Diana Baldwin

Diana Baldwin was an American hospital receptionist. She and Anita Cherry were the first women to work as underground coal miners in the United States,[1] despite the belief in the coalfields that women were bad luck in mines.[2]

Diana Baldwin
Born(1948-08-31)August 31, 1948
Letcher County, Kentucky, US
DiedMay 28, 2016(2016-05-28) (aged 67)
South Carolina, US
Spouse(s)James Roger Gibbs
William Christian
Children3

Early life

Baldwin was born on August 31, 1948, to Lelar Baldwin, in Letcher County, Kentucky. She first worked as a waitress, then a receptionist at a medical clinic. During that time, Diana had 3 children. Lori, 1966. Scott, 1968 – 2022. Mark, 1970. Later she married James Roger Gibbs (m. 1982 – 1991). Baldwin moved to South Carolina in 1992 where she received her Commercial driver's license and became an on the road truck driver. She met William Christian, a truck driver as well. They were married from 1994 to 2002.[3][4]

Coal mining career

In 1973, Baldwin (aged 29) decided that she needed a better paying job to support her family. She applied for a job at a coal mine operated by the Beth-Elkhorn coal company in Jenkins, Kentucky. It was believed that women would bring cave-ins, explosions, and fires, despite this, she was hired by the coal company. Soon after, she was brought to national attention as the first woman to work in an underground coal mine. Walter Cronkite did the National News Story on Baldwin in 1973. She also appeared on the National Television show, What's My Line?. She was interviewed by The New York Times in May 1974. Before retirement Baldwin climbed the ranks of Mine Boss then Assistant Federal Mine Inspector.[5][6][7]

Death

Baldwin died of lupus in South Carolina on May 28, 2016, at the age of 67.[3]

References
  1. "A Brief History of Women in Mining". DOL Blog. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. Toledo Blade. Toledo Blade.
  3. "Nation's first female miner remembered - The Mountain Eagle". The Mountain Eagle -. June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. Kentucky New Era. Kentucky New Era.
  5. Gearhart, Dona G (January 1, 1995). "Surely, a wench can choose her own work!" Women coal miners in Paonia, Colorado, 1976-1987. UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations (Thesis). doi:10.25669/83uw-c7cr.
  6. The Sumter Daily Item. The Sumter Daily Item.
  7. Klemesrud, Judy (May 18, 1974). "In Coal Mine No. 29, Two Women Work Alongside the Men". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
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