Conditions Governing Use

Oral histories audio and transcripts are either in the public domain or the copyright interests have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Access to oral histories is governed by agreements with the narrators. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [container #], Rockingham County Moonshine Oral Histories, 2009-2010, SdArch 33, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University.

Acquisition Information

Items were donated by Tiffany Cole on July 15, 2010.

Processing Information

Audio was transferred to WAV files in 2010, and converted to mp3 on July 2, 2018.

Bio/Historical Note

Tiffany Cole completed a masters thesis titled, "Moonshining in Rockingham County: a case study in oral traditions and folkways," in 2010, in fulfillment of a Masters in History at James Madison University. The paper explores the history of moonshining in the Shenandoah Valley, starting in the mid-1700s, and uses oral histories to examine ways local residents perceive moonshiners, and how moonshiners perceive themselves.

Scope and Content

Rockingham County Moonshine Oral Histories, 2009-2010 is comprised of recorded interviews with five individuals who discuss moonshining in the Shenandoah Valley. Individuals interviewed by Cole are descendants of people who made or sold moonshine in the Shenandoah Valley, and discuss their memories of the moonshine business, and family stories that were passed down about the practice.

Arrangement

The interviews are arranged chronologically, by the date of the interview.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Cole, Tiffany
• Folklore -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
• Mountain life -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
• Mountain people -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park -- Social life and customs
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
• Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History, Local
• Storytelling -- Virginia
• Superstition -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
• Superstition -- Virginia -- History
• Traditional medicine -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
• oral histories (literary works)