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Folder 15 Prints of people and localities in Puerto Rico, particularly those concerned with the fishing industry, 1934. For negatives, see Folder 36 or refer to number on print.
Container:
Box 8 of 9
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7187, Isaac Ginsburg Papers
Folder 18 Prints of fish specimens and of people and localities in Panama, particularly those connected with the fishing industry, 1935. For negatives, see Folder 37 or refer to number on print.
Container:
Box 8 of 9
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7187, Isaac Ginsburg Papers
Behind the Apron oral history project documents the experiences of Black oyster and clam workers in Southern Maryland. The audio interviews were conducted by Shelia Montague Parker in 1997. The interviewees include: Doris Harris, Conroy Butler, Mary Hawkins, Christine Gray, Blondell Mason, Mary Washington, Ruth Smith, and Wiliam Bourne. 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.
Biographical / Historical:
African Americans have been an integral part of Southern's Maryland's proud commerical fishing industry. Nowhere has their contribution been more prominent than in the seaford houses along the Patuxent River. Until most recentely, in Calvert and other neighboring counties, the function of shucking oysters and clams was almost exlusively performed by African Americans. Black oyster and clam workers have brought dignity, skill, and a strong sense of community to a job that industry outsiders often consider "dirty work."
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Through an oral history interview, Mary Washington talks about her family and growing up in Huntingtown, Maryland; and her experience working as a clam shucker at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland) for eleven years.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Undated.
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 AV005255
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.
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.
Through an oral history interview, Christine Gray speaks of her experience working as a clam shucker at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland). In addition to describing her enjoyment for the job, Gray talks about some of the fastest shuckers and changes in the clam shucking industry, including the changing demographics of the employees working at Warren Denton Seafood House.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Undated.
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.
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.
Through an oral history interview, Mary Dawkins talks about growing up and being raised by her grandparents in Lusbee, Maryland. She talks about her enjoyment as a clam and oyster shucker and her ability to earn money to send her children to college. Prior to working for Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland), Dawkins worked as cook for Parrens and as a shucker for Lores, which went out of business. Dawkins describes her experience working as a clam and oyster shucker in detail. She explains the changes in the oyster, clam, and crab industries, particularly the oysters and crabs are smaller and not as plentiful, and the diminished African American workforce. She talks about working with Mexicans and the changing demographics of the employees working at Warren Denton Seafood House.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Undated.
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.
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.
Through an oral history interview, Doris Harris talks about growing up in Lusbee, Maryland (Calvert County) with her nine siblings, and her parents' jobs (tobacco farming and housekeeping). Harris explains her work as a clam shucker at Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland) and the difference between shucking clams and shucking oysters. She also describes her enjoyment for the job, the experience of women oyster workers, and changes in the clam shucking industry, particularly the diminished African American workforce. Both interviews - May 9, 1996 and May 12, 1997 - cover the same topics. The May 12 interview contains a bit more detail.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Dated 19960509 and 19970512 (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 AV005258
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.
Through an oral history interview, Ruth Smith describes her experience working as an oyster shucker for 23 years at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland). She spoke of the fastest oyster shuckers at the seafood house, her participation in oyster shucking competitions, and the changes in the oyster shucking industry. Smith also talked about her family and growing up in Calvert County, Maryland.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. One interview is dated 19970530 (transcribed from transcripts) and the other one is undated.
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 AV005262
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.
Through an oral history interview, Conroy Franklin Butler talks about his experience working as an oyster shucker at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland) for 27 years. In addition to describing his enjoyment for the job, Butler speaks of some of the changes in the oyster shucking industry.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Dated 19970429 (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.
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.
Through an oral history interview, William Bourne talks about his family and growing up, and working on his family's tobacco farm in Calvert County, Maryland. Bourne describes his experience as an oyster shucker for 64 years at the Warren Denton Seafood House (Calvert County, Maryland). He explains the drop in the oyster population and the changes over the years in the oyster shucking industry, including the changing demographics of the industry's workers.
Interview. Part of Behind the Apron oral history project. Dated 19970415.
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.
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.
Woman in foreground extends arms, holding baskets. Apparently a copy negative, from same negative as the interpositive RSN 23422, but a portion of the image at the bottom is cropped off.
Local Numbers:
RSN 14637
General:
Company catalog cards included in box; most bear dates from 1905 to 1910.
Currently stored in box 3.1.35 [39], moved from [127].
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. The original glass plate is available for inspection if necessary in the Archives Center. A limited number of fragile glass negatives and positives in the collection can be viewed directly in the Archives Center by prior appointment. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. The original glass plate is available for inspection if necessary in the Archives Center. A limited number of fragile glass negatives and positives in the collection can be viewed directly in the Archives Center by prior appointment. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. The original glass plate is available for inspection if necessary in the Archives Center. A limited number of fragile glass negatives and positives in the collection can be viewed directly in the Archives Center by prior appointment. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
![View Folder 18 Prints of fish specimens and of people and localities in Panama, particularly those connected with the fishing industry, 1935. For negatives, see Folder 37 or refer to number on print. digital asset: Man holding a Shark Tail on a Barrel, March 5, 1935. [Image no. SIA2013-08814]](https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?max=120&id=https://sirismm.si.edu/siris/electronicresource.gif "Man holding a Shark Tail on a Barrel, March 5, 1935. [Image no. SIA2013-08814]")
