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On Dark and Bloody Ground: An Oral History of the West Virginia Mine Wars
An oral history of the West Virginia Mine Wars published to coincide with the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain.
In 1972 Anne Lawrence came to West Virginia at the invitation of the Miners for Democracy movement to conduct interviews with participants in, and observers of, the Battle of Blair Mountain and other Appalachian mine wars of the 1920s and ’30s. The set of oral histories she collected—the only document of its kind—circulated for many years as an informal typescript volume, acquiring an almost legendary status among those intrigued by the subject. Key selections from it appear here for the first time as a published book, supplemented with introductory material, maps, and photographs. The volume’s vivid, conversational mode invites readers into miners’ lived experiences and helps us understand why they took up arms to fight anti-union forces in some of the nation’s largest labor uprisings.
Published to coincide with the celebration of the Blair Mountain centennial in 2021, On Dark and Bloody Ground includes a preface by public historian Catherine Venable Moore and an afterword by Cecil E. Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America.
In 1972 Anne Lawrence came to West Virginia at the invitation of the Miners for Democracy movement to conduct interviews with participants in, and observers of, the Battle of Blair Mountain and other Appalachian mine wars of the 1920s and ’30s. The set of oral histories she collected—the only document of its kind—circulated for many years as an informal typescript volume, acquiring an almost legendary status among those intrigued by the subject. Key selections from it appear here for the first time as a published book, supplemented with introductory material, maps, and photographs. The volume’s vivid, conversational mode invites readers into miners’ lived experiences and helps us understand why they took up arms to fight anti-union forces in some of the nation’s largest labor uprisings.
Published to coincide with the celebration of the Blair Mountain centennial in 2021, On Dark and Bloody Ground includes a preface by public historian Catherine Venable Moore and an afterword by Cecil E. Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
175 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 29, 2025
So glad this exists.
October 22, 2025
On Dark and Bloody Ground is a collection of interviews from coal mining towns in West Virginia about the coal mining wars of the early 1900s. From the mouth of the people, from all sides of the battle, a well-done manuscript!
August 27, 2021
"'Yes,' she says, 'they were just hillbillies, but they were pretty smart after all.'" -Grace Jackson
This is such an important book for painting the backdrop of Appalachian culture today and for understanding the WV mine wars. In their own language, firsthand witnesses from several areas and sides describe what those days are like and hopes for the future. Excellent.
This is such an important book for painting the backdrop of Appalachian culture today and for understanding the WV mine wars. In their own language, firsthand witnesses from several areas and sides describe what those days are like and hopes for the future. Excellent.
November 11, 2022
It is hard to piece together an exact history of the West Virginia Mine Wars from this oral history, but it you do get clear picture of the people and times, as well as perspectives on a few of the major events of the time. This is an easily accessible book. It look me less than 2 hours to read it all.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews