Date
5-2022
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)
Chair
Carol Hepburn
Keywords
Appalachia, coal mining, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, culture, identity, education
Disciplines
Communication
Recommended Citation
Ferrell, Joanna Mary, "The Culture of Appalachian Coal Miners and Its Affect on Their Culture" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 3595.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3595
Abstract
The purpose of this ethnographic study was to understand and describe the culture and history of the Appalachian coal mining community and how the culture is impacting their future if they face a mine closure. The theory guiding this study is the Cultural Identity Theory by Mary Jane Collier as it explains that the miners’ culture is influenced by those around them and can change based on their surroundings. There is also influence from mining history, which was explored in detail. Surveys, interviews, and observations were utilized to collect data as well as historic artifacts.
