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["Nola Morgan (b. Ronceverte, WV) and Ron Shepherd (b. Parkersburg, WV) are avid marble collectors living in Jackson County, West Virginia. They are founding members or the West Virginia Marble Collectors Club and are particularly interested in machine-made marbles, once made at various factories in West Virginia, including Alley, Vitro, and the newer company Jabo, which is still in operation. As part of their collectors hobby, they have conducted digs at the site of the old Alley factory to excavate vintage marbles.In this interview they speak about their marble collecting hobby, the history of marble-making in West Virginia, the marble collecting community, and the varieties of marbles they collect. Emily Hilliard was introduced to Morgan and Shepherd by Janey Singleton of Sandyville, WV who sits in on the interview. Learn more about the West Virginia Marble Collectors Club: https://westvirginiamarblecollectorsclub.com/members/"]%

589. Marble collectors Nola Morgan and Ron Shepherd demonstrate the Ravenswood Novelty Company blue ox toy with Paul Bunyan marbles

Identifier:
4224.MorganNolaShepherdRon.Video.001.11.9.16
Title:
Marble collectors Nola Morgan and Ron Shepherd demonstrate the Ravenswood Novelty Company blue ox toy with Paul Bunyan marbles
Date:
2016-11-09
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Ravenswood (W. Va.), Collectors and collecting, Glass manufacture, Marbles (Game objects), Toys, Toy industry--United States
Location:
Jackson County (W. Va.)

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590. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 1 of 3

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJen.AudioInt.001.6.14.18
Title:
Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 1 of 3
Date:
2018-06-14
Creator:
Morris, John D., Iskow, Jen
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Clay County (W. Va.), Apprenticeship programs, Fiddling, Fiddle tunes, Old-time music, Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.)

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591. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 2 of 3

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJen.AudioInt.002.6.14.18
Title:
Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 2 of 3
Date:
2018-06-14
Creator:
Morris, John D., Iskow, Jen
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Apprenticeship programs, Fiddle tunes, Clay County (W. Va.), Old-time music, Fiddling, Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.)

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592. 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/"]%

593. 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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594. 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.)
["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/"]%

595. Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJenn.ArtistProfile.6.16.18
Title:
Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow
Date:
2018-06-16
Creator:
Iskow, Jen, Morris, John D.
Subject:
Clay County (W. Va.), Fiddle tunes, Apprenticeship programs, Old-time music, Fiddling, Banjo, Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Tucker County (W. Va.), Clay County (W. Va.)
["Angelita Nixon of Scott Depot in Putnam County is leading a 2020-2021 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship in home birth midwifery with Christine Weirick of Fayetteville. Nixon has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife since 2003 and has been a part of over 400 deliveries and taught multiple students the trade.Learn more about Nixon and Weiricks apprenticeship here: https://wvfolklife.org/2021/07/20/2021-folklife-apprenticeship-feature-angy-nixon-and-christine-weirick-home-birth-midwifery/The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers up to a $3,000 stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions.The apprenticeship program grants are administered by the West Virginia Folklife Program at the West Virginia Humanities Council in Charleston and are supported in part by an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. West Virginia Folklife is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, presentation, and support of West Virginias vibrant cultural heritage and living traditions."]%

596. Artist profile of Angelita "Angy" Nixon

Identifier:
4224.NixonAngy.ArtistProfile.7.15.21
Title:
Artist profile of Angelita "Angy" Nixon
Date:
2021-07-15
Creator:
Nixon, Angelita
Subject:
Midwives, Prenatal care, Childbirth at home, Midwives--Legal status, laws, etc., Midwifery, Apprenticeship programs, Women midwives
Location:
Putnam County (W. Va.), Scott Depot (W. Va.)

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597. 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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598. 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."]%

599. 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.)
["Doris Fields aka Lady D of Beckley led an apprenticeship in blues and Black gospel with Xavier Oglesby of Beckley as part of the 2018 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Xavier OglesbyBeckley, WVXavier Oglesby, a Beckley native, was raised in the black Pentecostal church, learning gospel music from his family. From 1997 to 2003, he hosted 545 Live, a gospel music radio show on Beckleys WJLS in Beckley. From 1997 to 2002 he was an actor and singer at Theatre West Virginia. He recently narrated voice-overs for the National Park Service New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. He currently works as a corrections officer.See our feature on Fields apprenticeship with Oglesby here: https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/"]%

600. Artist profile of Xavier Oglesby

Identifier:
4224.OglesbyXavier.ArtistProfile.6.19.18
Title:
Artist profile of Xavier Oglesby
Date:
2018-06-19
Creator:
Oglesby, Xavier
Subject:
Gospel music, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Rhythm and blues music, Apprenticeship programs, Soul music
Location:
Beckley (W. Va.), Raleigh County (W. Va.)