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.

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Mark Taylor Vanishing Culture Project

Oral history interview with Mark Taylor.

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

This interview with Marvin Carver covers family, fishing, fish camps and net spreads. He also had a bridge tender's job in Cortez.

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

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
Julian Culbreath Vanishing Culture Project

This interview has two tracks, one an interview with Julian Culbreath and the other some music played on his fiddle with Leo Gale on guitar.  The interview discusses Culbreath's family history and fishing. Culbreath's family was musical.  A lot is about his musical career and the formation of The Cortez Grand Old Opry. The music tape has "The Cortez Rag" and "The Orange Blossom Special."

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

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
Thomas "Blue" Fulford Vanishing Culture Project

Commonly known as "Blue", Thomas Fulford talks about his fishing with "Tink" Fulford, fishing on the Anna Dean, growing up in Cortez, 'Hogging' stop netting, feud with gill netters, union formation attempts, net care and conflict with sport fishermen.

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

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
Ralph Fulford Vanishing Culture Project

Ralph Fulford is the son of 'Tink" Fulford, a fisherman, who had the Dixie Fish Co. and later the Fulford Fish Co.  Ralph ran the fish house from 1946 on.  He talks about the processing and operation of a fish house.  Also, he discusses his part in founding the Cortez Historical Society. 

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

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
Wanda Fulford Vanishing Culture Project

Wanda Fulford was born on March 23, 1933, in Cortez, Florida, to Elizabeth and James Jones.  James was a commercial fisherman.  The family moved to Englewood then to Stump Pass for a while so her father could fish for Mullet.  Her mother returned to Cortez with the family shortly, leaving James in Stump Pass.  Wanda had a sister and two brothers.  She left school with a year and a half to go to work.  Wanda worked at various jobs.

Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum