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"Making Leather; Living Life"
An Oral and Documentary History
of Work and Life in the
Leather Capitol, 1930-1980 |
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In the fall of 2006, the George Peabody House Museum received a grant from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities to begin an oral history project. Under the guidance of oral historian John Fox, museum curator Marieke Van Damme interviewed over a dozen former leatherworkers.
The interviews produced both laughter and tears and helped many people recover forgotten memories. Click on the links below to read or listen to these captivating interviews!
- Bill Teague: Interviewed March 9, 2007
- Alice Parsons Farnsworth: Interviewed January 29, 2007
- Don Finegold: Interviewed January 30, 2007
- Ruth Bonfanti: Interviewed March 28, 2007
- Jim Carter: Interviewed February 21, 2007
- Jeff Wignall: Interviewed March 8, 2007
- Jimmy Nickola: Interviewed February 20, 2007
- Joe Silva: Interviewed January 31, 2007
- John Bishop: Interviewed February 23, 2007
- Marie Bishop: Interviewed March 9, 2007
- Bill Toomey: Interviewed December 28, 2006
- John Smidt: Interviewed March 14, 2007
- Joe Martin: Interviewed March 7, 2007
- Ron Robinson: Interviewed March 6, 2007
- Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti: Interviewed April 11, 2007
- Web Jackson: Interviewed January 29, 2007
- Tim Wallace: Interviewed February 12, 2007
For more information on industry in Essex County,
hit the Industrial Trail!
This project is dedicated to former museum commissioner
Avrom Herbster who recently passed away.
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 Gracie Malia and Patsy O'Leary
outside Duffy Leather, Foster Street
Image courtesy of Alice Farnsworth
Did you work in leather?
Call the museum at 978-531-0355
to set up an interview or download a form here.
View the exhibition at the museum
June 5- September 30
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