Working Americans
odd: label: Introduction
content: The Working Americans program explored and celebrated work-related traditions, looking at Americans not as people from a certain area of the country or from a particular culture, but in terms of how they made their living and what they needed to know to do their jobs. Each occupation has its own traditions and its own body of skills. In the Working Americans section, Festival-goers could meet and talk with members of many unions and organizations while they demonstrated the particular know-how essential to their varied tasks and while they shared, in the workshop areas, the particular tales and jokes that grow out of the nature of the work they do.

The Folklife of Transportation Workers Project celebrated the lore, lifestyles, and occupational skills of the American workers who operate, maintain, and regulate the nation's transport system. The airline pilot's complex take-off procedure, the flight attendant's responsibility for safety in the cabin, the railroader's ability to calculate and make complicated box-car switches could be found here; as well as bus and taxi drivers' tales of ways to handle over-demanding passengers, truck driving songs, and seafarers' yarns. Transportation workers keep the nation's economic lifeblood moving. They also harbor a rich lore, replete with heroes, tall tales, and songs, that was demonstrated within this program.

June 16-27, Workers Who Extract and Shape. Presentations included glass bottle blowing, glass engraving and horseshoe making.

July 1-11, Workers Who Build. This program celebrated the skills and folklore of the building and construction trades. Participants demonstrated building crafts such as carpentry, tile and terrazzo skills, and even the casting of plaster masks of visitors' faces.

July 14-25, Workers Who Clothe Us. Participants celebrated the skills and folklore of workers in the garment trades, with demonstrations of clothes design, bonnaz (machine embroidery), leather work, and industrial loom work.

July 28-August 8, Workers in Communications, Arts & Recreation. This theme celebrated the skills and folklore of the print and broadcast media, telephone communications, and performing arts. Members of the Graphic Arts International Union demonstrated newspaper printing, four-color printing, and book binding. Members of the United Paperworkers International Union demonstrated papermaking, and members of various performing arts groups gave workshops.

August 11-22, Workers in Professional & Technical Skills, Transportation. Presentations celebrated the skills and folklore of professionals who work in health and medical fields, the tobacco industry, and the print and copying industry. Demonstrations included hospital workers demonstrating operating room techniques, cigar rolling, pharmacists making compounds, and body repairmen working on cars. The Transportation area presented the occupational culture of the men and women who work in the various modes of transportation, including the railroads, metropolitan and long-distance buses, taxicabs, trucks, ships, and stations of the Coast Guard. In the Transportation area, the skills of railroad men, airline pilots, truck drivers and seamen were featured.

August 25-September 6, Workers Who Feed Us, Transportation. Participants celebrates the skills and folklore of people involved with various aspects of production, preparation, and distribution of food. Hotel and restaurant workers demonstrated decorative ice carving, specialty table settings, wine stewarding, and cold food decoration. The Transportation area presented the occupational culture of those who work in the various modes of transportation, including skills demonstrations by airline, railroad and metropolitan transit workers, as well as by Coast Guardsmen who showed ornamental rope work and knot tying.

Shirley Askew served as Program Coordinator, with Robert McCarl as Folklorist, Robert Porter as Field Research & Presentation Specialist, and Susan Donahue as Assistant Program Coordinator. Peter Seitel was Project Coordinator for the Transportation program, assisted by Jack Santino.

Sponsors included the AFL-CIO and its Affiliates, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Transportation.
label: Transportation fieldworkers
content: John Drake, Elaine Eff, Jan Faul, Archie Green, Alice Lacy, Worth Long, Luis Kemnitzer
label: Presenters
content: Benny Ambush, Karen Byrne, Debbie Dixon, Steve Hagberg, Marta Schley, Barbara Schwartz
label: Participants
content: Workers Who Extract and Shape Products

Members of the following unions:

United Cement, Lime & Gypsum Workers International Union

Thomas F. Miechur, President

Glass Bottle Blowers Association of the United States and Canada

Harry A. Tulley, President

American Flint Glass Workers Union

George M. Parker, President

International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of the United States and Canada

Duke Bonde, Jr., President

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Floyd E. Smith, President

Molders and Allied Workers Union

Anton J. Trizna, President

American Federation of Musicians

Hal C. Davis, President

The Music Performance Trust Funds

Kenneth E. Raine, Trustee

Saul Broudy

Andy Cohen

Larry Hanks

Fred Holstein

John Kolstad

Lew London

Faith Petrick

Utah Phillips

Mark Ross

Jane Voss

Bodie Wagner

Pop Wagner

Workers Who Build

Members of the following unions:

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen

Thomas F. Murphy, President

United Brick and Clay Workers of America

Roy L. Brown, President

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

William Sidell, President

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Charles H. Pillard, President

International Union of Operating Engineers

J.C. Turner, President

International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers

John H. Lyons, President

Laborers' International Union of North America

Angelo Fosco, President

International Union of Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers

Kenneth M. Edwards, President

Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association of the United States and Canada

Joseph T. Power, President

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada

Martin J. Ward, President

Sheet Metal Workers International Union

Edward J. Carlough, President

Workers Who Clothe Us

Members of the following unions:

Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union

Murray H. Finley, President

International Ladies' Garment Workers Union

Sol C. Chaikin, President

International Leather Goods, Plastics and Novelty Workers Union

Ben Feldman, President

Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Furriers Division

Joseph Belsky, President

Workers in Communications, Arts and Recreation

Members of the following unions:

Actors' Equity Association

Theodore Bikel, President

Communications Workers of America

Glenn E. Watts, President

Graphic Arts International Union

Kenneth J. Brown, President

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Kenneth Harvey, President

National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians

Edward M. Lynch, President

International Association of Fire Fighters

William H. McClennan, President

American Guild of Musical Artists

Cornell MacNeil, President

American Guild of Variety Artists

Penny Singleton, Executive-President

Hebrew Actors' Union

Herman Yablokoff, President

Workers in Professional and Technical Skills and Services

Members of the following unions and organizations:

Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union

Murray H. Finley, President

The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Jerry A. Johnson, Ph.D., President

James J. Garibaldi, Executive Director

Ronald Stone, OTR; President

Virginia Occupational Therapy Association

Silbyl Levine, OTR; President

District of Columbia Occupational Therapy Association

Panelpha Kyler, OTR; President

Maryland Occupational Therapy Association

Retail Clerks International Association

James T. Housewright, President

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union

Alvin E. Heaps, President

Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO

George Hardy, President

Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO, Locals 689, 1551, 1138, 1098

William Deal

Robert Fearington

Ken Grow

William Downey

John Geib

John Palardy

Ron Reier

John Adams

Robert Adams

James Gibson

L. Ray Gossard

Lee Ice

Monte W. Monteith

Bernard O'Mahoney

New York Taxi Drivers Union, AFL-CIO, Local 3036

Mike Rosenthal

Hy Hershkowitz

Tom Caulfield

Ethel Peoples

Air Traffic Control Association

Arthur Pittius

Stewart A. Dawson

John Goon

Donald E. Jicka

L.I. Pearce

Paul Moore

Capt. Peter W. O'Neil

Thelma K. Swofford

Edward J. Gillet

James F. Arthur

Steward A. Dawson

Robert D. Rudich

Joe B. Shirley

Clarence T. Tolpo, Beaumont, Texas

Lt. Charlotte Wood

Flight Engineers International Association

John Minor

I. (Hauk) Turner

Abe Sewalson

J.P. Trottier

International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, Local 1650

Bill Hampton

Kenneth Green

Lloyd Mann

Lloyd Crindlebaugh

F.E. Wood

Bill Hoppe

H.L. Norton

G.F. Roady

M.R. McCutchen

L.C. Leeds

Eddie Glaszczak, Platte City, Missouri

Bill Hoffman, Liberty, Missouri

B.J. Wilson

J.J. Kunrod

John McKim

Harry Powell

B.L. Yardley

N.C. Mosley

Gary Mason

S.M. Ballew

Tracy Bales

Wally Hayward

Dick Lincoln

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

B.B. Thomas

B.M. Byrd

O.L. Williams

E.B. Dollar

G.L. Bridgeman

Charles McHuges

Ed Irby

Transport Workers Union, Maintenance, Local 514

R.N. Smythe

P.O. Young

H.V. Highberger

C.R. Burke

J.S. Lowe

B.L. Lamb

S.W. Hathcock

P.E. Corn

A.B. Williams

J. Shade

R.H. Stanley

W.D. Myers

A.D. Sorenson

J.L. Locut

W.C. Popejoy

R.J. Barker

B.M. Maris

S.H. Walden

Workers Who Feed Us

Members of the following unions and organizations:

Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America

Joseph Belsky, President

Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union of America

Daniel E. Conway, President

Hotel and Restaurant Employees' and Bartenders' International Union

Edward T. Hanley, General President

Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association

Walter A. Martz, President

James E. Click, General Manager

The Omaha Livestock Exchange

Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO, Locals 689, 1551, 1138, 1098

William Deal

Robert Fearington

Ken Grow

William Downey

John Geib

John Palardy

Ron Reier

John Adams

Robert Adams

James Gibson

L. Ray Gossard

Lee Ice

Monte W. Monteith

Bernard O'Mahoney

Vince Hobday

Henry Hawkins

Air Traffic Control Association

Arthur Pittius

Stewart A. Dawson

John Goon

Donald E. Jicka

L.I. Pearce

Paul Moore

Capt. Peter W. O'Neil

Thelma K. Swofford

Edward J. Gillet

James F. Arthur

Steward A. Dawson

Robert D. Rudich

Joe B. Shirley

Clarence T. Tolpo, Beaumont, Texas

Lt. Charlotte Wood

Flight Engineers International Association

John Minor

I. (Hauk) Turner

Abe Sewalson

J.P. Trottier

International Association of Machinists, AFL-CIO, Local 1650

Bill Hampton

Kenneth Green

Lloyd Mann

Lloyd Crindlebaugh

F.E. Wood

Bill Hoppe

H.L. Norton

G.F. Roady

M.R. McCutchen

L.C. Leeds

Eddie Glaszczak, Platte City, Missouri

Bill Hoffman, Liberty, Missouri

B.J. Wilson

J.J. Kunrod

John McKim

Harry Powell

B.L. Yardley

N.C. Mosley

Gary Mason

S.M. Ballew

Tracy Bales

Wally Hayward

Dick Lincoln

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

B.B. Thomas

B.M. Byrd

O.L. Williams

E.B. Dollar

G.L. Bridgeman

Charles Hughes

Ed Irby

Transport Workers Union, Maintenance, Local 514

R.N. Smythe

P.O. Young

H.V. Highberger

C.R. Burke

J.S. Lowe

B.L. Lamb

S.W. Hathcock

P.E. Corn

A.B. Williams

J. Shade

R.H. Stanley

W.D. Myers

A.D. Sorenson

J.L. Locut

W.C. Popejoy

R.J. Barker

B.M. Maris

S.H. Walden

R.C. Sagar

M.D. Harrell

B.L. Ewing

J.L. Guynn

T.R. Hopper

C.E. Quinn

K.L. Anderson

Truckers

Jim Ringer

Ray Bieri

Jack Hamilton

George Gordon

Edgar Graves

James Marshall

Artie Marshall

William Peoples, III

Margaret Brooks

Bernice McDonald

Doris Miller

Ed Miller

Lee Voorhies

Richard Voorhies

Timmy Voorhies

Dale Setzer

Harry Bavdakian

Sea Chanteys

Louis Killen

Gerret Warner

Jeff Warner

John Benson

Jeff Davis

John Roberts

Maintenance of Way

Simon Shaw

Al Marshall

Bob Dudley

Roy Johnson

Clifton Anderson

Robert Dudley

Henry Hawkins

Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Locals 1395, 43, 468, 364, 175

C. Lightfoot

G. Butcher

S. Miedzienowski

W. Palmer

J. Palumbo

M. Walston

P. Lawson

W. Hardin

C. Green

S. Siadys

F. Burke

H. Lewin

Coast Guard

BMC C.D. Haywood

QM1 G.H. Hornbeck

BMC D.B. McMichael

ASM T.A. Hallmark

BM1 L.L. Proud

QM2 J.W. White

MK2 B.G. Borato

MK1 S.J. Halloran

Allied Pilots Association

Capt. Jenks

Jim Foringer

Capt. N. Schweitzer

W.J. Rogers

Capt. (Hap) Hazard

Al Voras

Transportation Workers Union Flight Attendants, Local 552

Karen Hill

Marti O'Rourke

Dee Dee Dougherty

Tootie Higgs

Judy Marek

Ed Gold

Ed Pagan

Linda Welker

Gussie Utting

Roy Brayton

Carol Peisinger

Fran Bollero

Carolyn Green

Mary Jo Kerr

Janet Piersan

United Transportation Union
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1976 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1976, Series 9
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials