Oral history interview with Robert Cole, May 10, 1981
Subtitle: interview H-0311, Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007)
Contributors: Cole, Robert, Mrs., interviewee; Hall, Jacquelyn Dowd, interviewer; Southern Oral History Program; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Documenting the American South (Project); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library
Edition: Electronic ed.
Publisher: University Library, UNC-Chapel Hill
Published: 2007
Place of publication: [Chapel Hill, N.C.]
Language: eng
Subjects: Interviews; Textile workers; Strikes and lockouts; Textile industry; Labor leaders; Violence against; Labor unions; Violence
Other titles: Interview H-0311, Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007); Interview with Robert Cole, May 10, 1981; Oral histories of the American South.
Description: The focus of this interview is a textile mill strike that appears to have taken place near Stoney Creek, TN. Robert Cole is not particularly forthcoming about details or reflections about the strike. This lack of depth is unfortunate, because Cole appears to have played an active role on both sides of the strike, initially crossing the picket line but soon thereafter joining the strikers and even serving as one of its organizers' bodyguards. Most of Cole's recollections concern some of the violence surrounding the strike, including fights, acts of terrorism, and shootings, none of which he participated in but for which he was arrested and tried. Researchers interested in labor clashes may find some useful material here.
Notes: Title from menu page (viewed on June 6, 2008).

Interview participants: Robert Cole, interviewee; Mrs. Cole, interviewee; Unidentified Speaker, interviewee; Jacquelyn Hall, interviewer.

Duration: 00:56:13.

This electronic edition is part of the UNC-CH digital library, Documenting the American South.  It is a part of the collection Oral histories of the American South.

Text encoded by Jennifer Joyner.  Sound recordings digitized by Aaron Smithers.

Text (HTML and XML/TEI source file) and audio (MP3); 2 files: ca. 97.8 kilobytes, 102.9 megabytes.

Original version: Southern Oral History Program Collection, (#4007), Series H, Piedmont industrialization, interview H-0311, Manuscripts Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Transcribed by Miriam Alexander. Original transcript: 17 p.

Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this interview.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements:  Web browser with Javascript enabled and multimedia player.