James Dwyer and Paul Swain
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.
Azure Dee Westwood
Paul Swain is a retired auctioneer, lumper, and government worker who has spent his entire life associated with the fishing industry. His father was a fisherman from Newfoundland, and Swain followed in his footsteps, working in various roles on the waterfront. He spent 40 years with the National Marine Fisheries Service before retiring 10 years ago. Swain has held a variety of jobs on the waterfront, including painting, lumping, icing, and working for the Federal government. Jim Dwyer is a lumper and the head of the Lumper's Union. His family has a long history in the lumping business, with his father and uncle both having worked in the industry. Dwyer's son also works in the seafood business, continuing the family tradition. Despite the challenges of the industry, including 24/7 work schedules and a declining number of lumpers, Dwyer has remained committed to his work and the union.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Paul Swain and Jim Dwyer, conducted by Janice Fleuriel on September 25, 2004, provides an in-depth look at the lives and careers of two men deeply involved in the fishing industry in New Bedford, MA. The interview covers a range of topics, including their personal backgrounds, the nature of their work, changes in the industry over time, and the impact of these changes on their lives and families. The interview also touches on the culture of the waterfront, including the use of nicknames and the importance of community.
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