We are thrilled to introduce the Fred Barkey Education Fund, a new permanent initiative in partnership with the West Virginia Labor History Association. This fund is dedicated to advancing labor history education throughout the Mountain State, honoring the remarkable legacy of Dr. Fred Barkey.
Honoring Dr. Fred Barkey
Dr. Frederick "Fred" Allan Barkey (1933-2022) was a renowned historian and educator committed to preserving West Virginia’s labor history. His work highlighted the lives of working-class and immigrant families, covering topics from organizers in Wheeling to coal miners in the southern coalfields. Dr. Barkey was more than a scholar; he was a mentor and a storyteller who brought history to life.
Gordon Simmons, President of WVLHA and long-time mentee of Barkey, shared:
"He was without question the foremost teacher and mentor to West Virginia's students, teachers, writers, researchers, and activists in the field of labor history."
What Your Donation Supports
By contributing to the Fred Barkey Education Fund, you're directly supporting initiatives that empower our community and preserve our shared history:
Teaching Trunks: Providing free, hands-on educational materials to classrooms, highlighting stories of class solidarity, including those of immigrants, women, and African Americans.
Support for Educators: Offering honoraria to teachers on our Education Advisory Panel, recognizing their efforts to promote labor history in schools.
Camp Solidarity: Sustaining our bi-annual labor conference to empower the modern labor movement.
Classroom Libraries: Supplying books and reading guides on labor history, featuring classics like Storming Heaven and Thunder in the Mountains.
Curriculum Development: Creating union history lessons to reclaim the narratives of the labor movement.
Community Engagement: Bringing Mine Wars history to classrooms and libraries through interactive presentations and discussions.
Sorted items from the Barkey Collection in the Museum Archive
Our Goal: $20,000 by December 6
🎯 Will you help us reach this goal? 🎯
With a small staff and a shoestring budget, we're making a significant impact by sharing this vital history with thousands across the country. Your support is crucial to keep this momentum going.
Suggested Donation Levels
Every contribution makes a meaningful impact:
$30 – Purchases a book for our classroom libraries.
$50 – Provides a classroom pack of red bandanas, a meaningful symbol of solidarity.
$75 – Covers the shipping of a teaching trunk to a school.
$250 – Sponsors a classroom field trip to the Museum, offering students an immersive experience of labor history.
$1,000 – Funds an annual honorarium for a teacher on our Education Advisory Panel.
How to Donate
The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Online: wvminewars.org/barkeyfund
Phone: Call 304-691-0014
Mail: Send a check to P.O. Box 764, Matewan, WV
Join Us in Keeping Labor History Alive
Your support keeps Dr. Barkey’s legacy alive and provides vital resources to educate and inspire future generations. Together, we can ensure that the lessons of the West Virginia Mine Wars continue to empower workers and communities.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to preserving our shared history. We wish you and your loved ones a safe, cozy, and blessed end to the year.
For more information, email us at info@wvminewars.org or call 304-691-0014.
