Explore Black History

2012

An oral history interview with Frank Wright. It consists of a single WAVE file (.wav). Mr. Frank Wright was interviewed by Kelly Elaine Navies on August 19th, 2012, at his daughter’s home in Hebron, Maryland. At the time of the interview, Mr. Wright was 75 years old. The purpose of the interview was to record Mr. Wright’s memories of being a third-generation waterman on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and supplements several objects from the oyster boat of Mr. Wright’s father, Ira Samuel Wright in the NMAAHC collection.
The interview begins with Mr. Wright recounting his earliest memories of going out on the oyster boat with his father, Ira Wright. He recalls how he learned to cull, and later, to tong oysters, and he describes a typical day working on the water, including singing spirituals while they worked. He discusses the close-knit community of African American watermen and remembers how they helped each other on and off the water. He describes the relationships between white and Black watermen as well.
Mr. Wright talks about his reverence for his father and mentions how he was in a gospel quartet with his brothers known as the "Wright Brothers Quartet," describing the camp meetings the men would have where they would sing, clap, and stomp in a
circular formation.
Mr. Wright also talks about the various enterprises his family was involved in beyond oystering, such as crabbing, fishing, farming, and operating a general store. He explains how his mother ran the general store and maintained the household, and he shares how she encouraged him to become a teacher. Mr. Wright attended Bowie State, just like his mother, who also taught school. Toward the end of the interview, he talks about his work as a middle school teacher, and later, a store owner. In conclusion, Mr. Wright reflects on what he hopes Museum visitors remember about his family and their work as watermen.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Time-based Media - Audio

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2024.61.1.1

oral histories
WAVE (format)
digital media - born digital

digital

Duration: 1 hr., 25 min., 7 sec.
File size: 1.82 GB

Title • Frank Wright Oral History Interview

nmaahc_2024.61.1.1

NMAAHC

FRANK WRIGHT ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2010s

Wright, Ira Samuel • Navies, Kelly Elaine • Lillian Hull Wright • Bowie State University • Wright, Franklin I. • Wright Brothers Quartet

United States • Hebron • North and Central America • Wicomico County • Maryland

Black Enterprise • Communities • Education • Labor unions • Family • Business

City • Hebron • County • Wicomico County • State • Maryland • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

digital media - born digital • Oral histories (document genres) • WAVE (format) • Interviews

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