Oral History Interview with Robert Riley, February 1, 1994. Interview K-0106. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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Abstract
Robert Riley Sr. began his employment with the White Furniture Company "on the yard" at its Hillsborough, North Carolina, location, where he cut green logs into boards. He soon moved to Mebane, where he held a number of positions, including a spot in the "rub and pack" room, a position driving supplies to and from the stockroom, and what he thinks was the company's first supervisory position held by an African American. In this interview, he describes his work, focusing on the details of the sawmill, and recalls the plant's closing. Riley spent thirty-one years at White's, and watching it close—and even helping remove machinery—was a wrenching emotional experience followed by months of searching for work and temporary employment. This interview presents White's as the economic and emotional heart of the Mebane community, giving its workers a sense of self as well as financial support. The plant's owners nurtured a spirit of camaraderie and pride, a spirit that faded as new ownership struggled to make the plant profitable. At the time of this interview, Riley, at fifty-seven, was about to move into a permanent job he hoped would see him to retirement.
Excerpts
Furniture-making process
News of a plant closing met with shock
New ownership of plant means a new management style
White Furniture plant is the economic center of Mebane, North Carolina
Demanding job leaves no time for idling
New ownership of plant means a new management style
Employer resistance stifles unionization
Gender- and age-appropriate tasks at White's
Segregated facilities at White's and Riley's ascension to a leadership position
Strict rules at White's Furniture Company
Struggling to find work after losing job at White's
Close bonds are severed with White's closing
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Subjects
Furniture industry and trade--North Carolina
Furniture workers--North Carolina
White Furniture Company
North Carolina--Social conditions
Riley, Robert
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