The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum team is thrilled to welcome aboard our new Museum Director, Mackenzie New. We're sure we've found the perfect person for this job. Below is a letter from Mackenzie to our museum members and friends.
Dear Museum Members and Friends,
My name is Mackenzie New, and I am absolutely delighted to finally announce my position as the new director at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum!
West Virginia is my home; I was born and raised right here in the southern coalfields. West Virginia and its people have given so much to me already – the value of hard work, regional pride, pure grit, and much more! Working with the WV Mine Wars Museum, the Board, and Museum Members will grant me an opportunity to give back to the region.
There are a few things you might want to know about me. First, I am a recent graduate of Marshall University, where I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in history and political science. I am also an avid lover of cats. For reference, see below a picture of me and my cat, Ralphy Dale.
In addition, I am the great-great-great-great granddaughter of the legendary Devil Anse Hatfield, a title that descends through Johnse Hatfield. My great grandpa, Forrest New, was a Union miner during the Mine Wars. My dad often tells stories about him. Due to the secrecy of the Union activities, there is little known about his involvement. He would always say “we’d crawl on our bellies to get ‘em back,” when speaking about the iron hand of the coal companies.
I grew up listening to tales of how my grandparents and great-grandparents struggled to merely get by in these coalfields. In many ways, the struggle still remains today. Keeping history alive in our region is more important than ever. For many reasons, our ancestors couldn’t tell their own story, so it’s up to us. I hope that you’ll join me in recovering, retelling, and reclaiming a history that’s been buried for far too long.
— Mackenzie
