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Frank Spizuoco Dexter Town History Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MF097

Scope and Contents

Interviews conducted by Frank Spizuoco from 1963 to 1970 of two residents of Dexter, Maine. Albert “Bert” Call, a retired Dexter photographer, talks about local history and about his working life before and after moving to Dexter, Maine in 1886, and Erma Bentley, a long-time resident of Dexter, records her memories about early Dexter residents and town history.

Dates

  • 1963-1970

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

For digitized items free from access restrictions, we are working to upload this material (pdfs, mp3s, jpgs) for public access, but it is an ongoing project. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, contact Special Collections (um.library.spc@maine.edu).

Conditions Governing Use

Rights assessment remains the responsibility of the researcher. No known restrictions on material.

Extent

6 items

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

NA0567 Mrs. Erma Bentley, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco for FO 191, March 19, 1970, Dexter, Maine. Accession does not include any recordings although the material was apparently taped. Bentley tells humorous anecdotes and relates stories about local characters near Dexter, Maine around the turn of the 20th century, including Tom Bickell, William Pooler, John Toner, Charles Favor, Old Man Hodgkins, Ed Dexter, George Brawn, Bement, Frank Tait, Ed Fifield, Steve Haynes, Benny Beals, Uncle Dave Henkins, Deacon Glass, Hiram Clapp. The paper contains several black and white photos of Erma Bentley and her brother-in-law, Albert “Bert” Call. Text: 15 pp. paper.

NA2015 Albert “Bert” L. Call, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco, spring 1963, Dexter, Maine. Albert L. Call, age 97 and a retired Dexter photographer, talks about local history; personal anecdotes about Mr. Call witnessing the test firings of the Maxim gun; the Baron Bank cashier murder which occurred in Dexter in 1889. Also, an article written mostly by Spizuoco about Call which appeared in Maine Line, a publication of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. Text: 1 pp. index, 6 pp. article. Recording: mfc_na2015_t1987_01, mfc_na2015_t1987_02 1 3/4 hours.

NA2016 Albert “Bert” L. Call and Mrs. Erma Bentley, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco, March 27 and August 5, 1964, Dexter, Maine. The first interview took place at Mrs. Bentley’s home in Dexter. Interviews include amusing anecdotes about Dexter citizens, a poem about Dexter people, and information about the nineteenth century Baron Bank cashier murder. Recording: mfc_na2016_t1988_01, mfc_na2016_t1988_02 2 hours approx.

NA2017 Mrs. Albert “Bert” L. Call, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco, March 14, 1965, at his home in Dexter, Maine. mfc_na2017_t1989_01 is a continuation of a series of taped interviews with retired photographer, Call (age 97), in which he talks about his working life before and after moving to Dexter, Maine in 1886 including his experiences as the local fire chief prior to WWI. mfc_na2017_t1989_02 is a recording of the first planning meeting held to propose strategies and legal issues relating to the formation of the Dexter Historical Society. Recording: mfc_na2017_t1989_01, mfc_na2017_t1989_02 132 minutes.

NA2018 Mrs. Erma Bentley, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco, March 21, 1965, Dexter, Maine. Bentley talks about early Dexter history and citizens. Recording: mfc_na2018_t1990_01, mfc_na2018_t1990_02 92 minutes. Related series: see also NA0567, NA2015, NA2016, NA2017, and NA2019.

NA2019 Mrs. Erma Bentley, interviewed by Frank Spizuoco, March 19, 1970, Dexter, Maine. A second taped interview with Bentley about Dexter town characters and history of Dexter, recorded March 21, 1965. Text: 1 pp. brief catalog, no transcript. Recording: mfc_na2019_t1991_01, mfc_na2019_t1991_02 1/2 hour. Related series: NA0567, NA2015, NA2016, NA2017, NA2018.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

Materials Specific Details

Audio files are the primary source material. Transcriptions are the transcriber's best effort to convert audio to text, but should be considered secondary to the audio.

Title
Guide to the Frank Spizuoco Dexter Town History Collection
Status
Digital Objects Available
Author
Amanda Marden
Date
April 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English.

Repository Details

Part of the Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History Repository

Contact:
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207.581.1686