The Redneck Army planned to free their compatriots from jail, help win the Mingo strike, and unionize the southern counties. First, they would have to go through Logan County where Sheriff Don Chafin, whose salary was paid by coal operators, had assembled an army of three thousand deputies and mine guards. Chafin’s “Logan Defenders,” armed with machine guns, took defensive positions along Blair Mountain’s 15-mile ridgeline.
Today, Tuesday, March 15 is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Frank Keeney, legendary West Virginia labor leader and United Mine Workers of America District 17 president from 1916-1924. While his name may not be well known outside West Virginia, his leadership and determination helped to improve the lives of working people across the nation…
We are looking for a visual artist to design and create a collaborative, community-based mural inside the stairwell of the Nenni Building! More details on the project and how to apply are found here.
“The Museum touches every corner of my heart. It honors my coal-mining family and celebrates the sacrifices they made to bring a union to eastern Kentucky. It has preserved, shared, and celebrated a history too long concealed—a history of my people and my place told with integrity in the most respectful and honest way possible.”
We—museums, descendants of the RedNeck Army, labor activists, musicians, teachers, history buffs, and more—gathered in early September to host and attend a slate of events across Central Appalachia, and online. We’re excited to bring it to YOU with a short film that recaps just a few of the #Blair100 Centennial events.
On June 12, UMWA Local 1440 named the building at 401 Mate Street, where the museum is located, the Cecil E. Roberts Building in honor of the president of the United Mine Workers of America for his many years of service in the American labor movement, and especially his efforts to help Local 1440 secure their pensions and healthcare.
Our community-based, people's history museum is able to thrive thanks to the generous support of our amazing donors and members. For a limited time, when you donate $250 or more you can hang a piece of history in your home and join the Museum for a special donor reception on June 11!
