Annie Lee Thorpe

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Georgia Black Fishermen

Description

African American participation in marine-related careers began as early as 1796, when the federal government issued Seamen’s Protection Certificates to merchant mariners defining them as “citizens” of the United States effectively making maritime employment one way for  Blacks to shape their identities. This collection This project documents the fishery-related occupations of African Americans in coastal Georgia 1865 to present and gather information for future work that may ascertain the relationship between their decreased participation and changes in regional fish populations and the fishing  industry.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
06-16-2010
Transcribers

Michelle Duncan 

Principal Investigator
Audio
Biographical Sketch

Mrs. Annie Lee Thorpe was the seventh of eight children, born in 1923 in Mayport, Florida. Mrs. Thorpe recalls that her family structure changed when she was 12, after the death of her mother. She then moved to Savannah to live with her older sister; however, she was unable to complete her primary education due to her sister’s illness. Soon after, Mrs. Thorpe married James Joseph “Joe” Thorpe, one of the few African American shrimp boat captains in Savannah. They began their family in 1953 and had four children. Throughout her career, Mrs. Thorpe cleaned houses, shrimp, and crabs until she retired at the age of 62. After her husband’s passing in 1991, Mrs. Thorpe—better known as “Auntie”—continued to be active in her community and church until her passing in 2018.

Scope and Content Note

Mrs. Thorpe recalls that before her husband began working for the two major shrimp factories in Savannah, owned by Joe Ceasroni and Charlie Deshocka, he worked for his cousin Joe Washington. Mrs. Thorpe recalls her first job at the Louis Ambos shrimp factory and the long hours and low pay that she experienced “heading” shrimp and picking crabs. Mrs. Thorpe proudly talks about her travels to Germany and Japan, to celebrate her sons’ military achievements. She also recalls the celebrations back at home, where she “always kept a houseful” of neighbors and family. The streets of Thunderbolt, Georgia are now paved with bricks that memorialize Mrs. Thorpe’s husband and other family members,’ who all made historical contributions to the shrimping and crabbing industries.


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