Labor unions Archive Search Results
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Laura Foster discusses John “Peg-leg” Foster and his involvement in Telluride mining strikes, and her life as a pioneer woman in the Paradox Valley. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
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Jimmy was born in Coal Creek, CO to James W. Graham Sr. (of Glasgow, Scotland) and Julie McDonald (of Illinois). He met Madge Waite in high school in Grand Junction, CO and they married in 1924. They had three children.
Jimmy arrived in Lafayette in 1911 and at the time it was purely a coal mining town. He recalls the mine strike and what it was like to work in the mines and the conditions. Jimmy also recalls the Monarch Mine explosion.
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In this interview, Jimmy describes his early years working in the coal mines in the Lafayette, CO area and his time as an organizer for the American Federation of Labor. He also served as president of Local 1388 of the United Mine Workers union in Lafayette for many years and was vice president of the Colorado State Federation of Labor. He was “dragged” into City Council in 1928-29 because the union wanted him to run. Jimmy talks about his time...
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In this oral history, Dorothy describes the Columbine Mine Massacre that took place on November 21, 1927. Her father was the first striking miner to be killed during the massacre.
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This recording captures a meeting with Columbine Mine Program, recorded at the Lafayette Public Library on November 19th, 1987. There are multiple speakers on the tape, including Carl Williams, Sender Garland, Tom Lopez, Donna Carbone, Chuck Waneka, Gary Cox, Winston Morgan, Andy Deborski, Frank Deborski, Cotton Fletcher, Annette Iatesta, Jimmy Graham, Carl Williams, Paul Roads, Jack Davies, and Elmo Lewis. This conversation captured many facets of...
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In this interview, Cliff reflects on his early life in Lafayette including the coal miners' strike of 1917. He also recalls many of the businesses in Lafayette at that time. Cliff describes how he has served the city of Lafayette including his time serving three terms on the Lafayette City Council, creating the first city swimming pool, serving as president of the Lafayette Lions Club and serving as the 2nd president of the Chamber of Commerce.
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In this oral history interview, Boughton and Leona Noble discuss growing up and going to school in Lafayette, CO. They also discuss the 1910 strike and prohibition. Boughton describes his work as a coal miner. The interview ends with Boughton recalling the stores in town, the initiation process for the fire department, the great depression (including coupon systems), his first car (a Model T) and subsequent cars, the mines near town, the mine unions,...
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Joe (Cotton) Fletcher discusses his time working in the mines, the layouts of the mines, and what the working conditions were like as well as the unions at the time, the IWW and the UMW. The Columbine Mine massacre is mentioned and described in detail. Tape B begins by discussing smaller strikes that took place and the implication of the Taft-Hartley Act. The interview ends by discussing union organizers, the nationalities of those working in the...
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Lawrence began working the mines in 1916 at age 13. In this interview, he recalls what it was like working in the mines and the various issues, strikes, and controversies.
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Jacob “Jake” Weiler’s oral history interview conducted on April 25th, 1975 discussed his career in coal mining in northern Colorado. Jake was born in Germany but came to Lafayette in 1911. Weiler talked about his first job in Standard Mine driving mules, where he witnessed mine accidents but was never injured himself. He subsequently served as the foreman for several years. Jacob also reflected on the many changes in how local mines were run...
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Andy Borrego recalled the physical landscape and social climate of Lafayette in his 1983 oral history interview. He first describes many businesses of Lafayette and their place in the community. The majority of his interview focuses on his career as a miner. He worked in many mines, including the Standard in 1931. He recalls multiple labor strikes and how the mining union influenced conditions and wages. He specifically reflects on the growing importance...
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Phyllis Smith’s lecture entitled “Coal Miners of the Northern Coal Field of Colorado” given for Sunday Salon: Carnegie Branch Library for Local History on September 23rd, 1984, discussed the vast history and importance of coal mining throughout the twentieth century in Colorado. Specifically, Smith discusses the Northern Coal Field, a mine that was significantly larger than others in the state. The lecture covers working conditions, union developments,...
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Sam came to Lafayette in 1915 and worked as a coal miner. In this interview, he recalls the miner's unions, different mining strikes, and what work was like in the mines, including hazards. Sam himself wasn’t present for the Columbine Mine Massacre, but he recalls the event and the effect on the town.
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In this interview, Joe Mathias is interviewed at his home at 105 Cannon St. In Lafayette.
The interview begins with Joe reading from various old articles of the Lafayette Leader and the Lafayette News in which he is mentioned. Joe worked as a miner in Lafayette and Louisville starting at age 12 or 13. He worked for the fire department from 1919 to 1957 and spent some of this time as the fire chief. Joe recalls the former businesses and entertainment...