A newspaper photograph of Clyde L. Machamer holding a “We Burn Coal” poster. The photo was published in the Pottsville Republican on December 1, 1965, with the following caption:
PROMOTES COAL
Clyde L. Machamer, president Independent Miners and Associates [IMA], affixes “We Burn Coal” poster to store window in center-city Pottsville. The IMA is distributing over 25,000 window and car bumper stickers to promote the independent mining industry which currently has over 6000 miners employed.
Independent miners were originally known as bootleg miners.
Clyde L. Machamer died on April 22, 1989, and his obituary appeared in the Pottsville Republican on April 24, 1989:
CLYDE L. MACHAMER SR.; FORMER MINERS’ PRESIDENT
Clyde L. “Musty” Machamer Sr., 75, a former president of the Independent Miners and Associates (IMA) of Schuylkill County, died Saturday in Pottsville Hospital.
Mr. Machamer, of 1501 E. Grand Ave., Tower City, headed the independent miners’ organization for many years. The IMA originated in this area in the 1930s and was later headquartered in the Masonic Building, Pottsville.
He participated in many meetings and conferences dealing with independent mining operations. In 1975, he attended an energy conference with President Gerald Ford. In 1968, he represented the independent mining industry at a safety conference in Washington, D. C., having been invited by the then Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. Mr. Machamer and independent mining workers participated in many mine disaster rescue operations.
He was born in Tower City, a son of the late Reuben Machamer and Rebecca [Warner] Machamer.
Mr. Machamer was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tower City. He was a member of the former Philharmonic Club of Tower City.
Surviving are his wife, the former Elva Fagan; two sons, Clyde L. Machamer Jr., Elkton, Maryland and Dennis Machamer, Pine Grove; five grandchildren; a sister, Catherine Raudenbush, Williamstown.
But the obituary only told a small part of the story. Follow-up blog posts will explore how Machamer, as the leader of the IMA, handled the issues regarding compensation for miners afflicted with “black lung,” the movement from coal to other sources of energy, testimony before Congress and other investigative committees, and battles between the independent miner, owners, and the United Mine Workers of America.
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Articles and photo from Newspapers.com.
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