gallery view

Black Patch and Night Rider Oral History Project

Project Summary

By the beginning of the 20th century, tobacco buyers in Kentucky and Tennessee had formed the American Tobacco Company, a trust that controlled the tobacco market and forced farmers to sell their crops at extremely low prices. In order to protect their livelihood by fixing fair prices, farmers formed The Planters Protective Association. In hopes of breaking up the Association, the Tobacco Company offered the farmers who did not join better prices for their crops. This angered some members of the Association, and in an attempt to force independent farmers to join, members called "night riders" began to vandalize their crops, barns, homes, and even tobacco factories. Sometimes the night riders would also whip or even kill farmers, and eventually the Kentucky National Guard was called up to disband the night riders. This collection focuses on the conflict between tobacco buyers, independent farmers, and members of the Association. Topics include life during the early 20th century, the process of growing and harvesting tobacco, the financial hardships experienced by tobacco farmers, and the formation of the Planters Protective Association. Also discussed are the threats, vandalism, and shootings of the night riders.

Project Code

bpnr


Interviews in this Project (19 Total):

Interview Accession Number: 1990oh156_kh488
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh157_kh489
Interviewer: Claire Hodge
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh158_kh490
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh159_kh491
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh161_kh493
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh167_kh499
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh168_kh500
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh169_kh501
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh170_kh502
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh171_kh503
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh172_kh504
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh173_kh505
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh174_kh506
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh175_kh507
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh176_kh508
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh177_kh509
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh178_kh510
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1990oh160_kh492
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:
Interview Accession Number: 1991oh106_kh516
Interviewer: Christopher Waldrep
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access: