Descriptive Summary
Title: Dr. Fred Barkey Collection
Span Dates: 1890-2009
Bulk Dates:
ID No: Ms2023-023
Creator: Dr. Fred Barkey
Extent: 2 document containers, 1 oversize file folder
Language: English
Repository: West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV
Conditions on Use and Access: N/A
Copyright: Copyright restrictions may apply.
Abstract: Research materials accumulated by Dr. Barkey relating to Belgium glass workers in West Virginia.
Administrative Information
Donor: This collection was donated to West Virginia Archives and History at The Cultural Center by Sandra S. Barley, 2022.
Transfers: Photographs have been arranged and placed under Ph2023-017
Preferred Citation: [item, collection number], Dr. Fred Barkey Collection, West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV.
Processor: Processed by an intern and Aaron Parsons, 2023.
Biographical Note: Dr. Frederick "Fred" Allan Barkey was born on July 14, 1933, to Mildred Stevenson Barkey and Frederick Melvin Barkey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended East Liberty High School until his father was transferred to Philadelphia by Gulf Oil, where he finished his studies at Upper Darby High. Barkey moved to St. Albans and attended Marshall College. He met his future wife at Marshall, Sandra Suzanne Holstein, and they married in 1955. They stayed in Charleston while he taught and worked on his graduate degrees. Barkey received his master's from Marshall College and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Pittsburgh. Fred taught at St. Albans High School, Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston), and Marshall University College of Graduate Studies.
He dedicated himself to researching the lives of the working class and immigrant families of West Virginia. In 1988, King Leopold of Belgium knighted him for his book Cinderheads in the Hills. It chronicled the Belgian glass workers in West Virginia. Barkey's other book, Working Class Radicals: The Socialist Party in West Virginia, 1898-1920, was considered his most impactful research on West Virginia history.
Dr. Barkey published articles in multiple journals like West Virginia History, Mountain Messenger, and Goldenseal. He collaborated with the State Capitol Culture Center to curate the coal mine heritage of the state and gave many lectures at the West Virginia State Archives. Through a grant and with his graduate students, Dr. Barkey developed an elementary teachers' curriculum for West Virginia Labor History for West Virginia schools.
He served on the National Coal Heritage Authority representing Kanawha County, was the Chair of the Coal Heritage Highway, and was President of the West Virginia Labor History Association. He was honored with the Truthteller Award from the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, an institution Dr. Barkey helped found. February 10, 2022, Dr. Barkey passed away at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, his children, and his grandchildren.
Sources of Information: "Dr. Fred Barkey." Center for the Study of Ethnicity And Gender in Appalachia, 6 Nov. 2014, https://www.marshall.edu/csega/scholarsaffiliates/rockefeller-scholars/dr-fred-barkey/.
"Mr. Frederick Allan Barkey." Barlow Bonsall, 12 Feb. 2022, https://barlowbonsall.com/obituaries/mr-frederick-allan-barkey/.
Contents List:
Box 1
1:1 Miscellaneous correspondence, article, 1980-2006
1:2 Letter, Dunbar Flint Glass Workers and Friends, Reunion in Dunbar, 1987-1988
1:3 Copy of Lambiotte letter, note, 1968
1:4 Letters, National Window Glass Workers, Cleveland, Ohio, 1904, 1925
1:5 Letter, Belgian American Heritage Association, 1989
1:6 Letter, Wheeling 2000, David Tark to Charles Estes, Wheeling, 1988
1:7 Letters, Belgian Club of Northern California, 1992
1:8 Correspondence, Kanawha Valley Belgian American Heritage Society, South Charleston, 2003
1:9 Letter and invitation, Dunbar Flint Glass Company Reunion, Dunbar, 1992
1:10 Letter and grant application, Blenko Glass Project, Charleston, 1992
1:11 Commission letter, Special Interim Commission on Employment Opportunities, 1984
1:12 Letter from Lawerence Barker, Commissioner of Labor, Internship Program, 1983
1:13 Letter, Parkersburg Bicentennial Committee, 1984
1:14 Interview, Oscar DuBois, 1965
1:15 Interview, Oscar DuBois, Morgantown, 1965
1:16 Interview, Edward W. Shay, Star City, Morgantown, 1965
1:17 Interview Eugene Monin, 1967
1:18 Interviews, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Waterloo, 1967, 1970
1:19 Interviews with George Delforge 1967, 1969, 1973
1:20 George Delforge interview, Goldenseal article by Fred Barkey, 1975
1:21 Goldenseal article, "George Delforge and the Banner Window Glass Company of South Charleston," October-December, 1975
1:22 Article, George Delforge and the Banner Window Glass Company of South Charleston, 1975
1:23 Interview, Edgar DuMont, 1970
1:24 Interviews, Edgar and Rene Michaux, 1970
1:25 Interview, Nicholas Godfrey, Clarksburg, circa 1970s
1:26 Interview, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hurley, Charleston, n.d.
1:27 Interviews, Edgar Micheau and George Delforge, circa 1970s
1:28 Notes, interview with Rene Micheaux, 1967
1:29 Interview, Bud Walz, circa 1970s-1980s
1:30 Interview, Cris Farley by Bob Spence, n.d.
1:31 Interview of Cox, circa 1970s
1:32 Miscellaneous interview transcript pages, n.d.
1:33 Interview, Demeester and Cox, Clarksburg, circa 1970s
1:34 List of names and addresses, circa 1960s-1970s
1:35 Declarations of Intention, Fayette County, early 1900s
1:36 Declarations of Intention, Fayetteville, early 1900s
1:37 Declarations of Intent, Boomer, early 1900s
1:38 Declarations of Intention, Petition for Naturalization, early 1900s
1:39 Union By-Laws, American Flint Glass Workers' Union of North America No.157, and Withdrawal Card of James D. Truman, 1946-1950
1:40 Union Book, American Flint Glass Workers' Union, Martinsburg, 1999-2000
1:41 Officers, seniority list, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, 1956
1:42 Photocopy, Constitution and By-Laws of National Glass Workers, 1908
1:43 Photocopy, President's Report of the National Window Glass Workers, Conditions of the Window Glass Industry, 1914
1:44 Agenda, 1st Annual Labor-Management Classic, 1984
1:45 Program, United SteelWorkers Local Union 14614, Pipestem State Park, 1982
1:46 Window Glass-Bottle Blowers file, n.d.
1:47 Photocopy, Glassworkers of Carmaux file, n.d.
1:48 Knights of Labor file, West Virginia, n.d.
1:49 World War II Women in Glass, related research materials, n.d.
1:50 Election results, Socialism and Belgium notes, 1902-1904
1:51 Socialism in West Virginia, chapter 1: Eugene v. Debs, n.d.
1:52 Eugene v. Debs and the origins of Wheeling socialism, notes, n.d. (1 print)
1:53 Correspondence regarding Dr. Fred Barkey's book, "Cinder Heads in the Hills," circa 1990s
1:54 Glass Workers - Bars Spence, n.d.
1:55 Window Glass, Trust and Combines in the Industry, Management of the Industry, n.d.
1:56 Battle Plant Workers list, n.d.
1:57 Report, President, National Window Glass Workers, 1914
1:58 Describing Hand Blown Glass, Paul Maxwell, n.d.
1:59 Proceedings of the First Annual Convention of the Amalgamated Window Glass Workers of America (AWGWA), Cleveland, Ohio, 1905
1:60 Ethnic workers in West Virginia, Belgium glass workers, circa 1980s (24 prints)
1:61 Photocopy, "Ethnic Americans," chapter 7-8, n.d.
1:62 "Banner in the Hills," research materials, circa 1980s
1:63 Poem, "Pete Felix," n.d.
1:64 Photocopy, "History of Northern Harrison County," published in 1928
1:65 Account, narrative Dumont family history, 1975
1:66 Narrative, "Early North View," Paul E. Maxwell, Clarksburg, n.d.
1:67 Narrative, "Industrial Unionism at Libby-Owens Sheet Glass Factory," by Hodel, Ragsdale, and Wimmer, 1979
1:68 Photocopy, Lambillotte family pictures and family tree, n.d.
1:69 Book review, Joe Hill, "The IWW and the Making of a Revolutionary Working Class Counterculture," by Franklin Rosemont, 2002
1:70 Photocopy, "Whence Came the Miners," by Jerry B. Thomas, n.d.
1:71 Booklet, "The History of Glass and Eagle Convex Glass Company," Clarksburg, circa 1971
1:72 Article, "The Belgian General Strike," by Tony Cliff, 1961
1:73 Articles by Trever Bain on union conflict and technological change, 1964
1:74 Goldenseal article, "The First Century is the Hardest (Oscar DuBois)," by Norman Julian, 1980
1:75 Article, "Industrial Relations Professor Knighted for Research Done on 'Cinderheads," UICOGS Chronicle, 1989
1:76 Article, "Belgian Glassworkers and the Founding of South Charleston," 2009, and other miscellaneous articles, n.d.
1:77 Article, "Parkersburg Rebel with a Cause," by Fred Barkey and Fritz Merrick, circa 1999
1:78 Miscellaneous glassworker, industry articles, n.d.
1:79 Article, "Glass Industry as Affected by War," n.d.
1:80 Clipping, "The Organization of Manufacturers' Combinations and Their Beneficial Effects Upon the Industry," n.d.
1:81 Miscellaneous clippings, photocopies of articles, book chapters, etc. pertaining to glass making, n.d.
1:82 Article, "South Charleston," West Virginia Hillbilly, circa 1970s-1980s
1:83 Clipping, Beckley Post-Herald, 1980
1:84 Miscellaneous newspaper articles on Barkey, 1980-1984
1:85 Article on the glass industry by Wilma Higginbotham, Daily Mail Women's Editor, n.d.
1:86 Clipping, Belgian-American Heritage Society, Clarksburg Telegram, 1992
1:87 Clipping, featuring a photo of Huntington Tumbler Company, 1916
1:88 Clipping, Battle Plant, Flint Glass Company, 1978
1:89 Clipping, Rene Zabeau, circa 1996
1:90 Glass Workers News vol.42-43, May 1976-January 1977
1:91 Article in The Commoner and Glassworkers on the history of glass worker organizations, 1908
1:92 Clipping, Labor Shortage Melting Pot, Charleston Mail, 1982
1:93 Clippings, Beckley Post-Herald, 1980
1:94 Clippings on Dr. Fred Barkey, circa 1989
1:95 Clippings, Monongah Glass, 1992
1:96 Unknown photo, n.d. (1 print)
1:97 Photocopy, "Historical Events of Clarksburg Long Ago," published by Tom Martin, n.d.
1:98 Lecture notes on the Leadership Intern Program instructed by Fred Barkey at Marshall University, 2001
1:99 Miscellaneous handwritten notes on research, circa 1960s-1980s
1:100 Notecards for articles and sources, circa 1960s-1980s
1:101 Thesis, "The Hand Window Glass Worker: A Study of His Skill, Union Organization and LifeStyle," by Robert L. Lookabill, Marshall University, 1971
1:102 Notes, Robert L. Lookabill thesis, circa 1970s
1:103 Dissertation, "Cinderheads and Iron Lungs: Window-Glass Craftsman and the Transformation of Workers' Control, 1880-1905," by Richard John O'Connor, University of Pittsburgh, 1991.
Box 2
Blenko Handmade item, "Belgian Window Glass Workers in West Virginia," three-dimensional piece, est. 3.5"x4"
2:1 Photocopy, Citizenship Certificate, circa 1890
2:2 Sticker, Santa Claus, Colonial Williamsburg, n.d.
2:3 Guide, Walking Tour of Old Malden, 1998
2:4 Bibliography, n.d.
2:5 Miscellaneous photographs, n.d. (10 prints)
2:6 Conditions for the Use of Photographic Copies form, n.d.
2:7 Miscellaneous documents, Belgian glass workers in South Charleston, circa 1900s-2000s
2:8 Reports and statements, United Glass and Ceramic Workers of North America, 1960
2:9 Miscellaneous articles, n.d.
2:10 Miscellaneous articles on Belgian glass factories, circa 1900s
2:11 Miscellaneous articles on natural resources, n.d.
2:12 Miscellaneous notes on slides, n.d.
2:13 Article on International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, n.d.
2:14 Article, "Levi's Legacy: Thomases Who Were Hand Glass-Cutters," n.d.
2:15 Articles on ancient glass making, 1999
2:16 Miscellaneous documents, 1998
2:17 The Walloons in the U.S.A., circa 1983
2:18 Belgian-American Society, 2000-2003
2:19 Historical overview, Belgium Glassworkers, n.d.
2:20 Photocopy, photo of Banner Glass owners and employees, n.d.
2:21 Photocopy, excerpts from "Labor History," 1980-1991
2:22 Course syllabus, "History 600: Teaching West Virginia Labor History," Dr. Fred Barkey as instructor, West Virginia Graduate College, circa 2000s
2:23 Magazine, "Social Education: Official Journal of the National Council for the Social Studies," vol.46, No.2, 1982
2:24 Newsletter, "The Dunbar Glassette," Dunbar Glass Corp., Dunbar, WV, 1947
2:25 "West Virginia Labor History," Produced by West Virginia Humanities Council; Written by Fred Barkey, Ph.D. with Barbara Christo, Michael Corbet and Kathy Johnson, n.d.
2:26 Notes on Window Glass and Ceramic Workers, Local #1, Libbey Owens, n.d.
2:27 Program, Belgian Festival, LaBell Theater, South Charleston, June 14, n.d.
2:28 Photocopy of miscellaneous maps of Belgium, n.d.
2:29 Memorandum, West Virginia Graduate College, Fred Barkey to student containing census data, 1996
2:30 Business directory, Kanawha Valley 1872
2:31 Magazine, The Glass Cutter vol.21 no.1, Columbus, Ohio, 1995
2:32 Video transcript, "Working Together," n.d.
2:33 Grant application outline from the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, n.d.
2:34 Research project of Eric McComas, student of Fred Barkey's, n.d.
2:35 Miscellaneous notes, 1997
2:36 Photograph, Memorial, Illinois, n.d. (1 print)
2:37 Miscellaneous photos, postcards, early 1900s-1989 (2 prints)
2:38 Belgian workers file, 1982 (1 slide, 1 print)
2:39 Window Glass: Background on Early History file, 1915
2:40 Slideshow presentation on labor unions, n.d. (136 slides)
2:41 Unidentified slides, n.d. (93 slides)
2:42 Miscellaneous labels, n.d.
2:43 Transcript of oral history on floppy disk, "Remember MacCorkle and 57th Street" CD, circa 1990s
2:44 "Cinder Heads in the Hills: The Belgian Windows Glass Workers of West Virginia, by Dr. Fred Barkey, n.d. (3 copies)
2:45 "Cinder Heads in the Hills" copies, n.d. (2 copies)
2:46 Labor Studies Curriculum for Teachers by Chuck Davis and Tony DeAngelis, 1990
Oversize Folder 1
1. "To Sir Fred Barkey of Charleston, knighted by the King of Belgium because he wrote a book about immigrant Belgian glassmakers in West Virginia," Charleston Gazette, 1989, photocopy of article title
2. Photocopy of photo, Banner Glass employees, circa 1900s
3. "Expert on working class not used to 'heraldic stuff,'" Charleston Gazette, 1989, blown up copy of article on foam board