Ralph Maki Underground Iron Mining Oral History Interview Part 1 Transcript (Incomplete)

This transcript is an incomplete draft that includes editor's noted in the margins. It only covers part of the first of four tapes with Ralph Maki. The interview is one of several on underground iron mining conducted by researcher Mary Tippett Andes for her book "The Last Generation Underground." Ralph Maki (1915-1995) was born in Humboldt, MI to Emil Maki and Lempi Kuliuu. He was part of the last generation of underground miners on the Marquette Iron Range. This interview was recorded at his home in Ishpeming, Michigan by Mary Tippett Andes. His father, a Finnish immigrant, died in the Barnes-Hecker cave-in. He also discusses working for the Works Progress Administration, working for the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Mining Company in 1935-36 at the Lloyd Mine, drift mining, and the Lloyd and Mather A mines. Other topics include underground iron mining, mining terminology, and speaking Finnish at home growing up.