Theodore "Ted" Pederson

Theodore "Ted" Pederson Image
Location of Interview
Collection Name

The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project

Description

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.

Date of Interview
09-27-2008
Transcribers

Janice Gadaire Fleuriel

Biographical Sketch

Theodore (Ted) Pedersen is a retired fisherman of Norwegian descent, born in Norway and later immigrated to the United States. He spent his career as a scalloper, working out of home ports in Brooklyn, New York, and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Despite his father and grandfather both losing their lives at sea, Pedersen pursued a career in fishing, starting in scalloping with his father. He worked in various roles throughout his career, including deckhand, mate, and skipper. Pedersen retired in 1980 after 41 years in the industry. He is married to Ethel Pedersen and they have been together for 66 years.

Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Theodore (Ted) Pedersen, conducted by Janice Gadaire Fleuriel on September 27, 2008, provides a detailed account of Pedersen's life and career as a scalloper. The interview covers Pedersen's early life in Norway, his family's immigration to the United States, and his start in scalloping with his father. Pedersen discusses the changes in the fishing industry over his career, including the scale of boats and boat ownership. He also shares personal stories about his family's history with fishing, including the loss of his father and grandfather at sea. The interview also covers Pedersen's experiences with dangerous weather conditions at sea, including a specific incident where 19 men were lost at sea. Pedersen discusses the changes in scallop cutting and shacking over his career, as well as the introduction of boat shifts. He also shares his experiences as a skipper and the reasons for his retirement in 1980 [6]. Finally, Pedersen discusses his family life, including his long marriage to his wife Ethel and the challenges of balancing family life with a career at sea.


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