| abstract |
This dissertation comprises a dual exploration: it serves as an ethnological analysis of the company town cultures within the New River Coalfield towns in Fayette and Raleigh County, West Virginia, from 1937 to 1952. The focus is particularly directed toward the experiences shaped by poverty, race, and gender in insular and self-sustaining coal company towns.
The first part, a scholarly exploration, establishes a factual framework that forms the foundation for the second segment of the dissertation, a historical fiction narrative. This creative piece engages in a creative dialogue between siblings, each providing a distinct lens: one through the female perspective and the other through the male perspective. These narratives are derived from research and stories conveyed through oral history interviews, culminating in a work of historical fiction.
Company town life in Southern Appalachia during this time is a complex tapestry. Shared poverty is a common thread, yet the cohesion and connections within each town exhibit significant variation. The isolated nature of these unincorporated worlds profoundly shapes the dynamics at play. While the experiences portrayed are shared in many aspects, they are recalled with bias influenced by personality and gender.
This dissertation considers my own family's history. Consequently, while the creative piece aspires to historical accuracy, it is imbued with my perceptions and attempts to empathize with the diverse truths of the subjects.
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