Matewan Development Center Records, 1989-1995
Summary Information
Title: |
Matewan Development Center Records, 1989-1995 |
|---|---|
Collection: |
AC.393, W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection |
Extent: |
4.0 linear feet |
Abstract: |
The Matewan Development Center Records contain records related to the Development Center/Visitor Center and to the history of Matewan, West Virginia. Matewan is a small town located in Mingo County along the Kentucky Border. The town is known for the "Matewan Massacre" as well as the Hatfield & McCoy Feud. The materials in this collection include oral history transcripts, correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, and photographs. |
Creator: |
Williams, John Alexander, 1938- |
Historical Note
Matewan, West Virginia is a small coal mining town located in Mingo County. The town is most famous for an incident that occurred on May 19, 1920. The incident, most commonly referred to as the Battle of Matewan or the Matewan Massacre, was a shootout between local miners and the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency. A group of detectives had come to town that day to evict several miners and their families from the Stone Mountain Coal Camp. The miners had been fired from their jobs for trying to organize with the United Mine Workers Association. Matewan Police Chief Sid Hatfield intervened on the miners behalf, and intercepted the detectives, who were on their way to the train depot to leave town. Hatfield told the detectives he had warrants for their arrest from the Mingo County sheriff. Detective Albert Felts then produced a warrant for Sid Hatfield’s arrest. Matewan Mayor Cabell Testerman inspected the warrant and declared it a fraud. By this time, the Felts’ detectives had been surrounded by armed miners and only rumors exist as to who actually fired the first shot. At the end of the battle, seven detectives, including Albert and Lee Felts, Testerman, and two miners were dead. Fifteen months later the Baldwin-Felts Agency retaliated by killing Hatfield on the steps of the McDowell County Court House.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists primarily of oral history transcripts, but also includes correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, and photographs. The oral histories deal with Matewan history, with emphasis on the Matewan massacre which occurred May 19, 1920. In addition to oral history transcripts, this collection also contains information on the Hatfield and McCoy feud, Matewan Project, and the Matewan Development Center.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into five series: Matewan Project Files, Matewan Project Research, Oral History Transcripts, David Reynolds’ Research Notes, and AV Materials.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use in the Dougherty Reading Room without restrictions.
Acquisitions Information
The materials were donated to the W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection by John Alexander Williams. The accession number is AC.2000.002.
Processing Information
Initial processing by Simms Toomey and Michal Duffy, ca. 2008. Processing completed by Kelly R. Grimm and Grant Maher, 2011. Finding aid encoded by Cynthia Harbeson, 2011.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], AC.393: Matewan Development Center Records, W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C., USA.
Container List
Series I: Matewan Project Files, 1989-1995
Series Description
This series deals primarily with establishing an interpretive plan for the town of Matewan, West Virginia. Documents include correspondence, interpretive plans, meeting minutes, articles, contracts, and research papers.
| Battle of Matewan Anniversaries 1989-1990 | Box 1.1 |
| Ideas for Interpretive Themes | Box 1.2 |
| John Alexander Williams Speech, May 19, 1993 | Box 1.3 |
Matewan Audio Program - Project Outline and Script |
Box 1.4 |
| Matewan Centennial, 1995 | Box 1.5 |
| Matewan Contract/Confirmation | Box 1.6 |
| Matewan: History Preservation & Partnerships | Box 1.7 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan, July 21, 1993 | Box 1.8 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix I: "Matewan Massacre Participants in the 1920s Manuscript Census" | Box 1.9 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix II: "Matewan Folklife Survey - A Preliminary View" | Box 1.10 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix III "Fieldwork Survey and Preliminary Recommendation on Matewan Cultural Project" | Box 1.11 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix IV: "Coalfield Photography: A Survey of Published Sources" | Box 1.12 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix V: "Guide to Selected Feature Films about Appalachia" | Box 1.13 |
| Matewan Interpretive Plan Appendix VI "Signs of Life in the Anderson Hatfield Cemetary" | Box 1.14 |
| Matewan National Historic Landmark Nomination, 1994 | Box 1.15 |
| Matewan Newsletter, 1995 | Box 1.16 |
| Matewan Project Consultant Contracts, 1991-1992 | Box 1.17 |
| Matewan Project Correspondence | Box 1.18 |
| Matewan Project Documents | Box 1.19 |
| Matewan Project Meeting, September 1992 | Box 1.20 |
| Matewan Proposal | Box 1.21 |
| Matewan Walking Tour Brochure | Box 1.22 |
Series II: Matewan Project Research, 1991-1992
Series Description
This series contains research files, primarily from John Alexander Williams in developing the Matewan Project. Documents include correspondence, interpretive plans, articles, photographs and research papers.
| Acadian Cultural Center | Box 2.1 |
| Art | Box 2.2 |
| "The Battle of Matewan: A Larger, Broader Historical Context," by David A. Corbin, 1992 | Box 2.3 |
| "Beyond Culture: Space, Identity and the Politics of Difference" by Akhil Gupta and James Ferguson | Box 2.4 |
| Coalfields Community and Change | Box 2.5 |
| David Reynolds Questions and Answers | Box 2.6 |
| Elizabeth Anne McCoy Matewan Questionnaires | Box 2.7 |
| Interpreting Coal Landscapes | Box 2.8 |
| John Alexander Williams Research File | Box 2.9 |
| Matewan Fire | Box 2.10 |
| Matewan Photographs | Box 2.11 |
| McCarl Photos | Box 2.12 |
| "The REAL Story" Newsletter, Fall/Winter, 1992 | Box 2.13 |
| "The Story of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud," 1991-1992 | Box 2.14 |
| Sources | Box 2.15 |
| Wheeling Heritgage Development Plan | Box 2.16 |
Series III: Oral History Transcripts , 1989-1990
Series Description
This series consists of transcripts of oral histories conducted with Matewan residents, by the Matewan Development Center during the summers of 1989-1990. The files are in alphabetical order by the interviewee's last name.
| Accord, Dixie | Box 3.1 |
| Adkins, "Smokey" Mose | Box 3.2 |
| Allara, Mattie Ruth McCoy | Box 3.3 |
| Aliff, Ruby Mounts | Box 3.4 |
| Aliff, William | Box 3.5 |
| Backus, Jim | Box 3.6 |
| Ball, Elder Ted R. | Box 3.7 |
| Barrios, Manuel | Box 3.8 |
| Berman, Henry | Box 3.9 |
| Blackburn, Vicie | Box 3.10 |
| Bland, Archie | Box 3.11 |
| Boothe, Edith | Box 3.12 |
| Bowens, Jesse | Box 3.13 |
| Brewer, Richard | Box 3.14 |
| Burgraff, Hawthorne | Box 3.15 |
| Cannada, Rebecca | Box 3.16 |
| Chafin, Tom | Box 3.17 |
| Collins, Maggie | Box 3.18 |
| Cook, Eva | Box 4.1 |
| Curry, James | Box 4.2 |
| Damron, Bertha Collins | Box 4.3 |
| Darwin, Louise | Box 4.4 |
| Dickens, Harold | Box 4.5 |
| Dickens, Sallie | Box 4.6 |
| Dixon, Hawkeye | Box 4.7 |
| Dotson, Cora | Box 4.8 |
| Elliott, Charlie | Box 4.9 |
| Faddis, Everett | Box 4.10 |
| Francis, Thomas | Box 4.11 |
| Fullen, Johnny | Box 4.12 |
| Gilliam, Roger | Box 4.13 |
| Grimmet, Jennie | Box 4.14 |
| Harless, Buck | Box 4.15 |
| Harmon, Howard | Box 4.16 |
| Harmon, Rex | Box 4.17 |
| Hatfield, Basil | Box 4.18 |
| Hatfield, Dutch | Box 5.1 |
| Hatfield, Ernest | Box 5.2 |
| Hatfield, Eveline | Box 5.3 |
| Hatfield, Grace | Box 5.4 |
| Hatfield, Margaret | Box 5.5 |
| Herzbrun, Maurice | Box 5.6 |
| Hood, Gladys | Box 5.7 |
| Hope, Josephine Allara | Box 5.8 |
| Howard, Rev. L. C. | Box 5.9 |
| Huff, Robert | Box 5.10 |
| Lively, Paul | Box 5.11 |
| Mayse, Vada | Box 5.12 |
| McCoy, Bob | Box 5.13 |
| McCoy, John L. | Box 5.14 |
| McCoy, Orville | Box 5.15 |
| Moore, Dan | Box 5.16 |
| Morgan, Herschel | Box 5.17 |
| Morrel, Mack | Box 5.18 |
| Morrel, Venchie | Box 6.1 |
| Morrel, Venchie | Box 6.2 |
| Mounts, Bill | Box 6.3 |
| Mounts, Fred | Box 6.4 |
| Nennie, Eddie | Box 6.5 |
| Nennie, Nel | Box 6.6 |
| Nowlin, Addie Dixon | Box 6.7 |
| Nowlin, Daisy | Box 6.8 |
| Ore, Rosa Nennie | Box 6.9 |
| Phillips, Aileen | Box 6.10 |
| Phillips, Hiram | Box 6.11 |
| Phillips, Kenneth | Box 6.12 |
| Presley, Stella | Box 6.13 |
| Radford, Harold | Box 6.14 |
| Reams, Geraldine | Box 6.15 |
| Roberson, Pauline | Box 6.16 |
| Sanders, Charlotte | Box 7.1 |
| Shewey, Fred | Box 7.2 |
| Simpkins, Jeanette | Box 7.3 |
| Smith, Betty | Box 7.4 |
| Smith, Lawrence "Chicken" | Box 7.5 |
| Starr, Rufus | Box 7.6 |
| Staten, Bertha | Box 7.7 |
| Stewart, Bill | Box 7.8 |
| Sutherland, Howard | Box 7.9 |
| Taylor, Rev. John | Box 7.10 |
| Taylor, William | Box 7.11 |
| Triolo, Melvin | Box 7.12 |
| Ward, Mary Marie | Box 7.13 |
| Ward, Mary Smith | Box 7.14 |
| Warren, George | Box 7.15 |
| Webb, Jeff | Box 7.16 |
| Whitlock, John | Box 7.17 |
| Wolford, Edna | Box 8.1 |
| Wolford, Rosa | Box 8.2 |
| Wright, Delma | Box 8.3 |
| Wright, Estes | Box 8.4 |
Series IV: David Reynolds' Research Notes, undated
Series Description
David Reynolds was a research assistant with the Matewan Project. This series consists of Reynolds’ research materials dealing with the Matewan Massacre. The series is predominately made up of excerpts from the oral histories that relate to the alleged participates. The files are arranged alphabetically by title.
| Blankenship, G. T. | Box 8.5 |
| Bowen, William | Box 8.6 |
| Boyd, Jesse | Box 8.7 |
| Brewer, Isaac | Box 8.8 |
| Burgraff, Albert "Ab" | Box 8.9 |
| Burgraff, Fred | Box 8.10 |
| Buskirk, R. W. | Box 8.11 |
| Chambers, Dan | Box 8.12 |
| Chambers, Ed | Box 8.13 |
| Chambers, Elbert "E. B." | Box 8.14 |
| Chambers, Hallie | Box 8.15 |
| Chambers, Lee | Box 8.16 |
| Chambers, Reece | Box 8.17 |
| Chambers, Talt | Box 8.18 |
| Chambers, Thurmond "Broggs" | Box 8.19 |
| Coleman, William Bouser | Box 8.20 |
| David Reynolds’ “Felts” Notes | Box 8.21 |
| Excerpts from “West Virginia Mine Wars: An Anthology” | Box 8.22 |
| Hatfield, Sid | Box 8.23 |
| Kiser, Charlie | Box 8.24 |
| Lively, C. E. | Box 8.25 |
| McCoy, Sailor | Box 8.26 |
| "Migration from Matewan" | Box 8.27 |
| Mounts, Ben | Box 8.28 |
| Mounts, Doug | Box 8.29 |
| Notes from 1920 Manuscript Census | Box 8.30 |
| Overstreet, Claire | Box 9.1 |
| Stone Mountain Coal Company | Box 9.2 |
| Testerman, Cable | Box 9.3 |
| Tinsley, Clarence | Box 9.4 |
| Webb, Fred | Box 9.5 |
| Williams, Art | Box 9.6 |
| Williams, Charlie | Box 9.7 |
Series V: Audio-Visual Materials, 1994
Series Description
This series consists of electronic copies of the oral history transcripts, an oral history interview with Walter Andrews in May 1994, and the "Battle of Matewan Audio Presentation". There are CDs of both the audio presentation and the oral history, copied from audio cassettes.
| "Battle of Matewan" Audio Presentation, (access copy), May 1994 | Box 9.8 |
| Matewan Oral History Transcripts, CD | Box 9.10 |
| Oral History Interview with Walter Andrews, Galax, Va., (access copy) May 1994 | Box 9.10 |
| Matewan Oral History Transcripts, 6-3¼ in. discs (originals) | Box 10 |
| Oral History Interview with Walter Andrews, Galax, Va., (2 original cassettes and CD master copy), May 1994 | Box 10 |
| "Battle of Matewan" Audio Presentation, (2 original cassettes and CD master copy), May 1994 | Box 10 |
Subject Headings
- Baldwin-Felts Detectives, Inc.
- Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region, Southern
- Coal mines and mining--West Virginia
- Matewan (Motion picture)
- Mingo County (W. Va.)
- Mingo County (W. Va.)--History
- Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining
- Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--West Virginia
- United Mine Workers of America
- United Mine Workers of America. District 17--History.
