Donald Clattenburg, 2011
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.
Laura Orleans
Donald F. Clattenburg, born on September 5, 1925, in Port Midway, Nova Scotia, is a retired commercial fisherman with a rich history in the industry. His father, also a fisherman, moved to the United States before Donald was born, visiting his family in Nova Scotia annually . Donald moved to the United States in August 1941, just before World War II, and settled in New Bedford. He began his career in commercial fishing shortly after returning from the war, following in his father's footsteps. Despite the challenges of the job, including seasickness that deterred his brothers from the profession, Donald remained in the industry until his retirement in 1989.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Donald Clattenburg, conducted by Markham Star on September 25, 2011, provides a detailed account of Donald's life and experiences as a commercial fisherman. The interview covers a range of topics, including Donald's early life in Nova Scotia, his family's history in fishing, his move to the United States, and his experiences at sea. One of the highlights of the interview is Donald's recounting of a lively catch and his interactions with a Russian ship. The interview also touches on the social and cultural aspects of fishing, life aboard a fishing vessel, and changes in fishing technology over the years.
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