BUILDING ARTS COLLECTION

(Mss 312)

Earl K. Long Library

University of New Orleans

June 2003

Inventory

Summary

Biographical Note

List of Series

Series Descriptions

Container List

Index Terms

Procedures for Requesting Special Collections Materials

Summary

Size: 2 linear feet

Geographic

Locations: New Orleans, La.

Inclusive dates 1998-2001

Bulk dates 1999-2001

Summary: Cassette tape recordings and transcripts of forty-eight interviews with black Creole craftsmen who participated in the building trades in New Orleans. Included are carpenters, plasterers, masons, and others.

Related

Collections: Marcus Christian Collection (Mss 11)

Source: Gift, April 2003

Access: No restrictions

Copyright: Physical rights are retained by the Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans.

Citation: Building Arts Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans

Historical Note

Generations of African American craftsmen/builders have made a significant contribution to the distinctive urban landscape of New Orleans. Often, however, the identities of the skilled and meticulous carpenters, ironworkers, carpenters, brick and stone masons, and other artisans have been lost or ignored. To learn more about how these builders view their own work, in 1998 a project was undertaken to collect oral narratives of the most skilled and highly regarded master craftsmen in each of the building arts; field recordings began in earnest in 1999 and continued through the summer of 2001. The artisans, in their narratives, “tell stories filled with personal hopes, inspirations, values, technical knowledge, traditional wisdom, and insight into the historical and social realities of their world. In narrative reflection workers have the opportunity to evaluate their own work, place it within contexts meaningful to them, and voice commentary in their own terms” (p. 131).

“Selection of interviewees for this project was non-random. Attempts were made to identify and record veteran master craftsmen well-respected within their occupational communities. Interviewees were asked to provide the names of the most skilled and valued craftsmen in their trade. . . . [They] represent a wide range of building trades, diverse social and cultural backgrounds, multiple generations, and great vistas of individual experience. To record voices from such a pool of diversity, a strategy of informal, semi-structured inquiry was employed. In each case, narrators were asked to explore certain pre-defined themes while being encouraged to develop their narratives in directions they considered most relevant.

“A ‘modified’ life history approach was used to pursue certain areas of inquiry. . . . Interviews were much too short to be considered ‘full’ life histories. Nevertheless, significant attention was placed on the social/cultural background of each narrator, and on the historical flow of each artisan’s life. Questions concerning heritage, national origins, ethnic affiliations, marriage and family, use of non-English languages, occupations of parents and kin, and neighborhood/ community links were explored. With regard to the personal histories of interviewees, particular attention was applied to the acquisition and development of trade skills and occupational statuses. Artisans were asked about their education, vocational training, skills learning, and personal career development. Transmission of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next was a consistent theme of inquiry. ‘How do you define “good work” in your trade?’ was also particularly effective as an open-ended question, permitting artisans to comment on aesthetic and behavioral values associated with their crafts. In addition, artisans were asked to comment on major historical changes within their work experiences, the current state of their trade, and what might be needed to insure the continuity of quality craftsmanship into the future” (pp. 131-132). Their narratives, on audiotape and in transcription, comprise this collection.

Source: Raised to the Trade: Creole Building Arts of New Orleans, edited by Jonn Ethan Hankins and Steven Maklansky. New Orleans: New Orleans Museum of Art, 2002. La.Col. TH25.N45R25 2002

List of Series

Series I. Interviews with Craftsmen

Series II. Miscellany

Container List

Series I. Interviews with craftsmen

SUBJECT OCCUPATION INTERVIEWER DATE

Abadie, Vernon Lather Coumanis, Keri 2001-01-23

312-001 Typescript

312-049 Tape 1 of 2

312-050 Tape 2 of 2

312-051 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-052 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Abry, Herman House shorer Abry, George 2000-01-23

312-002 Typescript

312-053 Tape 1 of 2

312-054 Tape 2 of 2

Alexander, Louis Plasterer Coumanis, Keri 2001-01-23

312-003 Typescript

312-055 Tape 1 of 1

312-056 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Barthe, Earl Plasterer Schmidt, Aimee 1998-08-04

312-004 Typescript

312-057 Tape 1 of 1

Barthe, Earl Plasterer Richardson, Lisa 1999-07-01

312-005 Typescript

312-058 Tape 1 of 1

Barthe, Earl Plasterer Spitzer, Nick 2000-07-27

312-006 Typescript

312-059 Tape 1 of 1

Barthe, Earl Plasterer 2000-02-07

312-060 Tape 1 of 2

312-061 Tape 2 of 2

Bennett, Gary Roofer Poret, Ray 1999-06-23

312-007 Typescript

312-062 Tape 1 of 1

Breaux, Joseph Carpenter Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-21

Legaux, Gerard

312-008 Typescript

312-063 Tape 1 of 2

312-064 Tape 2 of 2

Broussard, Dwayne Finish woodworker Coumanis, Keri 2001-02-01

312-009 Typescript

312-065 Tape 1 of 2

312-066 Tape 2 of 2

312-067 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-068 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Bruno, Frank Legaux, Frankie 2000-11-22

312-069 Tape 1 of 1

312-070 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Bruno, Thomas Cabinet maker; sculptor Legaux, Frankie 2000-11-27

312-010 Typescript

312-071 Tape 1 of 2

312-072 Tape 2 of 2

312-073 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-074 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Bruno, Victor Architect; cabinet maker Legaux, Frankie 2000-11-29

312-011 Typescript

312-075 Tape 1 of 1

312-076 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Burkhart, Allan Roofer Poret, Ray 1999-06-29

312-012 Typescript

312-077 Tape 1 of 1

Bush, Melvin Plant engineer, air conditioning Poret, Ray 1999-06

312-013 Typescript

312-078 Tape 1 of 1

Castenell, Amedee Plasterer Sammuels, Daniel 1999-03-05

Spitzer, Nick

312-014 Typescript

312-079 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Collins, Preston Brick mason Legaux, Frankie 1999-07

Legaux, Gerard

312-015 Typescript

312-080 Tape 1 of 2

312-081 Tape 2 of 2

Doucette, Sal Carpenter Poret, Ray 1999-06

312-016 Typescript

312-082 Tape 1 of 1

Doucette, Sterling General contractor Poret, Ray 1999-06-25

312-017 Typescript

312-083 Tape 1 of 1

Fleming, Irvin Brick mason/masonry instructor Rogers, Bethany 2000-08-02

Fleming, Sylvia Broyard Wife of I. Fleming

312-018 Typescript

312-084 Tape 1 of 2

312-085 Tape 2 of 2

Gaudet, Ivy Carpenter Rogers, Bethany 2001-01-10

312-019 Typescript

312-086 Tape 1 of 2

312-087 Tape 2 of 2

312-088 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-089 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Gettridge, Herbert, Sr. Plasterer Coumanis, Keri 2001-01-18

312-020 Typescript

312-090 Tape 1 of 1

312-091 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Gueringer, Henry “Hank” Carpenter; wild fowl carver Rogers, Bethany 2000-11-21

312-021 Typescript

312-092 Tape 1 of 1

Hartdegen, Clayton Millwright Coumanis, Keri 2001-01-11

Hartdegen, Jason Millwright

312-022 Typescript

312-093 Tape 1 of 1

312-094 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Hartsock, John Architectural lathe and mill worker Knight, Heather 2001-06-25

312-023 Typescript

312-095 Tape 1 of 2

312-096 Tape 2 of 2

312-097 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-098 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Hewitt, Tom Maintenance engineer Poret, Ray 1999-06

312-024 Typescript

312-099 Tape 1 of 1

Hutchison, Rudy Carpenter; wild fowl carver Rogers, Bethany 2000-11-12

312-025 Typescript

312-100 Tape 1 of 2

312-101 Tape 2 of 2

312-102 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-103 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Jackson, Desoto Brick mason Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-14

Legaux, Gerard

312-026 Typescript

312-104 Tape 1 of 2

312-105 Tape 2 of 2

Lachin, Thomas Ornamental plasterer Knight, Heather 2001-07-25

312-027 Typescript

312-106 Tape 1 of 1

312-107 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Monette, Wilbert F. Brick mason Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-11

312-028 Typescript

312-108 Tape 1 of 2

312-109 Tape 2 of 2

Montana, “Tootie” Lather Sammuels, Daniel 1999-06-18

312-029 Typescript

312-110 Tape 1 of 2

312-111 Tape 2 of 2

Montana, “Tootie” Lather Spitzer, Nick 2000-07-26

Sakakeeny, Mark

312-030 Typescript

312-112 Tape 1 of 1

Perrault, Raphael Brick mason Knight, Heather 2001-01-21

312-031 Typescript

312-113 Tape 1 of 2

312-114 Tape 2 of 2

312-115 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-116 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Pieri, Joe Tile setter Coumanis, Keri 2001-02-08

312-032 Typescript

312-117 Tape 1 of 1

312-118 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Pierre, Teddy Brick mason Richardson, Lisa 1999-06-30

312-033 Typescript

312-119 Tape 1 of 2

312-120 Tape 2 of 2

Pierre, Teddy Brick and stone mason Spitzer, Nick 2000-07-25

312-034 Typescript

312-121 Tape 1

312-122 Tape 2

Plessy, Russell Carpenter Sammuels, Daniel 1999-06-19

312-035 Typescript

312-123 Tape 1 of 1

Reeves, Darryl Blacksmith Knight, Heather 2001-07-03

312-036 Typescript

312-124 Tape 1 of 1

312-125 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Rein, Joseph Painter Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-02

312-037 Typescript Legaux, Gerard

312-126 Tape 1 of 2

312-127 Tape 2 of 2

Reynolds, Jerry Brick mason; Knight, Heather 2001-06-22

masonry instructor

312-038 Typescript

312-128 Tape 1 of 1

312-129 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Romain, Edwin Carpenter Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-07

Legaux, Gerard

312-039 Typescript

312-130 Tape 1 of 2

312-131 Tape 2 of 2

Schwander, Louis “Ted” Sheet metal worker; roofer Abry, George 2000-11-15

312-040 Typescript

312-132 Tape 1 of 1

Sinceno, Kevin General contractor/carpentry Poret, Ray 1999-06-24

312-041 Typescript

312-133 Tape 1 of 1

Smith, William “Smitty” Plasterer Knight, Heather 2001-08-01

312-042 Typescript

312-134 Tape 1 of 2

312-135 Tape 2 of 2

312-136 Tape 1 of 2 (copy)

312-137 Tape 2 of 2 (copy)

Sumas, Allen, Jr. Plasterer Knight, Heather 2001-01-24

312-043 Typescript

312-138 Tape 1 of 1

312-139 Tape 1 of 1 (copy)

Thornton, Evins Carpenter/trade and Poret, Ray 1999-06

industry instructor

312-044 Typescript

312-140 Tape 1 of 1

Thornton, Evins Carpenter/carpentry instructor Rogers, Bethany 2000-07-19

312-045 Typescript

312-141 Tape 1 of 2

312-142 Tape 2 of 2

Tucker, A. J. “Pete” Contractor; brick mason Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-11

312-046 Typescript

312-143 Tape 1 of 1

Tudury, Donald Iron worker Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-29

312-047 Typescript

312-144 Tape 1 of 2

312-145 Tape 2 of 2

Vandergriff, Tevis B., III Plasterer Legaux, Frankie 1999-06-23

Legaux, Gerard

312-048 Typescript

312-146 Tape 1 of 2

312-147 Tape 2 of 2