Breaking the Barrier of Women Coal Miners
In the coalfields of eastern Kentucky, where coal seams carved both livelihood and hardship, Diana Baldwin carved history. At just 25 years old, in December 1973, she became one of the first two women, often credited as the first in a union mine, to work underground in a U.S. coal mine. Hired at Beth-Elkhorn Coal Corporation’s Mine No. 29 in Jenkins, Kentucky, Baldwin defied not only tradition but also the superstition that a woman underground would bring disaster.
A Mother’s Resolve
Born and raised in Letcher County, Kentucky, Baldwin enjoyed the outdoors and her father’s stories of his time working in the mines. When she became a single mother of three, she made the decision to leave her job as a hospital receptionist and take on the dangers of underground mining for the betterment of her family. As she later recalled, she was earning less than half in clerical work than she could make underground. Higher wages meant stability and a chance to raise her family without depending on anyone else.
Newspapers across the country began running her story almost immediately. In 1974, The New York Times published an article that captured the skepticism she faced. Baldwin recalled that some miners’ wives said mining wasn’t a woman’s job and that women should rely on husbands instead. But Baldwin had no interest in that path. She raised her children on her own.
The Mining Life
Despite being one of the first women coal miners, Baldwin became the first woman to operate a shuttle car underground. This role is physically demanding and dangerous and had long been considered beyond women’s abilities. The mines tested her, but she went on to earn the respect of her co-workers through hard work and persistence.
The early years were not without difficulty. She and fellow trailblazer Anita Cherry battled sickness related to alkaline dust exposure. Even through the challenges, Baldwin endured, quietly proving that women could handle the same conditions as men.
Firsts of Many
Baldwin’s impact did not end with her entry into the mines. Throughout her time underground, she advanced to leadership responsibilities and later served as a federal mine safety inspector with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). In these positions, individuals are responsible for overseeing operations and enforcing safety standards, critical work in an industry all too familiar with accidents.
Legacy
By pioneering her way into the mines, Baldwin helped lead a movement, and by the end of the 1970s, more than 2,000 women were working underground across Appalachia. Her decision to enter the mines in 1973 made headlines, but her perseverance turned her into a role model for women seeking work in industries that were long considered closed to them.
In 2016, Diana Baldwin passed away. She was remembered by her family, community, and historians as a true trailblazer. Her bravery in stepping into Mine No. 29 broke barriers for women in mining and created a turning point in the history of coal mining.
Sources and Further Reading
Armstrong, Holly. “A Brief History of Women in Mining.” U.S. Department of Labor Blog. March 22, 2022. https://blog.dol.gov/2022/03/22/a-brief-history-of-women-in-mining.
MSHA Safety Services. “The First Female Miner: Diana Baldwin.” MSHA Safety Services. September 17, 2024. https://mshasafetyservices.com/the-first-female-miner-diana-baldwin/.
“N.Y. Times: In Coal Mine No. 29 Two Women Work Alongside the Men; Kin Tried to…” The New York Times. May 18, 1974. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/18/archives/in-coal-mine-no-29-two-women-work-alongside-the-men-kin-tried-to.html.
TheMountainEagle.com. “Nation’s First Female Miner Remembered.” The Mountain Eagle. June 1, 2016. https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/nations-first-female-miner-remembered/.
Women in Mining USA. “WIM USA Honors Inclusion Trailblazers.” Women in Mining USA. Accessed September 2025. https://www.womeninmining.us/wim-usa-honors-inclusion-trailblazers/