Appalachian Migration

Abstract

Migration was a hallmark of the twentieth century, and those seeking better conditions took their music with them. Shuttle migration from Appalachia to the Midwest during the 1920s was replaced during the 1940-1970 Great Migration by a stem-and-branch system and extended family safety net. Wartime industry and post-war Appalachian coalfield depression drew hundreds of thousands to Cincinnati, Hamilton, Dayton, Detroit, Chicago and elsewhere, as documented by migration flow maps. Industrial wages allowed migrants to acquire instruments, radios, and recordings; frequent nightclubs; join civic and social groups; and enjoy Appalachian festivals. Ron Eller, Mike Maloney, Noah Crase, Harriet Marsh Page, Jennifer Brierly, Taylor Farley, Sherrill Jennings, Judy Jennings, and Paris Decker exemplify migrant families for whom music was important.