Interview with Robert Grubbs, June 25, 1987

Interview Summary

Robert Grubbs, a Holiness minister who was once a Roving Picket, describes working underground in coal mines throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. He discusses the change he witnessed in the industry. Grubbs began working in the mines when coal was primarily hand loaded into buggies, but by the time he quit, most mines had started using joy loaders and scoops to mine coal.

Grubbs also discusses his experience as a Roving Picket. He traveled from mine to mine in an attempt to close mines not paying the royalty to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) health and retirement fund. Grubbs remembers that the pickets would meet at the union hall or the miners' hospital to decide which mine they would picket that day. During the movement Grubbs traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials concerning the massive unemployment in Harlan County, and he describes this trip.

Interview Keyword

"blackballing" coal mechanization coal mining in 1940-1960 Harlan County Kentucky Roving Pickets trip to Washington United Mine Workers of America

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal mines and mining Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--History Grubbs, Robert Grubbs, Robert--Interviews

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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