Interview with Edith Shaw, April 8, 1979

Interview Summary

Edith Shaw graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and came to Leslie County in 1936 to do missionary work. She tells of holding Sunday school in a barn when she first arrived, and also mentions the log cabins she saw. Shaw describes the trip from Yeaddiss to Hyden, about eighteen miles. The small mountain farms, each with hogs, cows, chickens, and a large garden, are recalled in detail. Shaw also tells how the people spent their time and comments that some persons had books in their homes. Electricity reached her area in the early 1950s. At the time Shaw came to the area no medical facilities existed, and she discusses the establishment of the Cutshin Clinic and the Cutshin Bible Mission.

[Throughout this interview the interviewee reads from a prepared document.]

Interview Keyword

Cutshin (Ky.) Cutshin Bible Mission Cutshin Clinic Medical care--Appalachian Region Missionary work Rural health services Subsistence farming Transportation--Kentucky

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region--Church history Appalachian Region--Social conditions Appalachian Region--Social life and customs Churches--Kentucky Country life Leslie County (Ky.) Missionaries Religion Rural conditions Rural churches

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.