William Hal Gorby

William Hal Gorby serves as a Teaching Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Advising at West Virginia University, specializing in U.S. history with a focus on West Virginia and Appalachian History, Immigration/ Ethnic History, and 20th Century U.S. Working Class. His research examines the intersection of labor, ethnicity, and industrialization in the Upper Ohio Valley.

Research Interests center on Polish and Eastern European immigrants in West Virginia's coal and steel industries, analyzing their cultural resilience during nativist movements like Prohibition and their role in labor unionization (e.g., CIO organizing at Wheeling Steel). Current work explores modern political economy in West Virginia from the 1970s-2000s, termed the 'Age of Globalization.'

Notable Publications include his book Wheeling's Polonia (2020), which investigates Polish-American cultural adaptation, and articles spanning economic control in industrial towns, ethnic subculture conflicts, and immigrant criminalization. His public history contributions include the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary The Mine Wars (2016) and a podcast on Wheeling's brewing history.

• Scientific Awards: Emmy nomination for research (2016 documentary)

Contact: William.Gorby@mail.wvu.edu