Cole Family Christmas

Originally uploaded by appalachiancenter

A recently published children’s book “Cole Family Christmas” highlights the town of Benham during the Christmas season of 1920 and the story of one coal mining family. The book is based on the real family story of former Benham resident Hazel Cole Kendle and one of her Christmas memories. Mrs. Kendle is also a co-author of the book.
The books illustrator Jennifer Julich based her illustrations on photos and information she gathered from the Benham/Lynch Photo Collection of the SKCTC Appalachian Archive, the KY Coal Museum, as well as interviews with other long-time Benham residents.
Co-author Jennifer Liu Bryan also used the Archive and as well as local sources in her research for this book that has been described as, “the true, tender, and wholly unforgettable tale of a coal miner’s family.”

Scenic view of Benham

Originally uploaded by appalachiancenter

Benham, KY is known as one of the best preserved coal camps in the region. Recently the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum worked in collaboration with the SKCTC Appalachian Archives to create a Walking Tour of downtown Benham. The project used information gathered by the Museum about its many downtown historical buildings along with photos from Archive’s Benham & Lynch Photography Collection to create a handout map for the walking tour. Highlights of the tour included the fire department, hospital, commissary, school, theatre and Miners Park. These map handouts have been given to visitors from across the state, school groups, as well as visitors from out of state. This joint project between the Appalachian Program and the Museum has been so popular and well received that plans are underway to do a second printing of the Walking Tour map.

Funeral

Originally uploaded by appalachiancenter

Community Scholar Carol Shutt, of Hillsboro, KY recently received a grant from the KY Oral History Commission to research “Funerary Customs in Harlan County.”
Carol is interested in interviewing people about past and present traditions related to funerals. What music was played? What food was served? Who digs the grave? Are there special traditions related to the different ethnic or religious backgrounds of the people that live here in Harlan County?
Carol says her goal with this project is to document the funeral traditions of this county and to show whether or not they have changed over the years and if so, what kinds of changes have we seen.
Carol plans to come back for interviews the weeks of September 15-19 and October 13-17. If you are interested in participating, or helping with this project please contact the SKCTC Appalachian Program.
Also please feel free to post and share funeral traditions from your family, church or community on this site. Be sure to let us know where you are from.