Through an oral history interview, Blondell Mason talks about growing up in Baltimore City and then Calvert County, his children, farming, and shucking oysters. Mason describes his experiences working as an oyster shucker for approximately 30 years at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland). Mason was one of the fastest oyster shuckers at the seafood house. In addition to discussing why he enjoyed working as an oyster shucker, he describes the changes over the years in the oyster shucking industry, including the changing demographics of the industry's workers. Mason also talks about a man who tried to form an oyster union to negotiate wages. Both parts one and two of the interview contain the same overall content, but different details.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Dated 19960417 and 19970417 (transcribed from transcripts).
Biographical / Historical:
Behind the Apron oral history project documents the experiences of Black oyster and clam workers in Southern Maryland. The interviews explore issues such as: the connection between land and water, between farming and the fishing industry; the communal spirit and camaraderie amongst oyster workers; the experience of women oyster workers; and the changes in the oyster packing industry resulting in a diminshed African American workforce. The audio interviews were conducted by Shelia Montague Parker in 1997.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV005260
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
