Amanda Wright
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Sarah Smith
Amanda Wright is a lobster sternman with over 22 years of experience in the fishing industry. She primarily operates out of Newport, Rhode Island, and has also worked in Wickford and various locations across the state. Amanda's journey into lobstering began after moving to Rhode Island from Princeton, New Jersey, and exploring other career paths like pottery and scalloping. Her dedication to the fishing trade has led her to become an integral part of the industry.
Scope and Content Note
In an interview conducted on September 24, 2006, Amanda Wright, a seasoned lobster sternman, shares insights into her life and experiences in the fishing industry. She discusses her transition from various jobs to lobstering, the challenges and rewards of the trade, and the physical demands of working with lobster traps. Amanda also discusses potential industry changes, including the proposal of privatization, and expresses her thoughts on stereotypes associated with fishermen.
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