This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Miners and Civil Rights Shape Illinois Coal Legacy
The 1960s brought a revival of coal mining in Illinois with large new mines and mandates to hire minorities. Pioneering Black miners like Witherspoon rose to examiner and then manager, opening doors for others. Veterans Bennie Scott and Lee Thomas returned to Bend Lake Mine for photos, illustrating enduring camaraderie. The piece links miners pride to national energy needs and notes the wider impact on Southern Illinois and beyond.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Egypt
Witherspoon
Peabody
Kelly
Union Electric Fidelity
du Quoin
Bennie Scott
Lee Thomas
Coal Bend Lake
Lesser
Don Scooby
Southern Illinois Coal Project
Scott
Thomas
Scooby
Southern
Illinois
World
Saline
Sam Witherspoon
Lake View
Carrier Mills
Peabody Coal
Eagle Valley