Interview with Robert Lee Lootens, July 22, 1986

Interview Summary

Robert Lootens talks extensively about the experiences of his father, a Belgian immigrant, in eastern Kentucky. The elder Lootens first immigrated to Canada where he worked on various farms and ranches before buying a moderately large farm in the State of Washington. Later, he sold his farm and moved to Perry County, Kentucky, where he worked in various coal mines from the 1910s to the 1930s. During the Great Depression he made homebrew that he sold to support his family until he was arrested. The elder Lootens was given probation by the judge and Lootens never made homebrew again.

Although he did not feel discriminated against, the elder Lootens was embarrassed by his inability to speak English well.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian Immigrant Community Appalachian Region Canada coal camps Coal Mining dancing gardening Great Depression hand loading homebrew Immigrant Coal Miners Immigrants Leatherwood Kentucky naturalization Perry County Kentucky Religion United Mine Workers of America Viper Kentucky wine-making

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Social conditions Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Immigrants Lootens, Robert Lee Lootens, Robert Lee--Interviews

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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