Yesterday I had a pleasant conversation with retired IUP sociology professor Jim Dougherty on labor history. He is the founder of the Center for Northern Appalachian studies. When he retired his center ended so he took the sign and put it on his door. We spoke about the history of labor struggles in the area, especially in the coal and steel industries. We did the interview at his home because he is housebound due to osteoporosis.
More specifically we spoke on his growing up in Clearfield County, his academic career, his teaching prisoners, and what role the floods in Johnstown may have played in labor struggles in the area. I asked because the documentary below that he co wrote and produced made no mention of them. You can see the documentary in the video below.
Jim Dougherty was pleasant as you can see in the above video in discussing labor history. I was happy to share his wisdom and I hope you will appreciate it too.
**Update**
I added Jim’s documentary Struggle for an American Way of Life: Coal Miners and Operations in Central Pennsylvania, 1919-1933. I am unable to play it here but if you click “Watch on Youtube” you can see it. It runs for 56 minutes.
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