African Americans -- West Virginia -- McDowell County

Overview

Two chapters of a study by Howard P. Wade, D.A., titled "Eckman: A Coal Camp in McDowell County, West Virginia", regarding the late 18th century African Americans immigrants to the McDowell County coal camp of Eckman, their origins, social and religious organizations, and experiences assimilating to the coal fields, as well as African American life in Eckman between the years of 1892 and 1942.

Scope and Contents The papers of William “Bill” Archer, newspaper journalist for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and historian, document Archer’s research and reporting of events in Southern West Virginia, predominantly Mercer and McDowell Counties. In addition to his reporting, Archer wrote a number of local history books as well as articles for publications other than the Bluefield paper. The largest part of the collection, six boxes of records and three of artifacts,...