Angela Sanfilippo

Angela Sanfilippo Image
Location of Interview
Collection Name

The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project

Description

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.

Date of Interview
09-22-2007
Transcribers

Janice Gadaire Fleuriel

Biographical Sketch

Ms. Sanfilippo, from an Italian fishing family, lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She is the Executive Director of the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives Association, an advocacy group for the fishing industry. Born in the fishing village of Porticello in Sicily, Angela acquired substantial knowledge from her grandfather about boat technologies and weather patterns. 

Summary of the Interview:
The interview with Angela Sanfilippo offers insights into her life and her role in the fishing community. Growing up in Porticello, fishing was a central part of Angela's life, and she learned valuable skills from her grandfather. The interview covers her move to Gloucester, her involvement in Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives, and her advocacy work. Angela's contributions to the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives Association, including her presidency, highlight her dedication to addressing issues like regulations and the environment. Angela discusses challenges faced by fishing communities, such as foreign factory trawls affecting fish stocks. She emphasizes women's importance in supporting the fishing industry and underscores her commitment to sustainability and ocean resource protection. 

 


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