Sewing Machine Line Drawing
Josephine Finley was a homemaker. Many African American women during the 1960s chose a profession of homemaking or domestic work due to racial and educational barriers to getting higher-status jobs. During World War II, Black women were encouraged to help the war effort by taking domestic labor jobs so that white women would be able to work in the manufacturing industry. In 1960, around 33 percent of Black women worked as domestic laborers. Also, in the 1960s, less than 20 percent of Black women held clerical jobs, compared to around 50 percent of white women.
Elderly Care
Daniel Lee Finley and Elizabeth Finley worked at the Draper Valley Nursing Home. They are the siblings of James, George, and Josephine, who were named in the lawsuit. This shows that the family is very generous and willing to help in the community, especially those who need it most. There is a history of abuse in hospice care and medical facilities regarding African Americans. Regardless of income, African Americans are more likely than white people to avoid hospice care. This disparity is rooted in factors such as cultural apprehension toward the medical system, discrimination, and racial medical abuse. In the 1960s and 1970s, Black patients eligible for hospice care faced struggles in accessing end-of-life care, not only due to financial barriers but also because of discrimination. Daniel and Elizabeth Finley’s service in elderly care demonstrates the steps African Americans took to integrate themselves into the healthcare system and make these spaces more welcoming.
Wheat Line Drawing
Henry Finley was a farmer. Agriculture is one of the most populous industries in southwest Virginia. The fertility of the soil and the vast waterways that inhabit the region solidified its status as a growing area for both the colonists and modern-day farmers. With the arrival of railroads in the mid-19th century, Pulaski's agricultural market spread across the nation. However, there is a current decline in agriculture in Pulaski. There is a need to encourage younger generations to pursue this career and to ensure and improve the economic resilience of farms.
Henry Finley WWI Draft Card
This image is Henry Finley's Draft Registration Card from World War I. At age 25, Henry would have been a part of the first registration, as mandated by the Selective Service Act of 1917. Listed on this document is Henry's birthplace, Draper, Virginia. Also, his occupation at the time was farming. This record serves as a representation of what Henry's life was like at the time of the WWI Draft, in June of 1917.
Fishing Line Drawing
David Peoples enjoyed fishing. Fishing as a tradition has followed Black Americans since slavery, when enslaved people needed to fish to supplement their limited food supplies. Following emancipation, Black Americans in the South continued to fish, as Black people were pushed to the coastal areas after the Civil War. Fishing became a vital resource for Black families to feed their households and earn an income (“Celebrating Black History through Fishing,” 2025). At one point, 90 percent of the commercial fishing industry in the Chesapeake Bay was employed and owned by African Americans; however, in current times, this number has significantly dwindled.
Draper Pin image, coordinates, and Township petition
Henry Finley lived in Draper and signed a petition for Draper Township in October 1924. The District of Draper covers 40 acres of Pulaski County. The district is a historic aspect of Pulaski and encompasses the historic resources that came together in Draper Valley into a railroad depot in the 1800s. The establishment of the Draper Depot on the Norfolk and Western Railway led to the area's existence. The oldest surviving building is the Draper Mercantile of 1887. (“077-0169” 2024) Draper was named after the Draper family, most likely charter investors in the Virginia Company (“Early History of Virginia Drapers” 2025).
To the honorable A. A. Campbell, Judge of the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Virginia
Preamble for petition for Draper Township
Sugar & Coffee Line Drawing
David enjoyed drinking coffee with lots of sugar. This anecdote was extracted from David Finley’s obituary, among other stories of his life and enjoyments. The small details the family added to his obituary demonstrate their strong love and appreciation for him.
Pulaski Furniture Co Tag
James Finley worked at Pulaski Furniture Company. Pulaski Furniture Company was founded in 1955, originally named the Pulaski Veneer and Furniture Company. The company mainly produced bedroom furniture.
Pulaski Furniture Co Tag
Giles and Pearisburg Town Sign
Members of the Finley family lived in Pearisburg, Giles County, which was established in 1806. It was formed from various parts of Tazewell, Montgomery, and Monroe counties. Giles County is known for its beautiful nature and is home to 37 miles of the New River.
Gunpowder Barrel
Henry Finley worked at the Hercules Powder Factory. Hercules is a gunpowder company and the operating contractor for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP), a government-owned, contractor-operated facility. Hercules Inc. was the contractor responsible for building the RAAP facility, and by the end of World War II, the facility included 870 buildings. In 1941, due to unsatisfactory wages, a strike was called at the Hercules powder plant. Demands were to increase the wage from $1.10 to $1.50. Hercules’ subsidiary company, RAAP, was essentially a nuclear waste site located near primarily minority communities, specifically Black communities. Many of the people in these communities went to work for RAAP, and in turn, the companies polluted these areas, contributing to a phenomenon known as “ Eco-Racism”. RAAP also lacked proper safety regulations, leading to chronic illnesses in individuals who worked at the plant. Due to the historical lack of high-paying work opportunities for Black Americans, many accepted the hazardous working conditions to have access to higher pay.
Vegetables
Henry Finley was a farmer and gardener who grew vegetables.
David William Peoples
David Peoples is a descendant of the Finley family. He was the son of Ralph Peoples and Josephine Finley Peoples. As his 2022 obituary states, David Peoples enjoyed fishing, telling stories, and drinking coffee with lots of sugar.
Photo courtesy of Finley family
Named Participant List
Henry Finley is the father of the Finley family and was signed on as the parent of the Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. George Finley was the eldest son who signed on to the case. James Finley was the youngest son who signed on to the case. Josephine Finlehy was the youngest sibling to sign on to the case.
George Finley, James Finley and Josephine Finley, infants, by Henry Finley, their father and next friend,
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
Storytelling
David Peoples enjoyed telling stories with friends and family. Storytelling has been an integral part of African American history and culture. The tradition has existed since the first enslaved people set foot in the Americas, as they carried with them their oral traditions. From then on, folktales helped preserve the remnants of African culture in the Americas while also serving the spirit and giving slaves a brief escape from the hardships of slavery. Folktales have also become a part of African American literature, with many being written down, such as "Tar-Baby," "Brer Fox," "Brer Rabbit," and many more.
Pitchfork
Henry Finley was a farmer. Agriculture is one of the most populous industries in southwest Virginia. The fertility of the soil and the vast waterways that inhabit the region solidified its status as a growing area for both the colonists and modern-day farmers. With the arrival of railroads in the mid-19th century, Pulaski's agricultural market spread across the nation. However, there is a current decline in agriculture in Pulaski. There is a need to encourage younger generations to pursue this career and to ensure and improve the economic resilience of farms.
Josephine
Click here to watch
Finley Family
Jill Williams
Created on August 11, 2025
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Transcript
Sewing Machine Line Drawing
Josephine Finley was a homemaker. Many African American women during the 1960s chose a profession of homemaking or domestic work due to racial and educational barriers to getting higher-status jobs. During World War II, Black women were encouraged to help the war effort by taking domestic labor jobs so that white women would be able to work in the manufacturing industry. In 1960, around 33 percent of Black women worked as domestic laborers. Also, in the 1960s, less than 20 percent of Black women held clerical jobs, compared to around 50 percent of white women.
Elderly Care
Daniel Lee Finley and Elizabeth Finley worked at the Draper Valley Nursing Home. They are the siblings of James, George, and Josephine, who were named in the lawsuit. This shows that the family is very generous and willing to help in the community, especially those who need it most. There is a history of abuse in hospice care and medical facilities regarding African Americans. Regardless of income, African Americans are more likely than white people to avoid hospice care. This disparity is rooted in factors such as cultural apprehension toward the medical system, discrimination, and racial medical abuse. In the 1960s and 1970s, Black patients eligible for hospice care faced struggles in accessing end-of-life care, not only due to financial barriers but also because of discrimination. Daniel and Elizabeth Finley’s service in elderly care demonstrates the steps African Americans took to integrate themselves into the healthcare system and make these spaces more welcoming.
Wheat Line Drawing
Henry Finley was a farmer. Agriculture is one of the most populous industries in southwest Virginia. The fertility of the soil and the vast waterways that inhabit the region solidified its status as a growing area for both the colonists and modern-day farmers. With the arrival of railroads in the mid-19th century, Pulaski's agricultural market spread across the nation. However, there is a current decline in agriculture in Pulaski. There is a need to encourage younger generations to pursue this career and to ensure and improve the economic resilience of farms.
Henry Finley WWI Draft Card
This image is Henry Finley's Draft Registration Card from World War I. At age 25, Henry would have been a part of the first registration, as mandated by the Selective Service Act of 1917. Listed on this document is Henry's birthplace, Draper, Virginia. Also, his occupation at the time was farming. This record serves as a representation of what Henry's life was like at the time of the WWI Draft, in June of 1917.
Fishing Line Drawing
David Peoples enjoyed fishing. Fishing as a tradition has followed Black Americans since slavery, when enslaved people needed to fish to supplement their limited food supplies. Following emancipation, Black Americans in the South continued to fish, as Black people were pushed to the coastal areas after the Civil War. Fishing became a vital resource for Black families to feed their households and earn an income (“Celebrating Black History through Fishing,” 2025). At one point, 90 percent of the commercial fishing industry in the Chesapeake Bay was employed and owned by African Americans; however, in current times, this number has significantly dwindled.
Draper Pin image, coordinates, and Township petition
Henry Finley lived in Draper and signed a petition for Draper Township in October 1924. The District of Draper covers 40 acres of Pulaski County. The district is a historic aspect of Pulaski and encompasses the historic resources that came together in Draper Valley into a railroad depot in the 1800s. The establishment of the Draper Depot on the Norfolk and Western Railway led to the area's existence. The oldest surviving building is the Draper Mercantile of 1887. (“077-0169” 2024) Draper was named after the Draper family, most likely charter investors in the Virginia Company (“Early History of Virginia Drapers” 2025).
To the honorable A. A. Campbell, Judge of the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Virginia
Preamble for petition for Draper Township
Sugar & Coffee Line Drawing
David enjoyed drinking coffee with lots of sugar. This anecdote was extracted from David Finley’s obituary, among other stories of his life and enjoyments. The small details the family added to his obituary demonstrate their strong love and appreciation for him.
Pulaski Furniture Co Tag
James Finley worked at Pulaski Furniture Company. Pulaski Furniture Company was founded in 1955, originally named the Pulaski Veneer and Furniture Company. The company mainly produced bedroom furniture.
Pulaski Furniture Co Tag
Giles and Pearisburg Town Sign
Members of the Finley family lived in Pearisburg, Giles County, which was established in 1806. It was formed from various parts of Tazewell, Montgomery, and Monroe counties. Giles County is known for its beautiful nature and is home to 37 miles of the New River.
Gunpowder Barrel
Henry Finley worked at the Hercules Powder Factory. Hercules is a gunpowder company and the operating contractor for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP), a government-owned, contractor-operated facility. Hercules Inc. was the contractor responsible for building the RAAP facility, and by the end of World War II, the facility included 870 buildings. In 1941, due to unsatisfactory wages, a strike was called at the Hercules powder plant. Demands were to increase the wage from $1.10 to $1.50. Hercules’ subsidiary company, RAAP, was essentially a nuclear waste site located near primarily minority communities, specifically Black communities. Many of the people in these communities went to work for RAAP, and in turn, the companies polluted these areas, contributing to a phenomenon known as “ Eco-Racism”. RAAP also lacked proper safety regulations, leading to chronic illnesses in individuals who worked at the plant. Due to the historical lack of high-paying work opportunities for Black Americans, many accepted the hazardous working conditions to have access to higher pay.
Vegetables
Henry Finley was a farmer and gardener who grew vegetables.
David William Peoples
David Peoples is a descendant of the Finley family. He was the son of Ralph Peoples and Josephine Finley Peoples. As his 2022 obituary states, David Peoples enjoyed fishing, telling stories, and drinking coffee with lots of sugar.
Photo courtesy of Finley family
Named Participant List
Henry Finley is the father of the Finley family and was signed on as the parent of the Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. George Finley was the eldest son who signed on to the case. James Finley was the youngest son who signed on to the case. Josephine Finlehy was the youngest sibling to sign on to the case.
George Finley, James Finley and Josephine Finley, infants, by Henry Finley, their father and next friend,
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
Storytelling
David Peoples enjoyed telling stories with friends and family. Storytelling has been an integral part of African American history and culture. The tradition has existed since the first enslaved people set foot in the Americas, as they carried with them their oral traditions. From then on, folktales helped preserve the remnants of African culture in the Americas while also serving the spirit and giving slaves a brief escape from the hardships of slavery. Folktales have also become a part of African American literature, with many being written down, such as "Tar-Baby," "Brer Fox," "Brer Rabbit," and many more.
Pitchfork
Henry Finley was a farmer. Agriculture is one of the most populous industries in southwest Virginia. The fertility of the soil and the vast waterways that inhabit the region solidified its status as a growing area for both the colonists and modern-day farmers. With the arrival of railroads in the mid-19th century, Pulaski's agricultural market spread across the nation. However, there is a current decline in agriculture in Pulaski. There is a need to encourage younger generations to pursue this career and to ensure and improve the economic resilience of farms.
Josephine
Click here to watch