Anne Amburgey Wagner
Carr Creek Oral History Project
This collection is comprised of audio-recorded interviews conducted during 2022-2023 by folklorist Nicole Musgrave with support from the Kentucky Oral History Commission. Her work was part of an effort to document the geographic and human impact of the construction of the Carr Fork Reservoir in southeastern Kentucky, which was completed in 1976. The collection’s twenty interviews with residents of Knott, Letcher and Perry Counties range in focus and content. Most of the interviewees were affected by dislocation in some way. They express different opinions about the lake and its impact on the community. Most interviewees share memories of what the area was like before the lake was built, and many have vivid memories of what the construction process was like.
National Capital Contracting
Anne Amburgey Wagner is a retired schoolteacher who dedicated over twenty-eight years of her life to educating elementary grade students. Born in Hazard, Kentucky, she spent her early years in a small community known as Smithboro in Knott County. Her childhood was spent in a holler, a small valley between mountains, until she was fifteen when her family relocated to London, Kentucky. Her family consisted of her parents, Dorothy Blair Amburgey and Tandy Amburgey, and her three brothers, Don, Anthony, and Gary Kevin. Her father was a coal miner and her mother, a housewife, was known for her cooking and quilting skills. Anne's upbringing was deeply rooted in the rural lifestyle, with her family maintaining a large garden on the side of the mountain. Despite the challenges of relocation and the tragic loss of two of her brothers in an accident in 1976, Anne carries forward the memories and traditions of her family.
Scope and Content Note
The interview with Anne Amburgey Wagner, conducted by Nicole Musgrave on June 14th, 2023, provides a rich narrative of Anne's life and experiences as part of the Car Creek Oral History Project. The interview was conducted remotely, with Anne calling in from London, Kentucky, and Nicole from Western North Carolina. The conversation delves into Anne's personal history, her family background, and her experiences growing up in a small community in Knott County, Kentucky. Anne shares vivid memories of her childhood, her parents, and her brothers, painting a picture of a close-knit family living in a rural setting. She also discusses her career as a schoolteacher and her current life as a retired professional and a proud grandmother. The interview provides valuable insights into rural life in Kentucky, the impact of coal mining on families, and the traditions and values that shaped Anne's life.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.