Interview with Albert Potts, Director of Onslow County Museum

On March 7, 2022, Joseph Smith interviewed Dr. Aleta Hohn for the NOAA Beaufort Lab Oral Histories project. Dr. Aleta Hohn was raised in Maryland.  She received her Bachelor’s and Graduate degrees in the 1970s from the University of Maryland at College Park, the latter under Dr. Eugenie Clark. While at College Park she volunteered at the Smithsonian and worked for Dr. Jim Meade, where she gained her love for marine mammals.

• Allyn B. Powell: Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and raised in Jersey City, NJ, and vicinity.
• Graduated from Middlesex County (NJ) Vocational and Technical School in 1954 with certification in Machine Drawing.
• Employed by Bethlehem Steel Co. until 1957 when he volunteered for the draft; a majority of his service time in the U.S.

Matthew Barr interviewed Angie Lester for the Wild Caught project. Angie Lester, a resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, grew up in a family deeply involved in the local fishing industry.  In the interview, Angie discusses her childhood in Sneads Ferry, where she and her siblings engaged in various fishing-related activities to earn money, such as clamming and heading shrimp. Her uncle owned a fish house, which was a central part of their lives. Angie emphasizes the unique, laid-back lifestyle of the area, which she believes is ideal for raising children.

Ann Rose grew up in Harkers Island, NC where her father, Chief Ira Lewis, served in the Coast Guard. Her family lived in New York for a period while her father worked at various lifeboat stations, and they later resided at Montauk Lighthouse. After her father's retirement, they returned to Harkers Island, where Ann met her husband and started working at the Beaufort Lab in 1962 where she was employed as an Editorial Assistant until 1995. 

Scope and Content Note

B.J. Copeland holds a Ph.D. in limnology from Oklahoma State University. His academic career began with research on the impact of petroleum waste on Texas bays while at the University of Texas. In 1970, he moved to North Carolina and continued his work in marine sciences. He served as the director of the Sea Grant program for over 23 years, where he focused on the needs of coastal communities and the dissemination of research to address those needs. His role involved extensive travel to small fishing towns to understand local issues and provide necessary information and support. 

B.J. Copeland, born on November 20th, 1936, in a country home near Mannsville, has had a significant impact on the fisheries of North Carolina. He has an extensive educational background and has served in the Zoology Department at North Carolina State University. Copeland was initially appointed to the Marine Fisheries Commission in the 1980s under Governor James G. "Jim" Martin's "Egghead Commissions." Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous public hearings and has worked to foster communication and interaction between different stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

Matthew Barr interviewed Bernice Guthrie for the Wild Caught project. Bernice Guthrie, a long-time resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, has been deeply involved in the community and its events, particularly the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival. In the interview, Guthrie provides a detailed account of her daily preparations for the Shrimp Festival, including publicizing the event, organizing media coverage, and coordinating various logistical aspects. She describes the Shrimp Festival's origins, which began in 1971, and its evolution over the years.

Matthew Barr's interview with Betty Edens, conducted in 2001, provides an in-depth look at her life and experiences in the fishing industry. Betty Edens was born in Key West and grew up in Marathon, Florida. Her family was deeply involved in the fishing and shrimping industries.  Her father was considered a pioneer in the early days of shrimping in the area. The interview covers various aspects of Betty Edens' life, starting with her childhood in Marathon and the tight-knit community of fishermen and their families.

Matthew Barr interviewed Betty Edens in 2003. Betty Edens was born into a fishing family in Key West, Florida, and her family’s legacy in the fishing industry spans generations. Betty Edens discusses the significant transformation in the fishing industry, particularly the encroachment of real estate development on waterfront areas traditionally used for fishing operations. She expresses her concern over the environmental degradation caused by such developments and the loss of vital fish house areas, which she describes as essential for their way of life.