Matewan, WV — Day two of Camp Solidarity opened with a major boost for the West Virginia
Mine Wars Museum: United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil E. Roberts presented a $50,000 check—the first disbursement from the new Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Fund—to support the museum’s next phase of growth and programming.
“We’ve tried to be as good a partner as we could,” Roberts told the packed room, noting that upon his upcoming retirement he asked supporters to give to causes that strengthen labor history and culture. “The first $50,000 from the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Fund goes to you and the wonderful work you’re doing down here.”
Museum Executive Director Mackenzie New-Walker thanked Roberts and UMWA leaders across the local, district, and international for a decade of steadfast support. “When I started this job, our annual budget was about $40,000,” she said. “Today we employ five people—and they’re union jobs. We just joined UMWA Local 1440. This gift is a huge step toward our 10th-anniversary goal of raising $110,000 to expand the museum and keep telling these stories.”
Camp Solidarity attendees applauded founders and longtime champions—including Wilma Steele and Hawkeye Dixon—who helped move the museum from its original, smaller space into the historic former bank building that now anchors the project in downtown Matewan.
Roberts’ remarks connected the museum’s mission to the broader struggle that shaped Appalachia and the nation. Recalling the Mine Wars era and Mother Jones, he reminded the crowd that labor history is living history: “You don’t need a title to raise hell,” he said, quoting Jones, urging continued organizing in the face of shifting economics and political headwinds.
The presentation capped a morning that also spotlighted the museum’s growing community footprint—union partnerships, educational programs, and descendant storytelling—and even drew a film crew gathering B-roll for American Union, a documentary in production and slated for release in 2027.
As Camp Solidarity continued with breakout sessions on organizing and solidarity, the check presentation underscored a simple truth at the heart of the museum’s work: preserving labor history isn’t nostalgia—it’s fuel for the fights ahead.
- Report/photo by Chris Garlock
To support the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum’s 10th-anniversary campaign or plan a visit, reach out to the museum directly here.