MF 126 Florence Ireland Collection

Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History: MF 126 Florence Ireland Collection

Number of accessions: 10
Dates when interviews were conducted: 1970 – 1973
Time period covered: 20th century
Principal interviewers: Florence Ireland
Finding aides: brief indexes and transcripts
Access restrictions: none
Description: A collection of ten interviews conducted by Florence Ireland between 1970 and 1973 on a variety of topics including family history, farming, folksongs, woods work, International Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies), and the H. P. Clearwater Medicine Co. Interviews conducted by Ireland for courses are found in the Maine and the Maritimes Folklore Collection; also see the Foxfire Bicentennial Project Collection. Ireland worked for the Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History.

NA0627 Adam Owsianik, interviewed by Florence Ireland, August 17, 1970, Meriden, Connecticut. Owsianik, the donor’s Polish grandfather, tells stories and sings short songs he composed. Also includes 247 pp. of typed notebooks in Polish which include proverbs, toasts, cures, riddles, and his autobiography. Text: 25 pp. transcript, 247 pp. typed notebooks (Polish). Recording: T 0347 1 hour.

NA0706 Harold Stuart, interviewed by Florence Ireland July 15, 1972, Machias, Maine. Stuart talks about working in the woods around 1900 – 1910 in the Ellsworth and Machias area. Text: 20 pp. transcript. Recording: T 0432 3/4 hour.

NA0707 William Hudson, interviewed by Florence Ireland, July 15, 1972, Machias, Maine. Hudson talks about the lumber industry in Maine during the early twentieth century; organization of labor, housing and regulations/restrictions of laborers; who (race, nationality, gender, etc.) was employed in the industry; and personal experiences of Hudson while employed in Maine. Text: 20 pp. transcript. Recording: T 0433 / CD 0632.

NA0738 Grover Swett, interviewed by Florence Ireland, August 21, 1970, Bangor, Maine. Swett talks about the early Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and woods work in Maine. Text: 17 pp. transcript with brief catalog. Recording: T 0555 1 hour.

NA0739 Bill Fuller, interviewed by Florence Ireland, November 24, 1970, Stillwater, Maine. Fuller singing original songs, also reciting original poetry, and playing original compositions on accordion. Text: 3 pp. brief catalog. Recording: T 0555 3/4 hour.

NA0740 Maisy Mitchel, interviewed by Florence Ireland, July 23, 1971, Newcastle, New Brunswick. Paper deals with Mitchell singing Arabic and French folksongs. Text: 5 pp. brief catalog. Recording: T 0556 1/2 hour.

NA0741 Peter Shepheard, interviewed by Florence Ireland, December 20, 1970, St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick. Shepheard, collector and singer, singing and playing guitar and accordion. Text: 3 pp. brief catalog. Recording: T 0556 3/4 hour.

NA0744 Wilmot MacDonald, Frank Estey and Ray Estey, interviewed by Florence Ireland, July 23, 1971, Glenwood and Sevogle, New Brunswick. MacDonald and the Esteys talk about their lives; the Esteys sing. Text: 3 pp. brief catalog. Recording: T 0563 2 hours.

NA0755 Eulalie McKeaggan, interviewed by Florence Ireland, March 15, 1973, Ellsworth, Maine. McKeaggan talks about the H. P. Clearwater Medicine Co. Text: 18 pp. transcript. Recording: T 0597 1/2 hour. Photos: P00432.

NA0756 Carroll Stephens, interviewed by Florence Ireland and Robert Ireland, March 27, 1973, Hallowell, Maine. Stephens talks about the H. P. Clearwater Medicine Co. Text: 26 pp. transcript. Recording: T 0598 1 hour.