Interview with Ann Tiabian, Pete Tiabian, June 27, 1986

Interview Summary

Ann Tiabian is the daughter of a Russian immigrant, and his husband, Pete, is the son of a Polish immigrant. They discuss many issues related to immigrants in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky. In particular, the Tiabians talk about the boarding of immigrants in the coal towns where each ethnic group had its own boardinghouse. Pete Tiabian's father ran a boardinghouse for Polish immigrants, and Ann Tiabian's father boarded Russian miners in the same house that the Tiabians now live.

The Tiabians also discuss bootlegging in Lynch, Kentucky. They state that if a miner was caught bootlegging whiskey, coal company officials evicted them from the company-owned house and ordered them to leave town. Pete Tiabian's father was one of those caught and expelled from the town. The Tiabians also talk about the immigrant social clubs that once flourished in Lynch. Each ethnic group had their own social club that would sponsor events for all the residents in the coal camp.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian Immigrant Community Appalachian Region boarding houses bootlegging Coal Mining discrimination grape dance immigrant clubs Immigrant Coal Miners Immigrants Lynch Kentucky mine guards Polish immigrants

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Social conditions Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Immigrants Tiabian, Ann Tiabian, Ann--Interviews Tiabian, Pete Tiabian, Pete--Interviews

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.