Mason, James L., interviewed by Daniel Kerr and HIST 337 Class, 2008
- Scope and content:
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Records an interview with James L. Mason, President of the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, and an unidentified VPGC employee, conducted by Daniel Kerr and students in the HIST 337 class. Mason gives an overview of the turkey industry in the Shenandoah Valley, starting in the 1950s, and discusses various name changes, acquisitions and significant events in the history of the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative (VPGC). Mason addresses topics such as securing financing; various turkey breeds; plant fires at VPGC; product decisions; USDA audits and product recalls; VPGC employee and labor issues, such as demographic changes over time, retention rates and unionization; relationships with growers, competitors; the impact of feed and energy prices on their business.
Access and use
- Location of collection:
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Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704Carrier LibraryJames Madison University880 Madison DriveHarrisonburg, VA 22807
- Contact for questions and access:
- POC: Tiffany ColeEmail: coletw@jmu.eduPhone: (540) 568-3444Email: library-special@jmu.eduPhone: (540) 568-3612Fax: (540) 568-3405
- Restrictions:
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Open for research
- Terms of access:
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Public Domain
- Parent restrictions:
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Access to oral history interviews is governed by a deed of gift signed by the interviewer and narrator(s). Most interviews are open for research without restriction. In instances in which the narrator did not grant permission for full online access to recordings and transcripts, those restrictions are noted in a Conditions Governing Access note for each interview. In some instances, access to audio and transcripts is permissible only within the Special Collections reading room.
Pseudonyms are used when requested by the narrator.
- Parent terms of access:
- Public Domain