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An Annotated Bibliography of Scotts Run, West Virginia
Compiled by Scott Marsh, August 2002

Preface

There is no comprehensive history for the communities of Scotts Run, although a story can be woven together from many different sources. It is a uniquely American story with strands of poverty, racism, and violence, but also hope, and immense courage.

The communities of Scotts Run and the New Deal Subsistence Homestead of Arthurdale, founded in 1933, will be linked forever in history simply because a vast majority of homesteaders came from Scotts Run. Many of the materials in this bibliography reflect that link. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the region frequently in the 1930’s and 1940’s and was followed by the national press and photographers. Note the large store of photographs from this time period available on-line. Although the story of Arthurdale is interesting, I found myself drawn to the majority of families that were not chosen for the “model” community and had to struggle through the economic ups and downs of the coal industry. Because of racism, blacks and recent immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe, were not given the opportunity to participate in Arthurdale. Many families left the area, but some stayed. Their story is one of triumph, a story that still needs to be written and shared.

Of course the communities of Scotts Run existed before Eleanor Roosevelt visited and continued to exist after she left. It is a more difficult job to research these periods that were not illuminated by the national spotlight. This bibliography is meant to be a beginning, with the hope that one book will lead to a new source or encourage others to add to the compelling story of Scotts Run.

Many of the resources can be found at the Downtown Library or in the West Virginia Collection in Colson Library at West Virginia University.

Articles and Books
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Audio and Video Tapes
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Web Links
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