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265. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 3 of 3

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJen.AudioInt.003.6.14.18
Title:
Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 3 of 3
Date:
2018-06-14
Creator:
Iskow, Jen, Morris, John D.
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Old-time music, Clay County (W. Va.), Apprenticeship programs, Folk music--West Virginia, Fiddle tunes, Fiddling
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.)
["John D. Morris of Ivydale led an apprenticeship in old-time fiddle and stories of Clay County with Jen Iskow of Thomas as part of the 2018 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. John D. MorrisBorn in Ivydale, Clay County, into a family steeped in traditional music, David and John Morris learned from family and neighbors, including banjo player Jenes Cottrell and fiddler French Carpenter. After David returned from Vietnam in 1968, the brothers began organizing musical get-togethers and, in 1969, held the first Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival that same year. The festival became a major traditional music event in Clay County and filmmaker Bob Gates documented the 1972 festival in his film The Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival.Members of The Morris Brothers band included Pocahontas County old-time banjo player Dwight Diller and the late North Carolina harmonica player John Martin. Playing a mix of old-time, bluegrass, and country styles, including some of Davids original music, the group played together through the mid-70s, releasing an LP in the late 60s, Music As We Learned It, and two live shows on eight-track tapes. John, a traditional fiddler, and David, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, were involved in union and environmental activities from the late 1960s through the 1970s. They were also instrumental in establishing the first Vandalia Gathering at the Cultural Center in 1977.The Morris Brothers music was featured in Barbara Kopples 1976 film Harlan County, USA. David, who passed away in 2016, contributed music to Kopples 2015 film about Vietnam vets, Shelter.John lives in Ivydale and plays fiddle at music events across West Virginia. He is a rich source of information about the history of old-time music in central West Virginia, and one of the few native fiddlers of his generation to continue the older style of playing.Morris was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the nations highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, in 2020.Jen IskowJen Iskow is an artist, designer, musician, and community organizer based in Thomas, West Virginia. Born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, Jen grew up learning to play blues and punk music. It wasnt until she moved to Morgantown in 2009 for college that she was introduced to old-time music at the weekly Brew Pub jam hosted by Stewed Mulligan. After graduating from West Virginia University, she finally settled in Elkins, West Virginia and accepted a position as the Marketing Coordinator for the Augusta Heritage Center. Suddenly being surrounded by so many talented traditional artists, Jen was immersed into the music and inspired to learn to play fiddle. After studying under talented fiddlers such as Scott Prouty, Erynn Marshall, Jesse Wells, Ben Townsend, John Harrod, and more, Jen met John Morris at his house in Ivydale, and the rest is historySee our feature on Morris apprenticeship with Iskow here: https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

266. Transcript of oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJen.IntTranscript.6.14.18
Title:
Transcript of oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow
Date:
2018-06-14
Creator:
Morris, John D., Iskow, Jen
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Apprenticeship programs, Folk music--West Virginia, Fiddle tunes, Fiddling, Clay County (W. Va.), Old-time music
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.)

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267. John D. Morris and Jen Iskow play fiddle tunes including "16 Days in Georgia"

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJen.Music.6.14.18
Title:
John D. Morris and Jen Iskow play fiddle tunes including "16 Days in Georgia"
Date:
2018-06-14
Creator:
Iskow, Jen, Morris, John D.
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Apprenticeship programs, Folk music--West Virginia, Fiddling, Old-time music, Fiddle tunes, Clay County (W. Va.)
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.)

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268. Oral history of Angelita "Angy" Nixon and Christine Weirick

Identifier:
4224.NixonAngyWeirickChristine.AudioInt.11.9.20
Title:
Oral history of Angelita "Angy" Nixon and Christine Weirick
Date:
2020-11-09
Creator:
Weirick, Christine, Nixon, Angelita
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Women midwives, Prenatal care, Apprenticeship programs, Midwifery, COVID-19 (Disease), Childbirth at home, Midwives--Legal status, laws, etc., Midwives
Location:
Fayetteville (W. Va.), Scott Depot (W. Va.), Fayette County (W. Va.), Putnam County (W. Va.)

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269. Oral history of Jay O'Neal

Identifier:
4224.ONealJay.AudioInt.3.21.19
Title:
Oral history of Jay O'Neal
Date:
2019-03-21
Creator:
O'Neal, Jay
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Strikes and lockouts--Teachers, Labor union members, Charleston (W. Va.)
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["Jay ONeal (b. Amarillo, TX) is a Charleston resident, history teacher at Stonewall Jackson Middle School, and one of the central organizers of the West Virginia Teacher Strike. He speaks about his role in the strike and the context of it within a broader labor movement."]%

270. Transcript of oral history of Jay O'Neal

Identifier:
4224.ONealJay.IntTranscript.3.20.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Jay O'Neal
Date:
2019-03-20
Creator:
O'Neal, Jay
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Labor union members, Charleston (W. Va.), Strikes and lockouts--Teachers
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

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271. Oral history of Aaron Parsons

Identifier:
4224.ParsonsAaron.AudioInt.11.9.16
Title:
Oral history of Aaron Parsons
Date:
2016-11-09
Creator:
Parsons, Aaron
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Turkey hunting, Turkey calls, Turkey hunting--Equipment and supplies, Hides and skins
Location:
Jackson County (W. Va.), Ravenswood (W. Va.)
["Aaron Parsons, 20 years old at the time of this interview, is a native of Jackson County, WV. He makes turkey calls with materials (slate, native woods, bone, etc.) found on his familys land in Jackson County. He is also a hunter, trapper, fisher, and hide tanner. I met Aaron Parsons at the Community Interest Fair at Gilmore Elementary School in Sandyville, WV, back in the spring of 2016."]%

272. Transcript of oral history of Aaron Parsons

Identifier:
4224.ParsonsAaron.IntTranscript.11.9.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Aaron Parsons
Date:
2016-11-09
Creator:
Parsons, Aaron
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Hides and skins, Turning (Lathe work), Turkey hunting--Equipment and supplies, Turkey calls, Turkey hunting
Location:
Jackson County (W. Va.), Ravenswood (W. Va.)
["Levi Phillips, 68 at the time of the interview, is a former basketball player from Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in public housing in the Triangle District neighborhood and currently lives on Charlestons West Side. Levi was on the first all-Black integrated basketball team at West Virginia University, and played professional basketball with the Baltimore Bullets and the Philadelphia 76ers (his teammates were Wes Unseld and Julius Erving).Justin Phillips, 39, is Levis son, who was also a high school basketball player in West Virginia. He owns Fun Fitness and lives in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston, WV. Justins son was a high school state champion West Virginia basketball player like his grandfather.Levi and Justin Phillips were interviewed by producer Aaron Henkin with Emily Hilliard as part of the Out of the Blocks podcasts two episodes on Charlestons West Side. Learn more: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/01/17/out-of-the-blocks-podcast-highlights-charlestons-west-side-west-virginia-folklife-hosts-listening-party-february-12/Learn more about Levi Phillips career at WVU:https://wvusports.com/news/2020/12/1/mens-basketball-phillips-basket-a-part-of-wvu-coliseums-golden-history.aspxhttps://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/levi-phillips/12290"]%

273. Transcript of oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips

Identifier:
4224.PhillipsJustinPhillipsLevi.IntTranscript.11.22.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips
Date:
2019-11-22
Creator:
Phillips, Justin, Phillips, Levi
Contributor:
Henkin, Aaron, Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African American basketball players, Charleston (W. Va.), African Americans--Appalachian Region, Basketball, School integration, Urban renewal, Interracial friendship
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

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274. Oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips

Identifier:
4224.PhillipsLeviPhillipsJustin.AudioInt.11.22.19
Title:
Oral history of Levi Phillips and Justin Phillips
Date:
2019-11-22
Creator:
Phillips, Justin, Phillips, Levi
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily, Henkin, Aaron
Subject:
Charleston (W. Va.), Basketball, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Urban renewal, Interracial friendship, School integration, African American basketball players
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

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275. Oral history of Elaine Purkey, 1 of 2

Identifier:
4224.PurkeyElaine.AudioInt.001.10.27.16
Title:
Oral history of Elaine Purkey, 1 of 2
Date:
2016-10-27
Creator:
Purkey, Elaine
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily, Wilson, Rick
Subject:
Working class--Songs and music, Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--West Virginia, Purkey, Elaine, Country music, Folk music--West Virginia, Coal mines and mining
Location:
Harts (W. Va.), Lincoln County (W. Va.)

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276. Oral history of Elaine Purkey, 2 of 2

Identifier:
4224.PurkeyElaine.AudioInt.002.10.27.16
Title:
Oral history of Elaine Purkey, 2 of 2
Date:
2016-10-27
Creator:
Purkey, Elaine
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily, Wilson, Rick
Subject:
Purkey, Elaine, Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--West Virginia, Country music, Folk music--West Virginia, Coal mines and mining, Working class--Songs and music
Location:
Lincoln County (W. Va.), Harts (W. Va.)