Interview with Charles E. Spears, October 8, 1988

Interview Summary

Charles E. Spears was born during 1926 in Van Lear, Kentucky. When Spears was six years old his mother, Ida Mae McFaddin Spears, experienced a nervous breakdown and remained on bed rest at Eastern State Hospital for the rest of her life. While Spears was never a coal miner himself his father, Marcus Spears, worked as a coal loader. Spears explains his father's work as well as other aspects of life in Van Lear such as women's work, gender roles within marriage in Van Lear, black miners, and the union. Spears details his nearby childhood home and also discusses his military service during WWII. Spears expresses positive feelings regarding his childhood as well as fondness for Van Lear. Spears states that growing up in Van Lear was like growing up in one big family.

Interview Keyword

Coal mining Families Gender roles Hand-loading coal Military service Nervous breakdowns

Interview LC Subject

African American coal miners Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Kentucky Family--history Johnson County (Ky.) Mental health Spears, Charles E. Spears, Charles E.--Interviews Van Lear (Ky.)

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.