Letters from War: 1861 was featured by WVIA News this week. Roger DuPuis and I talked about the project, the chaotic opening months of the Civil War, and what these Coal Region soldiers' letters still reveal 165 years later. Read more and find the full interview.
“It seemed as if the scenes and characters of the Bible were living again now, before our eyes.” Before he became the Coal Region’s most important folklorist, George Korson served in the Middle East during World War I. His letters and reflections capture a world in transition and a remarkable journey from Pennsylvania to Palestine. Read the Full Story.
In this video interview, I talk with historian Mitch Troutman about The Bootleg Coal Rebellion - the story of Pennsylvania miners who refused to starve when the industry collapsed. We explore survival, dignity, and resistance in the Coal Region, and why this history still matters today. Watch the Video.
In 1976, Williamstown, PA, faced its 150th anniversary with mixed emotions, remembering both the prosperity of its coal-mining heyday and the struggles following the mine closures. Residents shared memories of a town once defined by coal, now left to rebuild its identity in a fading industry’s shadow. Read the Full Story.
Dive into a compelling podcast episode where writer Derek Thompson interviews historian Richard J. Evans about his book "Hitler’s People." Hear fresh research on Nazi support, Weimar politics, and antisemitism as Evans debunks myths and reveals how ordinary Germans enabled Hitler’s rise to absolute power. Read my full reflection and listen to the podcast.
Explore Olivia Dunbar’s vivid account of the somber, determined leader who united the United Mine Workers of America. Witness how Mitchell’s quiet strength and sense of responsibility molded a pivotal chapter in American labor history. Read the full story.
A haunting interview from 1861 reveals Private John Lanahan’s remorse after fatally shooting Major Arnold Lewis in a whiskey-fueled rage. Discover how an Irish immigrant’s fleeting moment of violence led to a shocking public execution – and a cautionary tale for other Civil War soldiers. Read the full story.
An account from the 1977 Porter Tunnel Disaster offers a chilling first-person perspective on a deadly wall of water rushing through a Pennsylvania mine. Discover how these miners fought for survival and faced unimaginable terror deep underground. Read the full story.
Israel P. Long survived a harrowing ordeal at the notorious Confederate prison camp after being captured in May 1864.
In the final part of this 1927 interview, Charles Kershner reviews his life, his marriage, and his health as an active 79-year-old Civil War veteran.