Sherrill Martin papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Sherrill Martin papers
- Date
- 1937-1954, undated
- Extent
- 0.63 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Perry County
- Illustrators.
- Mine safety -- Illustrations.
- Newsletters
- World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects
- World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--United States
- Preferred Citation
- 87m1: [Identification of item], Sherrill Martin papers, University of Kentucky Special Collections
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Sherrill Martin was born on March 4, 1927 and grew up in Perry County, Kentucky. He attended Vicco High School in Vicco, Kentucky, from 1941 through February 1945. It was during his high school years that Martin created the illustrations contained in this collection for the Carrs Fork Coal Company. When Martin left Perry County for his tour of duty with the U.S. Navy on February 22, 1945, the safety-oriented newsletter continued on without his illustrations. After concluding his stint in the service on August 1, 1946, Martin entered the Chicago Art Institute, where he studied commercial art through 1950. In 1951, he began an eleven-year career as a commercial artist for firms in Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio. His work included a televised animated commercial. Martin died of a heart attack on June 19, 1962.
- C.A. Dupree (1903-?) was Sherrill Martin's uncle. He worked as a miner at the Carrs Fork Coal Company and the Stocker Coal Company, 1943-1953.
- The Carrs Fork Coal Company at Allock, Perry County, Kentucky (located approximately one mile from Vicco, Kentucky) operated from 1919 to 1958 and had approximately 300 employees. The Stocker Coal Company at Scuddy, Perry County, Kentucky, operated from 1946-1957 and had approximately 75 employees.
- -Source: http://www.coaleducation.org/coalhistory/coaltowns/coalcamps/perry_county.htm, accessed 9/5/2013.
- Scope and Content
- The Sherrill Martin papers (1937-1954, undated; .63 cubic feet, 2 boxes) primarily comprises Carrs Fork Coal Company newsletters (1940-1945) containing line-drawing illustrations by Martin that accompanied articles and letter-format lectures on mine safety by general superintent P.A. Grady. The newsletter was either attached to, or on the reverse of, a pay stub. Martin's illustrations reminded the miners receiving the pay stub/newsletter that mine safety was their responsibility and also their patriotic duty as part of the World War II war effort. The articles, lectures, and illustrations in the newsletters warned miners that if safety was not a priority in their daily work, they were aiding and abetting the enemy.
- The collection also includes a series of pay stubs issued to Martin's uncle, C.A. Dupree, from the Carrs Fork Coal Company and the Stoker Coal Company, 1937-1953. Other items include union and mine safety booklets and manuals, including a "Coal Miner's Safety Manual" (1942), "By-Laws of Carrs Fork Coal Co. Employees Burial Fund" (undated), and a contract agreement between Hazard, KY Coal Operator's Association and the UMWA, District 30 (1937-1939).
- In most cases, the newsletters are photocopies of the originals. In addition, photographs of some of the line drawings are included.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Newsletters, 1940s
"144 Killed 5760 Injured", undated
"1150 Killed 50,000 Injured", 1941 Feb. 22
"Accident Death Toll", 1945 Jan. 20
"Accidents Help The Enemy", undated
"All Employees Letter", 1946-1947
"America Has Just Begun ", undated
"An Employee's Safety Letter", 1947 Aug. 12
"Any Job Is A Safe Job for A Careful Workman", 1942 Mar. 7
"A Well Placed Post Will Protect Your Life", undated
"Be Careful And You Will Not Lose Your Neck", undated
"Be Careful The Life you Save May Be Your Own", 1925-1948
"Be Not Forgetfull Mr. Miner To Your Own Dangers Watch Your Top", undated
"Can You Save A Life", 1945 Feb. 18
"Careless Lifeless", undated
"Compensation Does Not Pay Steady Work Does. Work Safely!", undated
"Couplers Press For Safety", undated
"The Death Score For January In The Mines Of Kentucky", 1942 Feb. 7
"Don't Let The Old Devil Catch You", undated
"Forgotten Men", 1925-1945
"Greetings Merry Christmas Happy New Year", 1940 Nov. 30
"Having trouble Miner? So am I!... But were not doing much...", 1943 Jun. 12
"I Passed A Blind Man", 1940 Mar. 15
"I'll Toss You-To See Who Gets Him ", undated
"I've Rode The Front Bumper Before", undated
"Keep Your Name Off This List", 1942 Nov. 28
"Lose One And You Are always Suspected Of Having Been Careless!", undated
"Miners!", 1944 Apr. 29
"The Miner, The Machine Crew, The coupler...", 1942 Jul. 11
"Miner And Supervisor In Unison Lets Whip This Fellow", undated
"Motormen And Couplers ", undated
"Motormen Are Killed", undated
"Motormen Are Kille! StrikingHead...", 1944 Apr. 15
"Not Whipped Yet", 1945 Jan. 6
"One Miner, One Union, One Guard", undated
"One Out Of Every Ten Will Be Injured or Killed 1944!", 1944
"Our Job", 1942 Apr. 4
"Remember-Next To Your Own Family Your Formen Is Most Interested In Your Safety", undated
"Riding The Man-Trip", undated
"The Safe Mine Worker", 1940 Apr. 14
"Safety Paralysis", 1942 Oct. 31
"Sound Your Top Often Watch Your Top Always...", undated
"The Ten Little Mine Workers", undated
They Give Their Lives For A Cause Accident Victims-Die Needlessly, undated
"They Mark The Spot For Careless Workers", undated
"This Machine Man Was Fatally Injured...", undated
"To Our Employees Wages and Compensation...", 1940 Mar. 15
"To The Miners Working In The 2 North Section Of West Mines", 1942 Mar. 10
"Two Roads To Victory", 1943 May 15
"Umbrella Of Safety A Protection Against Accidents", undated
"Use The Right Ammunition", undated
"Watching For The Chance-Takers!", undated
"You Always Spend Your Money...", undated
"You Can Help Win The War", 1941 Dec. 27
"Your Buddy In Every Careless Act", 1944 Oct. 14
"Waste Is Sabotage!", undated
"Watch Your Draw Slate", undated
"Watch Your Hands & Fingers Feet & Toes", undated
"A Weekly Safety Letter", 1947 Apr. 21
"When You Are Injured In An Accident The Chances Are You Will Not Be Thinking", undated
C.A. Dupree Timesheets, 1945-1953
Booklets and Manuals, 1937-1942, undated
"Appalachian & District Agreement Hazard Coal Operators Association International Union...", 1937 Apr. 1-1939 Mar. 31
"Dupree C. A. Credit slip", 1943 Nov.13
United Mine Workers Of America Union dues receipt, C.A. Dupree, 1954 Aug.5-Oct. 9
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
