Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
Water Ways: Mid-Atlantic Maritime Communities was a Festival program about change and renewal, pride in the past and hope for the future, and the interconnectedness of cultural life and natural history in the region. It was composed of the stories of Festival participants and their communities, told in their own words. It spoke about their joys, frustrations, and efforts to conserve the rich heritage that permeates this region like the smell of salt water and marsh mud. The people who live around the ocean and bays, marshes and swamps, rivers and creeks of the Mid-Atlantic had lifetimes of knowledge that they generously shared with Festival visitors on the National Mall.
To illustrate the rich complexity of the story, the program and accompanying program book article gave particular attention to three natural resources that have been important throughout the region's history: oysters, shad, and Atlantic white cedar. The past, present, and future of the region were synopsized in these resources, all three of which cut deeply into cultural, economic, and ecological life. Each carried with it stories of exploitation, decline, and renewal of the resources that shaped Mid-Atlantic maritime community culture, the theme that brought the whole region into focus.
So many changes have occurred over the past couple of generations for maritime communities in this region that long-time residents can sometimes barely recognize their hometowns. A deep sense of loss tempered many of the stories that they told to Smithsonian researchers or to Festival visitors. But maritime communities often adapt to changes. When one species of fish becomes scarce or unmarketable, you fish for another. When crabbing with wire mesh pots proves more efficient than trot-lining (running a baited line across a section of water), you buy or learn to make pots. When recreational fishing catches on in your area, you fish for bait or get a charter-boat license. When the oyster-shucking or crab-picking plant shuts down, you get a job cooking at a local seafood restaurant or a nearby school. It's all about adaptation, flexibility, and survival - and it was these values that were on abundant display during the two weeks of the 2004 Festival. A website presented the field research and Festival activities.
Betty J. Belanus was Curator and Arlene Reiniger was Coordinator; Amy Skillman was Fieldwork Coordinator.
The program was made possible by a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and produced in collaboration with the State of Maryland, National Endowment for the Arts, and Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network/ National Park Service; with generous contributions from Virginia Historic Resources, Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library, St. Mary's White Chapel Episcopal Church, Maryland State Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council, North Carolina Tourism, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phillips Seafood, and The Nature Conservancy; and with special thanks to National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
Fieldworkers:
The American Folklife Center/Library of Congress, Salisbury University's 2003 Summer Folklife Field School: Karen Amspacher, Harold Anderson, Lora Bottinelli, Tom Carroll, Shelly Drummond, Elaine Eff, John Eilertson, Susan Charles Groth, Thomas Hemans, Jill Hemming, James Lane, Jon Lohman, Connie Mason, Charlie Petrocci, Feather Phillips, Michael Sciarappa, Amy Skillman, Nancy Solomon, William Stott, Tom Walker, Meghan Wren
Presenters:
Karen Amspacher, Harold Anderson, Lora Bottinelli, Charles Camp, Shelly Drummond, Elaine Eff, Susan Charles Groth, Thomas Hemans, Jill Hemming, Paula Johnson, Carrie Kline, James Lane, Jon Lohman, Tom McHugh, Connie Mason, Rita Moonsammy, Pam Morris, Charlie Petrocci, Amy Skillman, Nancy Solomon, William Stott, Rory Turner, Tom Walker, Meghan Wren
Participants:
Boatyard
Alexandria Seaport Foundation, boat-building, Alexandria, Virginia
Jimmy Amspacher, 1946-, boat-building, Marshallberg, North Carolina
Heber Guthrie, 1951-, boat-building, Gloucester, North Carolina
Long Island Maritime Museum, boat-building, West Sayville, New York
The Mariner's Museum, boat-building, Newport News, Virginia -- The Mariner's Museum, boat-building, Newport News, VirginiaLyles Forbes, 1964-, Newport News, VirginiaJames R. KnightMartin NoffsingerMarcie RennerRoger P. Worthen
Skipjack Captains and Restoration Experts, boat-building, Chesapeake Bay Region
Commercial Fishing
Nadine Benevides, 1958-, menhaden fishing, Gloucester, North Carolina
Joey Benevides, 1989-, menhaden fishing, Gloucester, North Carolina
Danny Bowden, 1956-, gill-netting, crabbing, guiding, Chincoteague, Virginia
Ivy Bradley, 1930-, hatchery manager, Pamunkey Reservation, Virginia
Warren Cook, 1937-, hatchery manager, Pamunkey Reservation, Virginia
Dallas Bradshaw, fish-netting, oystering, clamming, crab-scraping, bank-trapping, crab-potting, Crisfield, Maryland
Rufus Carter, menhaden fishing, Lewes, Delaware
Captain Virgin "Gus" Dunaway, 1929-, waterman, Kilmarnock, Virginia
Ronald Fithian, 1951-, town manager, Rock Hall, Maryland
Captain Charles Forrest, 1931-, menhaden fishing, Susan, Virginia
Helen Forrest, menhaden fishing, Susan, Virginia
Captain Matthew "Sonny" Gaskins, Sr., 1929-, menhaden fishing, Weems, Virginia
Skye Hilton, 1983-, crabbing, mussel fishing, Patchogue, New York
Wayne "Hon" Lawson, 1936-, waterman, Crisfield, Maryland
Stewart Lester, 1936-, haul-seining, dragger-man, lobsterman, swordfish harpooner, pound-trap fisherman, Amagansett, New York
Steve Meserve, 1961-, shad fishing, Ringoes, New Jersey
Sue Meserve, 1952-, shad fishing, Ringoes, New Jersey
Flo Sharkey, 1942-, bay-woman, Brookhaven, New York
Scott Sheppard, oystering, crabbing, conch fishing, Port Norris, New Jersey
Bradley Styron, 1950-, shrimp, fish, crab, oyster, and clam fishing, Cedar Island, North Carolina
Carl Tarnow, 1934-, pound-net fishing, clamming, oystering, net mending, Raritan Bay, New Jersey
Melvin Twiddy, 1921-, shad fishing, Manns Harbor, North Carolina
Carl Tyler, Jr., waterman, Crisfield, Maryland
Cory Weyant, 1957-2011, eeling, crabbing, Freeport, New York
The Whittington Family, oyster shucking, gospel singing, Port Norris, New Jersey
Community Program Presenters
Karen Willis Amspacher, 1955-, Marshallberg, North Carolina
James Lane, 1951-, Crisfield, Maryland
Tom McHugh, 1938-, Rock Hall, Maryland
Pam Davis Morris, 1962-, Davis, North Carolina
Feather Phillips, Columbia, North Carolina
Meghan Wren, 1964-, Bivalve, New Jersey
Keeping the Waters Safe & Water Safety
Delaware River Pilots, Lewes, Delaware
Herbert Groh, 1920-, docking pilot, Catonsville, Maryland
Reggie Jones, lifeguard, Jones Beach, New York
Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation, Lewes, Delaware
The United States Sail and Power Squadron
Kids' Coast Environmental Learning Center
Hudson River Clearwater Sloop, Inc.
Mildred Moore, 1934-, potter, Pamunkey Indian Reservation, Virginia
The Nature Conservancy
Oyster Recovery Partnership
Maritime Kitchen
Dawn Chesser, 1947-, foodways, Sanford, Virginia
Janice Marshall, 1945-, foodways, Smith Island, Maryland
Kenneth Pinkard, 1959-, foodways, Burgess, Virginia
Clyde Roberts, foodways, Port Penn, Delaware
John Shields, foodways, Baltimore, Maryland
Debbie Styron, 1953-, foodways, Cedar Island, North Carolina
Ramona Whittington, 1959-, foodways, Crisfield, Maryland
Marshlife & Waterfowling Area
Anthony Brooks, 1964-, decoy carver, Harkers Island, North Carolina
Chatmon Bryant, 1931-, hunter, trapper, storyteller, Alligator, North Carolina
Victor Bryson, 1957-, snapping turtle harvester, Port Penn, Delaware
Grayson Chesser, 1947-, decoy carver, Sanford, Virginia
Jack Combs, 1935-, decoy carver, Riverhead, New York
Douglas Gibson, 1923-, decoy carver, Milford, Delaware
Bo Lusk, 1975-, kayak guide, Cape Charles, Virginia
Kelley Nelson, 1963-, decoy carver, Morehead City, North Carolina
Glenn Phillips, 1966-, call-maker, bird-caller, Ocean City, Maryland
Fred Reitmeyer, 1941-, decoy carver, Tuckerton, New Jersey
Lonnie" Ray" Sykes, 1949-, trap-maker, Alligator Community, Columbia, North Carolina
Recreational Fishing
Pete Ames, Sr., 1949-, rod-maker, Little Neck, New York
Shawn Giacobbe, 1961-, charter boat captain, Chincoteague, Virginia
George McGinnity, taxidermist, New Freedom, Pennsylvania
Shirley Price, bait supplier, Cedar Neck, Delaware
Richie Tillman, Jr., 1975-, fly-tier, Queenstown, Maryland
Sailing and Related Crafts
The Bayshore Discovery Center & A.J. Meerwald Schooner, oystering, Bivalve, New Jersey
Jim Langley, 1946-, model boat-making, Solomons Island, Maryland
National Maritime Heritage Foundation, maritime history, Washington, D.C.
Harry Saarinen, 1952-, sculptor, painter, Amityville, New York
Kelly Smyth, blacksmith, Chadd's Ford, Pennsylvania
Lynn Stevens, 1952-, sail-maker, Shady Side, Maryland
Shore Memories Performance Area
Earl Carawan, 1939-, old-time, bluegrass music, Swan Quarter, Fairfield, North Carolina
Leland Carawan, 1936-, old-time, bluegrass music, Swan Quarter, North Carolina
Davy Crockett, 1954-, singer, guitarist, Tangier Island, Virginia
Dr. Tom Flowers, 1923-, raconteur, Cambridge, Maryland
Rodney Kemp, 1946-, storyteller, Moorehead City, North Carolina
Elmer Mackall and the Faith Singers -- Elmer Mackall and the Faith SingersElmer Mackall, 1923-, piano, vocals, Prince Frederick, MarylandThelma Claggett, 1955-, vocals, Prince Frederick, MarylandMargaret Copeland, 1953-, vocals, Prince Frederick, MarylandOllie Williams, vocals, Suitland, Maryland
Magpie, Takoma Park, Maryland -- Magpie, Takoma Park, MarylandGreg Artzner, 1952-, singer, instrumentalistTerry Leonino, 1951-, singer, instrumentalist
Connie Mason, 1954-, singer, instrumentalist, Beaufort, North Carolina
Janie Meneely, raconteur, Eastport, Maryland
The New Gospelites, gospel singers, Worton Point, Maryland -- The New Gospelites, gospel singers, Worton Point, MarylandLester Barrett, Jr., 1958-, Chestertown, MarylandFranklin Hynson, 1933-, Chestertown, MarylandMary Hynson, 1942-, Chestertown, MarylandStevenson Hynson, 1951-, Camden, DelawareJerome McKinney, 1965-, Worton, MarylandIrene Moore, 1937-, Chestertown, MarylandHester Newnam, 1955-, Chestertown, MarylandJames Phillips, Worton, MarylandKaren Somerville, 1958-, Worton, Maryland
David Norris, 1953-, singer-songwriter, storyteller, Hollywood, Maryland
Joseph Norris, 1953-, singer-songwriter, storyteller, California, Maryland
The Northern Neck Chantey Singers, menhaden chanteys, Northumberland and Lancaster Counties, Virginia -- The Northern Neck Chantey Singers, menhaden chanteys, Northumberland and Lancaster Counties, VirginiaSelby Basker, 1922-, Reedville, VirginiaEdward Chewning, 1929-, Weems, VirginiaCristopher Harvey, 1935-, Heathsville, VirginiaCalvin Hill, 1935-, Burgess, VirginiaWilliam Muse, Lottsburg, VirginiaElton Smith, Jr., 1926-, Shackerfords, VirginiaEdward Taylor, 1921-, Reedville, VirginiaClarence Tiggle, 1924-, Lottsburg, Virginia
The Phillips Gangplank Ragtime Band, Dixieland jazz, ragtime -- The Phillips Gangplank Ragtime Band, Dixieland jazz, ragtimeGary Carper, 1955-, Fredericksburg, VirginiaDottie Donaldson, 1924-, Baltimore, MarylandDarrel Guimond, 1936-, Lancaster, PennsylvaniaHenning Hoehne, 1939-, Annapolis, MarylandDick SmithJay Wachter, 1946-, Baltimore, Maryland
The SAIF Water Singers, spirituals, Lancaster and Northumberland Counties, Virginia
Them Eastport Oyster Boys, singers, instrumentalists, Eastport, Maryland -- Them Eastport Oyster Boys, singers, instrumentalists, Eastport, MarylandKevin Brooks, 1954-, Annapolis, MarylandAndy Fegley, 1961-, trombone, Annapolis, MarylandTom Guay, 1952-, guitar, fiddle, hammer dulcimer, Annapolis, MarylandJefferson Holland, 1954-, ukulele, Annapolis, MarylandKeith Manual, 1970-, percussion, Annapolis, MarylandPeter Miller, 1954-, bass, Arnold, MarylandRandy Neilson, 1952-, accordion, Crownsville, Maryland
Sonny Williamson, storyteller, Cedar Island, North Carolina
Tom Wisner and Friends -- Tom Wisner and FriendsTom Wisner, 1930-2010, singer-songwriter, educator, Solomons Island, MarylandFrank Schwartz, 1950-, West Suffield, ConnecticutFranklin M. Walter, 1948-, Catonsville, MarylandTeresa Whitaker, 1952-, West Suffield, Connecticut
Bob Zentz, 1944-, singer, instrumentalist, Norfolk, Virginia
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: 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
