Interview with Reba Jeanette Bentley, Kole Bentley, May 16, 2015

Interview Summary

Reba Bentley talks about growing up in the Burdine section of Jenkins, and is very descriptive about everyday life. She talks about her chores, including gardening, canning, tending to the livestock, and laundry. She describes outhouses, schools, stores, garbage disposal, shopping, and recreation for children. She talks about changes that have occurred in the community. She discusses various districts of Jenkins, including Burdine, East Jenkins, and Lakeside. She talks about the future of the community, and discusses the Ladies' Auxiliary.

Reba's grandson Kole Bentley talks about the mining industry and the changes that have occurred. He gives descriptions of mining equipment.

Interview Keyword

African Americans Burdine Section Canning and preserving Changes Chores East Jenkins Future Garbage disposal Gardening Ladies Auxiliary Lakeside Section Livestock Mining equipment Outhouses Recreation Schools Shopping Stores No. 2 Bottom (Ky.) Mining technology Housing amenities Jenkins School Jenkins Independent Schools Childhood play Gender roles Historical sites Ladies auxiliaries

Interview LC Subject

Coal mines and mining--Kentucky Jenkins (Ky.) Burdine (Ky.) Letcher County (Ky.) Gardening Livestock Homemakers Coal miners--Kentucky--Jenkins Coal miners--Kentucky--Burdine Canning and preserving Waste disposal African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions Segregation in education--Kentucky Consolidation Coal Company Company stores Shopping Bethlehem Steel Corporation Coal miners and mining--Technological innovations

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.