Collection is open for research. Remote access may be available upon review. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
The Graduate Student Oral Histories on North Carolina Hog Farming include audio files of interviews with farmers, neighbors nearby the farms, and environmentalists about hog farming in Eastern North Carolina. These oral histories were produced for HI 533 Theory and Practice of Oral History, taught by Dr. Gwynn Thayer. The class was held in spring of 2023 and the interviews date to April and May 2023.
The purpose of the Graduate Student Oral Histories on North Carolina Hog Farming was to analyze and consider different perspectives regarding hog farming in Eastern North Carolina. These oral histories capture the debate over whether different techniques for treating hog waste are acceptable to the environment and to public health. Farmers of hog farms, neighbors of these farms, and members of the Waterkeeper Alliance were interviewed.
Hog farmers historically have used large open pools called lagoons to store hog feces and urine. When lagoons become full, many farmers spray the waste onto crop fields as fertilizer. This has been a legal and regular practice for many years; however, there are concerns about the effects on air and water quality and ultimately public health. The debate over whether this is a safe practice involves hog farmers, neighbors who breathe the air and drink the water, and environmentalists who study the impact on waterways. Many lawsuits have been raised in recent years against hog farmers and Smithfield Foods who contract with most of the farmers involved in this debate.
The Farmers series includes interviews with hog farmers. These farmers describe the management of their farms, their families, safety precautions they follow, and frustrations with the lawsuits against hog farming. They maintain that accusations of unsafe air, water, and smells are exaggerated or untrue. Some describe positive relationships with their neighbors, as opposed to contentious or adversarial relationships. They also express a desire to be good stewards of the environment and create sustainable practices.
The Neighbors series includes interviews with people who live near hog farms and have experienced health problems and other nuisances. Issues include nauseating smells, discolored water, difficulty breathing, and multiple cancer diagnoses in their families. Some families had to boil water before bathing or purchase bottled water so they did not drink the tap water. Flooding from strong storms and hurricanes compounds the issues of runoff of waste into surrounding areas. Many neighbors are from African American communities. Similarly most of the plaintiffs are African American while most of the farmers are white.
The Waterkeeper Alliance series contains interviews with members of the Waterkeeper Alliance. The Waterkeeper Alliance is an organization dedicated to protecting the right to clean water for communities around the globe. In the case of hog farming in Eastern North Carolina, they are fighting to keep bacteria from hog waste lagoons from contaminating local waterways. They also partner with the neighbors of hog farms to bring awareness to the issue.
The Graduate Student Oral Histories on North Carolina Hog Farming include audio files of interviews with farmers, neighbors nearby the farms, and environmentalists about hog farming in Eastern North Carolina. These oral histories were produced for HI 533 Theory and Practice of Oral History, taught by Dr. Gwynn Thayer. The class was held in spring of 2023 and the interviews date to April and May 2023.
This collection is arranged in three series: Farmers, Neighbors, and Waterkeeper Alliance
Digital media files are arranged as received. File count of digital media may exclude system files; hidden, deleted, or excluded files; and duplicate files.
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.
[Identification of item], Graduate Student Oral Histories on North Carolina Hog Farming, MC 00740, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Accession 2023.0133
Finding aid written by: Cathy Dorin-Black, 2023 September; Collection guide updated and digital materials processed by Alexander Daniels, 2023 October
The collection is organized into three principal series:
The Farmers series includes interviews with hog farmers. These farmers describe management of their farms, their families, safety precautions they follow, and frustrations with the lawsuits against hog farming. They maintain that accusations of unsafe air, water, and smells are exaggerated or untrue. Some describe positive relationships with their neighbors, as opposed to contentious or adversarial relationships. They also express a desire to be good stewards of the environment and create sustainable practices.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV audio file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
The Neighbors series includes interviews with people who live near hog farms and have experienced health problems and other nuisances. Issues include nauseating smells, discolored water, difficulty breathing, and multiple cancer diagnoses in their families. Some families had to boil water before bathing or purchase bottled water so they did not drink the tap water. Flooding from strong storms and hurricanes compounds the issues of runoff of waste into surrounding areas. Many neighbors are from African American communities. Similarly most of the plaintiffs are African American while most of the farmers are white.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
The Waterkeeper Alliance series contains interviews with members of the Waterkeeper Alliance. The Waterkeeper Alliance is an organization dedicated to protecting the right to clean water for communities around the globe. In the case of hog farming in Eastern North Carolina, they are fighting to keep bacteria from hog waste lagoons from contaminating local waterways. They also partner with the neighbors of hog farms to bring awareness to the issue.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Included is one Microsoft Word for Windows document and one .WAV file.
Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
Collection is open for research. Remote access may be available upon review. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Graduate Student Oral Histories on North Carolina Hog Farming, MC 00740, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.