Allard recalls growing up in a mining family in Central Illinois. She discusses her father's work as a coal miner, company houses, stores, and scrip pay; describes miner's lamps and miner's buckets; mining union activities; conflicts between unions and management; organization of the Progressive Miners' of America and her husband's work for the union; and violence, strikes, meetings, and conflicts between the United Mine Workers and the PMA. She also discusses women's roles in mining activities in West Frankfort and Gillespie, Illinois; organization, uniforms, marches, and fundraising activities of the PMA Women's Auxiliary; and women's jobs.

3 tapes, 270 mins. Interview by Barbara Herndon and Nick Cherniavsky, 1974 OPEN For collateral file see J9/5/24