Interview with Edgel Adkins, May 16, 1988

Interview Summary

Edgel Adkins is the son of Perry Adkins, a union supporter who was killed by the sheriff during the 1934 strike at the Henry Clay mine. Edgel, who was twelve years old at the time, recounts the events surrounding his father's death and the funeral that followed. He tells of his family's struggle after his father's death. He and his brothers opened a coal bank on the family's land and sold house coal for a dollar a ton to stores on Marrowbone Creek. He also talks about the shooting of his uncle, Eary Adkins, who had been blacklisted as a teacher on Marrowbone Creek because of his brother's union activities. The family received no compensation from the company or from the union after his father's death, although he does recall his mother receiving fifty dollars at Christmas or Thanksgiving from Sam Caddy, the president of District #30 of the UMWA. In the early 1940s, Edgel Adkins went to work as a miner at the Henry Clay mine. Later he became a small operator working for larger operators Curt Caudill and Thomas Ratliff. Family members talk about the conflict within the family over his decision to work as a non-union operator. He discusses his reasons for doing so.

Interview Keyword

Coal banks Coal camp violence Coal mine blacklisting Coal operators Curt Caudill Elkhorn Coal Field Henry Clay coal strike 1930s Murder of Perry Adkins Non-union vs. union mines Sam Caddy Thomas Ratliff Unionization United Mine Workers of America Perry Adkins Family Henry Clay mine Henry Clay strike Funerals Murders Violence Fathers Death Mothers

Interview LC Subject

Adkins, Edgel Adkins, Edgel--Interviews Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal miners--Kentucky--Elkhorn City Coal miners--Kentucky--Pike County Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Elkhorn City Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--History Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Pike County Pike County (Ky.) Pike County (Ky.)--Social life and customs United Mine Workers of America Coal miners Coal miners--Labor unions. Coal mines Coal mines and mining--Kentucky Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry Communities Protest movements Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

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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.