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  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Ruth Smith

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    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005261
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    1997
    Extent
    2 sound recordings (audio cassette)
    Local Numbers
    ACMA AV005262
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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.
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with Ruth Smith, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417101-0
    Usage
    CC0
    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).

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Mary Washington

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005254
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    1997
    Extent
    2 sound recordings (audio cassette)
    Local Numbers
    ACMA AV005255
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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.
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with Mary Washington, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417099-1
    Usage
    CC0
    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.

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Mary Dawkins

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005256
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    circa 1997
    Extent
    1 sound recording (audio cassette)
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    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.
    Culture
    African American
    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.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417100-2
    Usage
    CC0
    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.

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with William Bourne

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005265
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    April 15, 1997
    Extent
    1 sound recording (audio cassette)
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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.
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with William Bourne, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417101-2
    Usage
    CC0
    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.

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Doris Harris

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005257
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    May 12, 1997
    Extent
    2 sound recordings (audio cassette)
    Local Numbers
    ACMA AV005258
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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).
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with Doris Harris, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417100-3
    Usage
    CC0
    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).

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Blondell Mason

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005259
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    1997
    Extent
    2 sound recordings (audio cassette)
    Local Numbers
    ACMA AV005260
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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).
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with Blondell Mason, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417100-0
    Usage
    CC0
    Through an oral history interview, Blondell Mason talks about growing up in Baltimore City and then Calvert County, his children, farming, and shucking oysters.

  • Audio iconBehind the Apron Interview with Christine Gray

    See more items in
    Behind the Apron: The History, Life, and Hidden Achievements of Southern Maryland's Black Oyster and Clam Workers
    Identifier
    ACMA.09-007.28, Item ACMA AV005263
    Creator
    Anacostia Museum
    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.
    Date
    circa 1997
    Extent
    1 sound recording (audio cassette)
    Type
    Archival materials
    Sound recordings
    Oral histories (document genres)
    Interviews
    Scope and Contents
    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.
    Culture
    African American
    Topic
    African Americans
    African Americans -- Employment
    African Americans -- Maryland
    Oyster industry
    Clam industry
    Place
    Maryland
    United States
    Citation
    Behind the Apron Interview with Christine Gray, Behind the Apron oral history project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
    Archival Repository
    Anacostia Community Museum Archives
    Related link
    Record ID
    ebl-1554842417095-1554842417100-1
    Usage
    CC0
    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).

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