp.org/Dantebook.htm
The tape recordings and transcripts have been given to the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University and an automated finding aid is being prepared to supplement the existing tape indexes and summaries. For access and information regarding possible research topics, please contact:
Norma Myers
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 37614-0665
423/439-6991
fax 423/439-6340
myersn@etsu.edu