Interview with Dorothy Osborn, December 8, 2006

Interview Summary

This interview with retired person Dorothy Osborn begins with a discussion of her childhood growing up in Wayland (Ky.) in a coal mining camp. She talks about her recreational activities as a child, such as hopscotch and kick the can, as well as how her family drew water from a well and disposed of waste by burning it.
Osborn then gives suggestions for keeping the environment clean and safe, and talks about recycling old clothes to make quilts. She then talks about the sparse amenities available in her home, which did not include electricity, radio, or television. Next, Osborne talks about swimming in the nearby creek and bathing in water that she fetched by hand. She briefly talks about the family's eating habits, and then talks about the toys with which she played. Osborne then moves on to talk about the stores available in Wayland (Ky.), as well as her education in a one-room schoolhouse. Next, she discusses her adulthood, including her occupations and marriage, which produced two children. Osborne is then questioned about her family Christmases during her childhood. She also talks about her own children. The interview ends with a discussion of fishing and playing in her parents' yard.

Interview Keyword

Kentucky Women Coal mining Coal camps Wayland (Ky.)

Interview LC Subject

Environmentalism. Environmentalism--History. Environmentalism--United States. Environmentalism--United States--History. Environmentalists. Kentucky Women Coal mines and mining Wayland (Ky.)

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.