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Matewan Trial Transcript

 Collection
Collection Number: A&M 3608

Overview

Incomplete court reporter's transcript of the Matewan Trial. This document records testimony bearing upon the event known as the "Matewan Massacre" that occurred on May 19, 1920 on the streets of Matewan, Mingo County. This brief but deadly encounter between local authorities and Baldwin-Felts detectives triggered a chain of events that led to an armed conflict between mine owners and their workers, resulting in the largest armed insurrection in post bellum American history. The transcript contains approximately 2000 pages documenting the trial's proceedings from its commencement on February 12, 1921 to February 23, 1921. It includes testimony of more than thirty participants and witnesses ranging from Baldwin-Felts survivors to a pair of Matewan telephone operators; it does not include examinations of Sid Hatfield or C.E. Lively which apparently transpired at later sessions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1921

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (5 in. (1 flat storage box))

Physical Location

West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/

Related Materials

This collection (A&M 3608) contains a partial copy of the Matewan Trial transcript.

See also:
A&M 4388, William Archer Papers, Box 8, Folders 1-7, Matewan Trial Transcript
Pages 1 to 11, list of witnesses, in Folder 1
Pages 3340 to 4671 (February 22, 1921 – February 28, 1921)

Compare to:
A&M 3608, Matewan Trial Transcript
Pages 2012 to 3958 (February 12, 1921 – February 23, 1921)
Plus 1 page of index of witnesses

West Virgina Archives and History in Charleston, West Virginia appears to hold the entire transcript:
Mingo County, Case file State vs. Sid Hatfield et al., transcripts, jury selection, witness statements (originals and photocopies), 1921 January 19 to March 16, 15 boxes

Title
Matewan Trial Transcript, 1921
Author
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository

Contact:
1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown WV 26506-6069 US
304-293-3536