Vanishing Culture Project | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Vanishing Culture Project

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Wayne Nield, Michael Jepson

  • The "Vanishing Culture Project" was a Florida Humanities Council grant to capture the oral histories of longtime residents of Cortez.   The project also produced several stations about the folkways of the fishermen of Cortez that are placed around the village and a mural painted on the side of a prominent fish house in the community.

Displaying 1 - 1 of 25

Page 1 of 25

Interviewee Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation Collection
Raymond S. Pringle, Jr. & Raymond S. Pringle, Sr.

Oral history interview with father and son, Raymond Stargill Pringle, Jr. and Sr.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Raymond Stargill Pringle, Sr.

Raymond Stargell Pringle's family came to Cortez in 1919.  In this interview, he talks about his father and fishing with him as a kid. Later, he became a minister.

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Tidy Island Museum Tour 

This recording is of a Tidy Island Museum tour by Goose Culbreath, Alcee Taylor and others, discussing the history of the island, off Cortez, and family outings there.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Cortez Grand Old Opry

Goose Culbreath and members of the Cortez Grand Old Opry play Bluegrass music.  The interview includes both playing and talking about the music.  Other members are Rich Culbreath and Ray Bach.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Orie Williams

Orrie Williams' family has been in Cortez since 1905.  His father had fish house and Orrie drove truck for him.  Williams talks about his family in Cortez, the Burton store and the 1921 hurricane. 

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Rita Warden

In this interview, Rita Warden, discusses her family history; they migrated to Florida from Canada.  Though not a Cortez fisherman, Rita's husband was a carpenter and farmer in Michigan.  They wintered in Cortez from 1938 on. She talks about trailer park living and her husband's fishing when here.  Rita's husband did some shrimp netting too.  They are friends with the Guthries, one of whom was a fisherman and bridge tender.

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Mark Taylor

Oral history interview with Mark Taylor.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Paul Taylor

In this interview, Paul Taylor talks about his family, his fishing life, living in the Ilbion Inn and his views on fishing.  Taylor's father came to Cortez from North Carolina.  

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Earl Taylor

Mr. Earl Taylor talks about his fishing history with others over the years. He quit when he was married and was a cook for a while before he came back to fishing.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
Alcee Taylor

Mr. Alcee Taylor talks about his life of fishing, selling and war experiences.

PDF
NOTE: The PDF of this transcript is available upon request.  Email voices@noaa.gov for access.

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum Vanishing Culture Project
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