Interview with Francis M. Comer, September 13, 1983

Interview Summary

Mason County, Mayslick, farmer and warehouseman, educational background, history of American Tobacco Company and early warehouse business, overview of warehouse business from 1930s, how tobacco has been graded over the years, the tobacco market during World War Two, types of tobacco companies have wanted over the years, importance of tobacco to Mason County, sheeted tobacco and other forms of marketing, the warehouse season, allotment system, relationship between farmer and warehouseman, how auctioneer is connected to a warehouse, relationship between buyer and warehouseman, description of the tobacco season, part-time help, farmer's pride in his tobacco crop over the years, pinhookers, cost to the farmer for selling tobacco at the warehouse, what buyers look for when buying tobacco, future of tobacco and warehouses

Interview Keyword

Heritage farms

Interview LC Subject

Agricultural price supports--Law and legislation Agriculture--Kentucky Agriculture. American Tobacco Company Auctioneers Baling Burley tobacco Cigarettes Commerce Family farms Flood damage Tobacco farmers Tobacco industry Tobacco--Grading Tobacco--Kentucky Tobacco--Prices Warehouses World War, 1939-1945.

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Interview Usage

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