Coal country women / produced by Mary Kasamatsu

This is a three-part series on women in Appalachia in the 1970s: mining disasters, their lives as wives and mothers of miners, as miners themselves, and on life in mining country. Produced by Mary Kasamatsu, with funds provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, through National Public Radio’s Satellite Program Development Fund. Technical assistance by Moira Rankin and Sharon Shapiro, and editorial assistance from Paul Datmond[sp?]
Part 1: “An Ordinary Mornin’” tells the story of the aftermath of a mining disaster. This episode documents the personal impact of the Scotia Mine Disaster as felt by women whose husbands and sons were killed in the explosions at the Scotia Mine in Oven Fork, Kentucky in March 1976. Broadcast on WPFW in 1982 and KPFA, June 5, 1982.
Part 2: “Occupation Coal Miner” about women miners in Appalachia, who share their problems and their triumphs and talk about experiences ranging from job discrimination, sexual harassment, and workplace dangers, to the ongoing struggle to balance family responsibility and the demands of rotating shift work in the mines. Broadcast on WPFW in 1982 and KPFA, June 19, 1982.
Part 3: “Never Did Run, Ain’t Going to Yet”: portraits of coal country women. This last episode in the series focuses on coalfield women who have fought and continue to fight to improve the quality of life in their communities. Some of the women featured are long-time labor activist Florence Reece, who wrote the song “Which side are you on?”; Helen Powell, a West Virginia black lung activist; and Betty Anderson, who monitors strip mining and works for tax reform in the coalfields of Tennessee. A common theme of mutual self help runs through each of the women’s stories. Broadcast on WPFW in 1982 and KPFA, June 26, 1982.