Eugene Barnett oral history collection, 1940, 1961

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Barnett, Eugene, 1892-1973
Title
Eugene Barnett oral history collection
Dates
1940, 1961 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cubic feet (1 box)
3 sound cassettes (circa 154 min.)
1 transcript (24 pages)
Collection Number
4553 (Accession No. 4553-001)
Summary
Trade unionist
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Eugene Barnett (1892-1973) was born in Caldwell, North Carolina. He worked as a mineworker from the age of eight. After moving to Southwest Washington sometime after 1908, he joined the Industrial Workers of the World. On November 11, 1919, he witnessed the attack on the IWW union hall in Centralia, was arrested, tried, and imprisoned for eleven years. After his release to care for his ill wife, he worked as a miner and in various other occupations.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Oral histories of Eugene Barnett (1940 and 1961), transcript. In a self interview or speech (1940), Barnett describes his life as a miner. Barnett witnessed the Centralia Tragedy of 1919. The event occurred when I crowd inclusing American Legion members attacked the Industrial Workers of the World union hall in Centralia, Washington on November 11, 1919. Becker described his imprisonment in the aftermath and his life afterwards. In the 1960 interview Archie Green interviews Barnett about additional details of his life and his strong belief in the labor union movement.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Listen to the 1961 interview conducted by Archie Green on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by William Friedland, 11/21/1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Centralia Massacre, Centralia, Wash., 1919
  • Labor disputes--Washington (State)--Centralia
  • Lumber industry--Labor unions--Washington (State)
  • Massacres--Washington (State)--Centralia
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Barnett, Eugene, 1892-1973--Interviews

Corporate Names

  • Industrial Workers of the World
  • Lumber Workers' Industrial Union No. 120

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Barnett, Eugene, 1892-1973 (interviewee)
    • Friedland, William H (creator)
    • Green, Archie (interviewer)
    Corporate Names
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (creator)