Wheelwright Collection
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wheelwright Collection
- Date
- 1916-1979 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 185 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Coal miners -- Housing -- Kentucky.
- Coal mines and mining -- Appalachian Region -- History.
- Company towns -- Kentucky -- Wheelwright.
- Community development -- Kentucky -- Wheelwright.
- Coal mines and mining -- Kentucky -- Wheelwright
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], Wheelwright Collection, 1916-1979, 88M6, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Wheelwright, located in eastern Kentucky's Floyd County, is a town created by the coal industry. According to Stephen King's historical account, Wheelwright began to take shape in l9ll, the same year the railroad line into town was completed.[1] Elk Horn Coal Corporation developed Wheelwright as a coal camp, just as it had nearby Weeksbury several years earlier. Incorporated in l9l7, the town was named after the president of Consolidation Coal Company, Jere Hungerford Wheelwright; Elk Horn leased its properties from Consolidation.
- In l930, Inland Steel purchased the Wheelwright coal camp because the nearby seams were rich with metallurgical coal. The company immediately began development of its captive mines and town and retained E.R. "Jack" Price as manager of coal properties. Price believed, like other welfare capitalists, that it was a good investment to be interested in community welfare and improvement as well as mine safety and efficiency. Under Price's direction, Inland modernized Wheelwright's coal operations and properties. In fact, many referred to Wheelwright as "the town that Jack built." Indeed, Wheelwright grew and prospered, boasting such services as a hotel, library, hospital, golf course, movie theatre, bowling alley and department store. By the mid 60s, however, conditions were deteriorating in Wheelwright--some believe because many of the long-time company men, like Price, retired in the 50s. But the decline was probably due more to the changing coal business, especially in metallurgical markets, and the fact that Inland no longer considered Wheelwright a good investment.
- Inland Steel sold the "model" town and its mines in January l966 to Island Creek Coal. Within eleven months Island Creek, keeping the mines, sold the town properties to Mountain Investment Company. Gordon Brown, president of the company planned on renting and selling the houses to residents. Brown`s unwillingness to even maintain much less improve the buildings and grounds further added to Wheelwright's physical decline. He also refused to cooperate with Wheelwright's governing Board of Trustees. The cohesiveness of Wheelwright, as a community, was severely tested during those years. In addition, by the early l970s Island Creek shut down its mining operations, leaving Wheelwright with a severe employment crisis.
- -------------------- 1. See his Wheelwright, Kentucky: Community in Transition, 1982, pp. 19-21.
- Scope and Content
- This collection contains records from three of the companies that owned Wheelwright: Inland Steel, Island Creek, and Mountain Investment.
- The Inland Steel section contains little about the mining operations but is rich in details about the town itself. House and building improvements and maintenance records, monthly and annual reports on the properties and general office files covering topics from "Air conditioners" to "Woman's Club", create a vivid picture of company town life--from the company's perspective. Unfortunately, these records are incomplete, covering primarily the l950s and early l960s.
- Two other important groups of records document the history of Wheelwright residents during Inland's ownership. Medical records, covering the l930s-l960s contain daily and yearly medical reports made by company doctors, accident reports, individual doctor's files, and employee's files. (These records are restricted; see "Access Restrictions" for more information.) Employee retirement files, while limited to those retiring in the l960s, are often revealing of the company's attitudes towards the miners and offer glimpses into individual work histories.
- The Island Creek records are primarily those of the coal operations, containing daily time reports, records of employee earnings, mine reports, and office files.
- The Mountain Investment Company section thoroughly records that company's ownership of Wheelwright from l966 until l979 when it sold the town to the Kentucky Housing Corporation, a state agency. The documentation includes utility files--from meter readings to financial records; accounts payable; an extensive house and building file containing everything from maintenance to payment records; and office files.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- All medical records, which includes Boxes 5l-84, are restricted through the year 2038 as follows:
- l) Materials are accessible only with the permission of the appropriate curator or archivist.
- 2) Researchers must complete a manuscript restrictions form before access will be granted.
- 3) The identification of any names of patients or their place of residence in any manner is prohibited.
- 4) Materials may not be photocopied, microfilmed, or reproduced in any manner.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky
Contents of the Collection
INLAND STEEL COMPANY, 1928-1966
ADMINISTRATIVE FILES
Accounts Receivable
1954
1955
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1956
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1957
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1958
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1959 [March-August missing]
1960
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1961
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1962
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1963
1964
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1965
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Accounts Paid
Evans Elkhorn Coal Company 1964
Allen Brothers Bus Company
Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Company
Banks-Miller Supply Company (January-May)
Banks-Miller Supply Company (June-September)
Banks-Miller Supply Company (October-December)
Bearings, Inc.
Beaver-Elkhorn Water District
Beaver Valley Lumber Company
Bennett Brothers, Inc.
Big Sandy Electric & Supply Company
Big Sandy-Elkhorn Coal Mining Institute
Big Sandy-Elkhorn Coal Operators Association
Big Sandy Insurance Agency
Big Sandy Motor Company
Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation
Cincinnati Mine Machinery Company
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Collins Furniture & Hardware Company
C. Kilmer Combs Law Offices
Combs and Combs Law Offices
Combs Motor Freight, Inc.
Combs Standard Station
Commercial Testing & Engineering Company
Dixon Distributing Company
Dues and Subscriptions
East Kentucky Auto Parts, Inc.
East Kentucky Beverage Company
East Kentucky Machine & Electric Company
Elk Horn Coal Corporation
B. K. Elliott Company
Fairmont Supply Company
Frank J. Forsyth (Engineer)
Fraley-Dearing Motor Sales
Fraser Label Company
Galis Manufacturing Company
General Machine, Inc.
Guyan Machinery Company, Inc.
Edward F. Hagan (Labor Consultant)
H. T. Hall Company, Inc.
Harmon Electronics Company
Hewitt-Robins
Hogan Storage & Transfer Company
Home Office Supply Company
International Business Machines Corporation
Insurance (Aetna Life Insurance Company)
Insurance (Connecticut General Life Insurance Company)
Jeffrey Manufacturing Company
Joy Manufacturing Company
Kentucky Power Company
Kersey Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Link-Belt Company
Long-Airdox Company
McJunkin Corporation
McNally Pittsburg Manufacturing Corporation
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mansbach Steel Company
Martin Supply Company
R. V. May Company
Mine Safety Appliances Company
Mine Service Company
Moore's Hardware Company
Mountain Printing Company
National Mine Service Company
Old Republic Insurance Company
Payroll Collections
Peerless Auto Supply Company
Persinger Supply Company
Point Express Inc.
Porter Electric Company
Pratt's Machine Shop
Radio Corporation of America
C. "Ollie" Robinson
Service Station Supply Company
Helton Slone
Standard Oil Company
Standard Overall Service Company
Standard Printing and Publishing Company
Sterling Hardware Company
Taxes
Technical Reproduction and Supply Corporation
Terry Office Supply
Thermo-Fax Sales Incorporated
Tramble Turner
Tri-State Office Equipment Company
W. S. Tyler Company
United Utilities of Kentucky, Inc.
Valley View Coal Company, Inc.
Warner Laboratories, Inc.
Wayland Shopping Center
Whayne Supply Company
N. M. White, Jr. Distributor
Williamson Oil Company
Miscellaneous
Court Records
Affidavit with Bond for an Attachment Before Judgment, November 1958-July 1960
Civil Summons with Garnishee, March 1959-May 1960
Kentucky State Police Training Materials
Payroll Accounts (Uncollectible)
Wheelwright News
Court Book, October 1928-September 1940
Court Book, January 1949-February 1957
Court Book, N.d
Mining Records
Statistics
General
Man Hours Lost/Accidents
Federal Bureau of Mines
Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals [License Applications]
Big Sandy-Elkhorn Coal Mining Institute
Tax Records
Scope and Contents note
These boxes contain assessments of tenants' tangible properties for the purpose of collecting city taxes.
Assessments 1953
Check # 81-3775
81-699
700-899
900-1050
1051-1200
1201-1400
1401-1810
3476-3702
3703-3775
Management and no check #
Assessments 1958
Bailey-Butler
Cactus-Curry
Dale-[Dusina?]
Elder-Engh
Faine-Fuller
Gamet-Gullet
Hale-Hughes
Ison
Jackson-Jones
[Kocibar?]-King
Lawson-Lussier
McCarty-Mcnale
Mace-Mullins
Napier-Newsome
OBroff-Owens
Pack-Preston
Quillen
Rainey-Rossi
Salyers-Stith
Tufts
Wallen-Woody
Assessments 1960
Adams-Autore
Bailey-Butler
Cactus-Curry
Daniel-[Dusina?]
Elder-England
Faine-Fuller
Gibson-Gunter
Hall-Hushes
Ison-Issacs
Jackson-Justice
Keene-[Koy?]
Leatherman-Lowe
McCary-McNeil
May-Mullins
Napier-[Noyes?]
OBroff-Owens
Parker-Preston
Quillen
Rainey-Rupe
Sabo-Sykes
Tackett-Tyson
[Vitatoe-Vieah?]
Wakeland-[Wyskuir?]
Young
Zimmerman
EMPLOYEE RECORDS
Mining
Accounting Sheets, 1943
Accounting Sheets, 1965-1966
Bituminous Coal Operators Association-Annual Earnings and Vacation Payments Statistics
Daily Time Reports
Excused Absences from Work
Insurance (Liability), 1956-1963
Insurance (Life), 1950-1953
Insurance (Non-contributory), 1950-1965
Junior Employees
Minors-Release Forms
Payroll Terminations
Rate Schedules/Job Classifications
Requests for Re-employment, 1953-1955
Sick Leave
Supervisors
Unemployment Panel
Union Material
Workmen's Compensation, 1942-1945
Workmen's Compensation, 1951-1956
Retirement Files
Autore, Daniel
Bakay, Mike
Ballew, Samiuel A.
Bartley, Levi
Bates, Tilden
Beverly, Newton
Blackburn, D. Earl
Blackburn, Floyd
Blevins, Jim
Bradford, Eddie
Branham, Ben
Branham, Ira
Branham, Willie
Brummett, Claude R.
Bryant, Milford
Burchett, John N.
Burke, Silas
Burke, Wiley
Camp, Jim
Cantrill, Dewey
Cantrill, Georgia A.
Chafin, Rolla M.
Chandler, James
Charles, Thomas
Clair, William Leander
Colvin, Bradie
Conley, Roy
Cooper, Wales
Cox, Floyd F.
Crisp, Albertie C.
Crisp, Seaton
Dale, Earl
Dameron, Frank
Daniel, Donald H.
Daniel, Earnest
Daniels, Guy E.
Davis, Reggie
Deal, Kenneth B.
Deshotel, Sheldon
Dickerson, C. Clayton
Dickerson, Ruby Y.
Dingus, Rynolds J.
Dobbs, Homer
Elkins, M. C.
Engle, Leonard
Fain, Harry
Fannin, Otto
Ferguson, Howard
Ferrell, E. S.
Fields, James Burl
Fields, Robert
Fleming, Roley
Fuller, James R.
Gibson, Hagar
Gibson, William
Hall, Alex
Hall, Andy
Hall, Charles
Hall, Clinnie
Hall, Dennis
Hall, Ermine
Hall, Horner
Hall, Jimmie
Hall, Milton
Hall, Mitchell
Hall, Scott
Hall, Troy
Hall, Vernon
Hall, William R.
Harris, George
Hatfield, Enoch H.
Hayes, Claude
Henley, Clarence
Holbrook, Howard
Holbrook, William B.
Isaac, Howell
Johnson, Curtis
Johnson, Green
Johnson, Wilford
Justice, Samuel
Keaton, Raymond
Kendrick, Robert
King, Walter S.
Langley, Raymond
Lay, Nathan D.
Little, Amil
Little, Estill
Little, John E.
Little, Leonard
Little, Oscar
Linkous, Paul
Lowe, James
Lucas, Hansel
Lyons, Florida
McCary, Willie
McKinney, Charles
Maness, Claude
Martin, Canton
Martin, John
Miller, John T.
Minnick, Paul
Mitchell, Clyde
Moore, Archie C.
Moore, Hasadore D.
Moore, Jack
Moore, Kenneth E.
Moore, Matthew
Mullins, Crockett
Mullen, Hugh
Napier, Zander
Newman, Charlie
Newman, Wayne
Osborne, Dewey
Osborne, Will R.
Osborne, Willard
Osborne, William
Osborne, Willie E.
Pack, Willie A.
Dayton, Otto
Pennington, Frank
Pennington, Johny
Potter, Charlie
Powell, Williams
Preston, Cecil
Preston, Paul B.
Price, Tom
Raines, Cecil
Rainey, Willie
Ray, Rufus
Ricker, James H.
Roberts, Raymond
Robertson, James H.
Robinson, Joseph
Rollins, Mack
Rowe, Landon
Roy, Alton L.
Sabo, Alex
Salisbury, Frank
Sexton, Bruce
Sexton, Claude
Sexton, Gladys B.
Shumate, Wesley
Slone, Edward
Slone, Joe
Slone, Mitchell J.
Smith, A. V.
Smith, Bill
Smith, Hobert B.
Sowards, Johnnie
Spence, Willard
Stegall, Johnnie
Sword, Alton
Sword, Jim Bob
Tackett, Benny F.
Tackett, Big Wick
Tackett, Curtis
Tackett, Hatler
Tackett, John Oscar
Tackitt, Eligah
Terry, E. H.
Thomas, G. Hunter
Thomas, Roy
Thompson, Benny
Thompson, George
Tipton, Carson L.
Tufts, William S.
Vance, Duffy
Waddles, Greeley
Waddles, Leeman
Walker, Furman
Walker, Willie
Ward, Ervin
Ward, Bennie
Ward, Will
Waugh, Bill
Webb, Alfred
West, Norman
Williams, Henry S.
Williamson, [?]
Wilson, Darwin
Wnek, Joseph
Woods, George St.
Woody, Walter A.
Wyskivel, Julia H.
Young, Hershell
Miscellaneous
Buildings and Grounds
Applications and Letters Requesting Employment
Benefit Association
Charity Contributions
Contract Work
Daily Time Reports
Discipline Notices
Notices
Overtime
Payroll Account (Miscellaneous Jobs)
Payroll Terminations
Policy
Sick Leave
Time Distribution of Foremen
Wage Scale
Work Forces of Foremen
Miscellaneous
MEDICAL RECORDS
Scope and Contents note
Boxes 51-84 are restricted and are accessible only with the permission of the appropriate curator or archivist. See "Access Restrictions" for more information.
Daily Medical Reports
1945
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1956
Yearly Medical Reports of Dr. J.W. Bailey
Surgeon's Reports
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1940
1943
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1956
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
Accident Reports
1935
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
Kahn Test Reports
Employee Medical Records
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence regarding employees' medical conditions is also located in Boxes 80-82.
A
Ba-Be
Ber-Bra
Bre-Bu
Ca-Coll
Colv-Cu
D
E-F
G
Ha-Hall
Hals-Hy
I-Joh
Jon-K
L
Mc-Me
Mi-Mu
N-O
P
R
Sa-Sm
So-Sy
T
V-Wh
Wi-Z
Dr. J.W. Bailey's Files
Correspondence
E.R. Price
Patients
1935
1936
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1955
1956
1957
Dr. J.L. Patterson's Files
Invoices
Scope and Contents note
These include dates of injuries and lost time.