James Bradford
New Jersey’s Delaware Bayshore
The Bayshore Center at Bivalve’s Oral History program is dedicated to preserving the oral history and culture of New Jersey’s Bayshore region by saving for posterity the oral histories and material culture connected with the Bayshore region, by creating a repository of recordings and data that can be used for research, by preserving, treasuring and celebrating the environment, history and culture of the Bayshore region and by sharing the heritage of the Bayshore region today and with future generations through program related activities serving visitors, students and scholars.
Fantastic Transcripts
Molly Graham
James Bradford was born on July 30, 1930, in Morristown, but was raised in Port Norris where he also attended school. After leaving Port Norris, he served in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk for three years, with a one-year duty in Hawaii. Upon his return, he worked on an oyster boat for Norman Jefferies, Sr. in Greenwich. His parents were Janet Bradford and Earl Bradford, originally from Newport. He had two brothers, Robert and Earl.
Scope and Content Note:
The interview with James Bradford, conducted by Rachel Dolhanczyk on September 25, 2015, provides a personal account of life in Port Norris and the oyster industry. Bradford shares his memories of growing up in Port Norris, his time in the Navy, and his work on an oyster boat. He also provides information about his family background, including his parents and brothers. The interview includes anecdotes about his childhood, such as riding the train to Bivalve to play on the wharves. This interview offers valuable insights into the social history of Port Norris and the oyster industry in the mid-20th century.
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