Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
The Working Americans program explored and celebrated work-related traditions, looking at Americans not as people from a certain area of the country or from a particular culture, but in terms of how they made their living and what they needed to know to do their jobs. Each occupation has its own traditions and its own body of skills. In the Working Americans section, Festival-goers could meet and talk with members of many unions and organizations while they demonstrated the particular know-how essential to their varied tasks and while they shared, in the workshop areas, the particular tales and jokes that grow out of the nature of the work they do.
The Folklife of Transportation Workers Project celebrated the lore, lifestyles, and occupational skills of the American workers who operate, maintain, and regulate the nation's transport system. The airline pilot's complex take-off procedure, the flight attendant's responsibility for safety in the cabin, the railroader's ability to calculate and make complicated box-car switches could be found here; as well as bus and taxi drivers' tales of ways to handle over-demanding passengers, truck driving songs, and seafarers' yarns. Transportation workers keep the nation's economic lifeblood moving. They also harbor a rich lore, replete with heroes, tall tales, and songs, that was demonstrated within this program.
June 16-27, Workers Who Extract and Shape. Presentations included glass bottle blowing, glass engraving and horseshoe making.
July 1-11, Workers Who Build. This program celebrated the skills and folklore of the building and construction trades. Participants demonstrated building crafts such as carpentry, tile and terrazzo skills, and even the casting of plaster masks of visitors' faces.
July 14-25, Workers Who Clothe Us. Participants celebrated the skills and folklore of workers in the garment trades, with demonstrations of clothes design, bonnaz (machine embroidery), leather work, and industrial loom work.
July 28-August 8, Workers in Communications, Arts & Recreation. This theme celebrated the skills and folklore of the print and broadcast media, telephone communications, and performing arts. Members of the Graphic Arts International Union demonstrated newspaper printing, four-color printing, and book binding. Members of the United Paperworkers International Union demonstrated papermaking, and members of various performing arts groups gave workshops.
August 11-22, Workers in Professional & Technical Skills, Transportation. Presentations celebrated the skills and folklore of professionals who work in health and medical fields, the tobacco industry, and the print and copying industry. Demonstrations included hospital workers demonstrating operating room techniques, cigar rolling, pharmacists making compounds, and body repairmen working on cars. The Transportation area presented the occupational culture of the men and women who work in the various modes of transportation, including the railroads, metropolitan and long-distance buses, taxicabs, trucks, ships, and stations of the Coast Guard. In the Transportation area, the skills of railroad men, airline pilots, truck drivers and seamen were featured.
August 25-September 6, Workers Who Feed Us, Transportation. Participants celebrates the skills and folklore of people involved with various aspects of production, preparation, and distribution of food. Hotel and restaurant workers demonstrated decorative ice carving, specialty table settings, wine stewarding, and cold food decoration. The Transportation area presented the occupational culture of those who work in the various modes of transportation, including skills demonstrations by airline, railroad and metropolitan transit workers, as well as by Coast Guardsmen who showed ornamental rope work and knot tying.
Shirley Askew served as Program Coordinator, with Robert McCarl as Folklorist, Robert Porter as Field Research & Presentation Specialist, and Susan Donahue as Assistant Program Coordinator. Peter Seitel was Project Coordinator for the Transportation program, assisted by Jack Santino.
Sponsors included the AFL-CIO and its Affiliates, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Transportation.
Transportation fieldworkers:
John Drake, Elaine Eff, Jan Faul, Archie Green, Alice Lacy, Worth Long, Luis Kemnitzer
Presenters:
Benny Ambush, Karen Byrne, Debbie Dixon, Steve Hagberg, Marta Schley, Barbara Schwartz
Participants:
Workers Who Extract and Shape Products
Members of the following unions:
United Cement, Lime & Gypsum Workers International Union
Thomas F. Miechur, President
Glass Bottle Blowers Association of the United States and Canada
Harry A. Tulley, President
American Flint Glass Workers Union
George M. Parker, President
International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of the United States and Canada
Duke Bonde, Jr., President
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Floyd E. Smith, President
Molders and Allied Workers Union
Anton J. Trizna, President
American Federation of Musicians
Hal C. Davis, President
The Music Performance Trust Funds
Kenneth E. Raine, Trustee
Saul Broudy
Andy Cohen
Larry Hanks
Fred Holstein
John Kolstad
Lew London
Faith Petrick
Utah Phillips
Mark Ross
Jane Voss
Bodie Wagner
Pop Wagner
Workers Who Build
Members of the following unions:
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
Thomas F. Murphy, President
United Brick and Clay Workers of America
Roy L. Brown, President
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
William Sidell, President
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Charles H. Pillard, President
International Union of Operating Engineers
J.C. Turner, President
International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
John H. Lyons, President
Laborers' International Union of North America
Angelo Fosco, President
International Union of Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers
Kenneth M. Edwards, President
Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association of the United States and Canada
Joseph T. Power, President
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
Martin J. Ward, President
Sheet Metal Workers International Union
Edward J. Carlough, President
Workers Who Clothe Us
Members of the following unions:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
Murray H. Finley, President
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union
Sol C. Chaikin, President
International Leather Goods, Plastics and Novelty Workers Union
Ben Feldman, President
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Furriers Division
Joseph Belsky, President
Workers in Communications, Arts and Recreation
Members of the following unions:
Actors' Equity Association
Theodore Bikel, President
Communications Workers of America
Glenn E. Watts, President
Graphic Arts International Union
Kenneth J. Brown, President
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Kenneth Harvey, President
National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians
Edward M. Lynch, President
International Association of Fire Fighters
William H. McClennan, President
American Guild of Musical Artists
Cornell MacNeil, President
American Guild of Variety Artists
Penny Singleton, Executive-President
Hebrew Actors' Union
Herman Yablokoff, President
Workers in Professional and Technical Skills and Services
Members of the following unions and organizations:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
Murray H. Finley, President
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
Jerry A. Johnson, Ph.D., President
James J. Garibaldi, Executive Director
Ronald Stone, OTR; President
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association
Silbyl Levine, OTR; President
District of Columbia Occupational Therapy Association
Panelpha Kyler, OTR; President
Maryland Occupational Therapy Association
Retail Clerks International Association
James T. Housewright, President
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Alvin E. Heaps, President
Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO
George Hardy, President
Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO, Locals 689, 1551, 1138, 1098
William Deal
Robert Fearington
Ken Grow
William Downey
John Geib
John Palardy
Ron Reier
John Adams
Robert Adams
James Gibson
L. Ray Gossard
Lee Ice
Monte W. Monteith
Bernard O'Mahoney
New York Taxi Drivers Union, AFL-CIO, Local 3036
Mike Rosenthal
Hy Hershkowitz
Tom Caulfield
Ethel Peoples
Air Traffic Control Association
Arthur Pittius
Stewart A. Dawson
John Goon
Donald E. Jicka
L.I. Pearce
Paul Moore
Capt. Peter W. O'Neil
Thelma K. Swofford
Edward J. Gillet
James F. Arthur
Steward A. Dawson
Robert D. Rudich
Joe B. Shirley
Clarence T. Tolpo, Beaumont, Texas
Lt. Charlotte Wood
Flight Engineers International Association
John Minor
I. (Hauk) Turner
Abe Sewalson
J.P. Trottier
International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, Local 1650
Bill Hampton
Kenneth Green
Lloyd Mann
Lloyd Crindlebaugh
F.E. Wood
Bill Hoppe
H.L. Norton
G.F. Roady
M.R. McCutchen
L.C. Leeds
Eddie Glaszczak, Platte City, Missouri
Bill Hoffman, Liberty, Missouri
B.J. Wilson
J.J. Kunrod
John McKim
Harry Powell
B.L. Yardley
N.C. Mosley
Gary Mason
S.M. Ballew
Tracy Bales
Wally Hayward
Dick Lincoln
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
B.B. Thomas
B.M. Byrd
O.L. Williams
E.B. Dollar
G.L. Bridgeman
Charles McHuges
Ed Irby
Transport Workers Union, Maintenance, Local 514
R.N. Smythe
P.O. Young
H.V. Highberger
C.R. Burke
J.S. Lowe
B.L. Lamb
S.W. Hathcock
P.E. Corn
A.B. Williams
J. Shade
R.H. Stanley
W.D. Myers
A.D. Sorenson
J.L. Locut
W.C. Popejoy
R.J. Barker
B.M. Maris
S.H. Walden
Workers Who Feed Us
Members of the following unions and organizations:
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America
Joseph Belsky, President
Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union of America
Daniel E. Conway, President
Hotel and Restaurant Employees' and Bartenders' International Union
Edward T. Hanley, General President
Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association
Walter A. Martz, President
James E. Click, General Manager
The Omaha Livestock Exchange
Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO, Locals 689, 1551, 1138, 1098
William Deal
Robert Fearington
Ken Grow
William Downey
John Geib
John Palardy
Ron Reier
John Adams
Robert Adams
James Gibson
L. Ray Gossard
Lee Ice
Monte W. Monteith
Bernard O'Mahoney
Vince Hobday
Henry Hawkins
Air Traffic Control Association
Arthur Pittius
Stewart A. Dawson
John Goon
Donald E. Jicka
L.I. Pearce
Paul Moore
Capt. Peter W. O'Neil
Thelma K. Swofford
Edward J. Gillet
James F. Arthur
Steward A. Dawson
Robert D. Rudich
Joe B. Shirley
Clarence T. Tolpo, Beaumont, Texas
Lt. Charlotte Wood
Flight Engineers International Association
John Minor
I. (Hauk) Turner
Abe Sewalson
J.P. Trottier
International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, Local 1650
Bill Hampton
Kenneth Green
Lloyd Mann
Lloyd Crindlebaugh
F.E. Wood
Bill Hoppe
H.L. Norton
G.F. Roady
M.R. McCutchen
L.C. Leeds
Eddie Glaszczak, Platte City, Missouri
Bill Hoffman, Liberty, Missouri
B.J. Wilson
J.J. Kunrod
John McKim
Harry Powell
B.L. Yardley
N.C. Mosley
Gary Mason
S.M. Ballew
Tracy Bales
Wally Hayward
Dick Lincoln
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
B.B. Thomas
B.M. Byrd
O.L. Williams
E.B. Dollar
G.L. Bridgeman
Charles Hughes
Ed Irby
Transport Workers Union, Maintenance, Local 514
R.N. Smythe
P.O. Young
H.V. Highberger
C.R. Burke
J.S. Lowe
B.L. Lamb
S.W. Hathcock
P.E. Corn
A.B. Williams
J. Shade
R.H. Stanley
W.D. Myers
A.D. Sorenson
J.L. Locut
W.C. Popejoy
R.J. Barker
B.M. Maris
S.H. Walden
R.C. Sagar
M.D. Harrell
B.L. Ewing
J.L. Guynn
T.R. Hopper
C.E. Quinn
K.L. Anderson
Truckers
Jim Ringer
Ray Bieri
Jack Hamilton
George Gordon
Edgar Graves
James Marshall
Artie Marshall
William Peoples, III
Margaret Brooks
Bernice McDonald
Doris Miller
Ed Miller
Lee Voorhies
Richard Voorhies
Timmy Voorhies
Dale Setzer
Harry Bavdakian
Sea Chanteys
Louis Killen
Gerret Warner
Jeff Warner
John Benson
Jeff Davis
John Roberts
Maintenance of Way
Simon Shaw
Al Marshall
Bob Dudley
Roy Johnson
Clifton Anderson
Robert Dudley
Henry Hawkins
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Locals 1395, 43, 468, 364, 175
C. Lightfoot
G. Butcher
S. Miedzienowski
W. Palmer
J. Palumbo
M. Walston
P. Lawson
W. Hardin
C. Green
S. Siadys
F. Burke
H. Lewin
Coast Guard
BMC C.D. Haywood
QM1 G.H. Hornbeck
BMC D.B. McMichael
ASM T.A. Hallmark
BM1 L.L. Proud
QM2 J.W. White
MK2 B.G. Borato
MK1 S.J. Halloran
Allied Pilots Association
Capt. Jenks
Jim Foringer
Capt. N. Schweitzer
W.J. Rogers
Capt. (Hap) Hazard
Al Voras
Transportation Workers Union Flight Attendants, Local 552
Karen Hill
Marti O'Rourke
Dee Dee Dougherty
Tootie Higgs
Judy Marek
Ed Gold
Ed Pagan
Linda Welker
Gussie Utting
Roy Brayton
Carol Peisinger
Fran Bollero
Carolyn Green
Mary Jo Kerr
Janet Piersan
United Transportation Union
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.