In 1999, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark produced an educational resource entitled Spirit of Steel: Music of the Mines, Railroads and Mills of the Birmingham District . The focus of the book centers on the labor-related music of the Birmingham district. Migrants pouring into Birmingham’s industrial district, whether from the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta or the Appalachian hills, carried with them their unique styles of music, as well as their unique traditions and culture. Music of the Mines presents the histories and personal recollections of the musicians and their families, and an outstanding array of recordings ranging from soulful ballads and blues, to union songs and old-time fiddling.
