I'm looking for reference pointers about coal mining in southern
Illinois from 1940-1970.  Reference works, chronologies, oral
histories, labor histories -- anything. I'm specifically interested in
sources that would talk about conditions of the mines as well as offer
detailed insight about management/labor difficulties.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 29 Jul 2005 09:31 PDT

Have a look at these sites, for starters:


http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/ii920721.html
Memories of mining


http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/articles.htm
[there are assorted resources here, a few specific to Illinois mining history]


http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/ilmap.htm
Illinois Labor History Society mining map


Are these sorts of things helpful?  If so, let me know what else you
need to make for a complete answer to your question.  And if not, let
me know what sorts of information you do need.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by cschweda-ga on 29 Jul 2005 10:22 PDT

Thank you. Yes, these are the sorts of things I'm looking for. I
consider this answered -- especially with the first two links.

If you're inclined -- and able to expand the search slightly and
include additional resources about coal mining in general (not limited
to Illinois) and locate any oral histories -- actual histories on the
web or links to a collection of miner recollections available in a
library or a bookstore, I'd be especially grateful.

Thank you again.

Thanks for getting back to me -- I'm glad to hear the links were useful.

Here are some more resources that I expect will be helpful to you as well:


http://www.appalachianpower.com/Widen,%20West%20Virginia,%20Appalachian%20coal%20camp.html
Memories of Widen & Dille, W.Va.


http://www.appalachianpower.com/Coal%20Miners'%20supper,%20John%20and%20Grace%20Adkins,%20Delano%20and%20Rajean%20Barnett.htm
Coal Miners' Supper


both of which are part of the collection of oral histories presented
here (not all have links, unfortunately):

http://www.appalachianpower.com/Oral%20Histories%20Index%20page%20oct2,%202003.htm
Oral History Index Page




You might want to have a librarian help you locate copies of these books:

http://gis.montva.com/departments/plan/cmhp/rucmhp/runeed.html
Two books of oral histories ? Appalachian Coal Mining Memories (La
Lone 1997) and Coal Mining Lives (La Lone 1998) ? have been collected
from county mining families by Radford University research teams,
including many interviews relating to Merrimac. The oral history
project was a three-year countywide effort, linking students and
community members in an effort that rekindled and focused the county's
attention on its mining heritage



Some labor history sites are listed here:


http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/elib/elib.cgi?cat=16;o=alpha

Search the page for the word [ coal ] to find relevant links.



Another page of useful links:

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RBurt/MinHistNet/




And here are some other publications to be aware of:


http://www.umwa.org/booksetc/books.shtml


I trust this information fully answers your question.  

However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need.  If you would like any additional information, just post a
Request for Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further,
and I'm at your service.

All the best,

pafalafa-ga


search strategy -- Google searches on:

coal mining history illinois

coal mining history

coal mining oral history

Thank you. Exactly what I needed! Much appreciated.