Interview with Bessie Funich, Tony Funich, July 21, 1986

Interview Summary

Tony Funich, a Yugoslavian immigrant, describes in detail his life in the United States. Funich immigrated alone in 1912 when he was sixteen years old. He worked his way to the United States on a Warline Company steamship, spending three years bringing coal to the ship's firemen. The outbreak of World War One ended his work at Warline. In an effort to find work, he went to Philadelphia where he worked at various low-paying jobs until he heard immigrants talking about mining coal in Lynch, Kentucky. After working with coal on the steamships, he knew he could use a pick and shovel, so he moved to Lynch in 1921 and entered the mines as a hand-loader. He worked in the mines until his retirement in 1958. After his retirement, he was evicted from his company-owned home to make room for a new employee.

Other topics Funich discusses include discrimination against immigrant miners, black lung, and his vision of the American dream. He views the United States as an opportunity for him to work hard. Although he has tried to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, he repeatedly has been denied because his personal records were lost.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian Immigrant Community Appalachian Region Austria black lung coal loading Cumberland Kentucky discrimination Immigrant Coal Miners Immigrants Lynch Kentucky naturalization Philadelphia Pennsylvania steamships United Mine Workers of America United States Fruit Company Warline Company work ethic Yugoslavia

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Appalachian Region--Social conditions Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Funich, Bessie Funich, Bessie--Interviews Funich, Tony Funich, Tony--Interviews Immigrants

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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.