Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Railroad]]> Coal mines and mining]]> Christiansburg, Va.]]> Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Christiansburg, Va.]]> Coal mines and mining]]> Railroad]]> World War II]]>
Elizabeth (Betty) R. Lester was born in New Jersey before marrying Thompson Lester and moving to Christiansburg, Virginia. In this interview, Elizabeth Lester joins her husband in talking about the Christiansburg community. She specifically describes health care access to Black community members, unequal access to public goods and services, church life in the community, and social life in the community, such as the Household of Ruth organization.]]>
Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Railroad]]> Post office buildings]]> Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)]]>
Mason Franklin Scott was born in 1928 and grew up in Elliston, Virginia. Scott attended Christiansburg Industrial Institute before completing his education in the Youth’s Army Program. He worked on the railroad before serving in the Army during the Korean War. As a veteran, Scott worked as a Postal Service employee in Blacksburg and Elliston, Virginia. In this interview, Mason Scott is accompanied by his mother, Valerie Scott, and he discusses his experience with the railroad, his service in the Army, race relations in Montgomery County, and work opportunities for Black Appalachians.

James E. Dow was born in Pennsylvania in 1928. He grew up in Elliston, Virginia, and he was raised by his grandparents. Dow graduated from Christiansburg Industrial Institute before serving in the Army during the Korean War. Upon his return from service, he worked for the railroad, briefly, before working in the Civil Service department at the Veteran’s Hospital. In this interview, Dow shares his experience of attending Christiansburg Institute, describes working for the railroad and the Army, and discusses race relations in the Montgomery County area.]]>
Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
Coal mines and mining]]> Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Radford Army Ammunition Plant (U.S.)]]> Railroad]]> Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Railroad]]> graduated from Roanoke College before becoming a pastor. In this interview, Wright describes the Elliston community, education opportunities, and race relations in Montgomery County. Wright discusses the reaction to desegregation and his participation in Civil Rights demonstrations. Additionally, Wright provides insight into some of the Black civic leaders in the Montgomery County area.]]> Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>