Behind the Apron Interview with Mary Dawkins

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.

Type: Archival materials; Sound recordings; Oral histories (document genres); Interviews

Topic: African Americans; African Americans -- Employment; African Americans -- Maryland; Oyster industry; Clam industry

Citation: Behind the Apron Interview with Mary Dawkins, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Object Details