University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center
Harlan County mine strike photographs
81pa109
0.25 Cubic Feet
1 box
1939
The Harlan County mine strike photographs (dated 1939; 0.25 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of twenty-two black and white silver prints of Kentucky National Guardsmen and Harlan County mine workers during the Harlan County mine strike in 1939.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Historical note
In 1939, a general strike was in effect in Harlan County, Kentucky, and all mining operations among the numerous coal companies were shut down. On May 15th, 1939, some 900 Kentucky National Guard, under the command of General Ellerbe Carter, was ordered by Governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler to Harlan to intervene between striking miners and mine operators. The National Guard contingent was viewed by some as a peace-keeping force and by others as a move to break the strike. The National Guard remained in the county for nine months.
Preferred Citation
81pa109: [identification of item], Harlan County mine strike photographs, 1939, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Scope and Contents
The Harlan County mine strike photographs (dated 1939; 0.25 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of twenty-two black and white silver prints of Kentucky National Guardsmen and Harlan County mine workers during the Harlan County mine strike in 1939.
Conditions Governing Use
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Coal mines and mining -- Kentucky
Coal miners -- Kentucky -- Harlan County
Harlan County (Ky.) -- History
Labor unions -- Kentucky.
Strikes and lockouts -- Coal mining -- Kentucky -- Harlan County.
Three National Guardsmen at a table19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print11Nine miners sitting in a coal mine19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print12National Guardsmen on a hillside, overlooking a road19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print13National Guardsmen around an outdoor fire19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print14Strings of empty coal cars on railroad tracks19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print15A crowd of miners lined up to pick up lunch19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print16Miners on a mining cart leaving a mine entrance19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print17A crowd of men and women walking on a road with cars parked at the side19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print18Miners leaving a mine entrance in a cart with police watching19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print19National Guardsmen watching a crowd of miners blocking a road19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print110A crowd of miners blocking a road19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print111A crowd of miners confronting soldiers19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print112National Guardsmen dismounting from trucks at an assembly point19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print113Troops confronting miners on a railroad track19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print114A National Guardsmen talking with an elderly man19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print115A crowd of miners in the bed of a truck, under guard19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print116A line of miners with troops leading them19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print117A grinning miner surrounded by National Guardsmen19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print118An officer reading some document to three men19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print119National Guardsmen and civilians talking19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print120Two women with an injured man19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print121National Guardsmen at a trestle19398 x 10 Black and White Silver Print122