Joseph D'Andrea Papers on the Monongah Mine Disaster, 1907/2018, bulk 2005/2018

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Born digital materials are available in-person only. Researchers must contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department. to make an appointment to view the items.

Terms of access:
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Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph D'Andrea Papers on the Monongah Mine Disaster, A&M 4540, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1.08 Linear Feet 1 flat storage box, 3 in.; 2 document cases, 5 in. each; 1 oversize folder, .01 in. and 6.37 Gigabytes 6 .iso and .cue files
Creator:
D'Andrea, Joseph
Language:
English , Italian .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph D'Andrea Papers on the Monongah Mine Disaster, A&M 4540, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes the research papers of Joseph D'Andrea pertaining to the Monongah Mine Disaster of 1907. Materials include photographs of the 100-year anniversary of the disaster, general photographs of the memorial, D'Andrea's involvement in the communities of Monongah and Fairmont, WV, and the graves of victims, most circa 2007 (Box 2). Other papers include his research materials about the disaster, such as printed articles, scholarly journals, facsimilies such as Department of Mines fatal accidents lists, newspaper clippings, and three DVDs (Boxes 1-2).

Disc one contains a 2005 interview with Reverend Everett Francis Briggs in Monongah, WV pertaining to his life in Monongah and the disaster, including a tour of the mine site as of 2005 (runtime 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 16 seconds). Discs three and two, Ricordate Monongah, 1907-2007 (runtime 9 minutes, 42 seconds) and Monongah Cent'Anni Di Oblio (runtime 33 minutes, 16 seconds) respectively, are in Italian and pertain to the Monongah Mine Disaster. The latter is presumed to accompany D'Andrea's book, Monongah Cent'Anni Di Oblio.

Other items of interest include artifacts from the Monongah mine, including what are presumed to be gears from the coal cart pulley, molten rock, and a DuPont letter opener (Box 3); and two 1984 drawings of Duronia, Italy (oversized folder).

Biographical / historical:

Joseph D'Andrea immigrated from Italy to the United States in 1947. A resident of Moon Township, PA, he spent much of his adult life immersed in the Italian American community, including a stint as honorary consul at the Italian Consulate in Pittsburgh. He started researching and bringing attention to the Monongah Mine Disaster of 1907, which killed almost 200 Italians, of which 86 were from his home of Molise, Italy. He was responsible for the implementation of the commemorative bell that sits in Monongah, WV, which features in the collection.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Joseph D'Andrea, 2018.
Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia Univserity / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard