Behind the Apron Interview with Mary Dawkins

Object Details

Creator
Anacostia Museum
Scope and Contents
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.
Date
circa 1997
Extent
1 Sound recording (audio cassette)
Type
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Oral histories (document genres)
Interviews
Topic
African Americans
African Americans -- Employment
African Americans -- Maryland
Oyster industry
Clam industry
Place
Maryland
United States
Citation
Behind the Apron Interview with Mary Dawkins, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier
ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005256
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Related Content

1 result(s)
  • Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Scope and Contents
    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."
    Date
    1997
    Extent
    1 Linear foot
    12 Sound recordings (audio cassette)
    Citation
    Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution
    Type
    Collection descriptions
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Transcripts
    Topic
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    African Americans
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28
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