17.5 Linear Feet, Summary: 17 ft. 6 in. (14 records cartons, 15 in. each)
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown,
WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
Abstract
Oral histories and related transcripts regarding folk culture in West Virginia compiled by a Parkersburg High School teacher,
Kenneth G. Gilbert. The interviews were conducted with assistance from students in his class as part of the curriculum. The
age of the interviewees averaged from 60 years and up, so the interviews document the folk culture of West Virginia from around
the period 1920-1940. The geographic coverage includes the entire state. Subjects include food, the timber industry in the
Canaan Valley, and Ohio River culture, among others. Much of the information regards how to live off of the land, so therefore
includes information on how to create from scratch objects necessary to conduct everyday life, such as boats, caskets, dolls,
etc. The collection does not include folk music or folk tales. There are photographs of the interviewees. This information
was compiled into two books, Mountain Trace Book 1 and Mountain Trace Book 2. (This collection is currently unprocessed.)
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Kenneth G. Gilbert, Compiler, Oral Histories Regarding West Virginia
Folk Culture, A&M 4135, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
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