Miriam Monroe recollections of Edward K. Whitney, ca. 1850

Contributed by Western Maine Cultural Alliance

Listen to recording

Description

Miriam Monroe was 90 years old at the time of this interview. She was born and lived much of her life in Harrison where her father, the town doctor, built a cottage on the east side of Bear Pond. Monroe spent half the year in the cottage for the balance of her very long life and was very involved in local activities.

In addition to being an innovative farmer, Monroe's grandfather, Edward K. Whitney (1824-1897) was active in the reform movements of the 1850s like woman suffrage, peace and anti-slavery.

Monroe remembers her mother describing how distressed her grandfather was "over the plight of the slaves." After church, he recited and created tunes so he could sing the verses of abolitionist poems.

Monroe recites the song of the coffle gang, chained groups of prisoners, often slaves, who worked on the roads and sang as they worked.

View/Add Comments

Transcription

Item has a transcription view a full transcription


About This Item

  • Title: Miriam Monroe recollections of Edward K. Whitney, ca. 1850
  • Creator: Peter Lenz
  • Creation Date: 1988–1992
  • Subject Date: circa 1850
  • Locations:
    • Norway, Oxford County, ME
    • Paris, Oxford County, ME
  • Media: MP3
  • Collection: Oxford Hills Oral History Project
  • Object Type: Sound Recording

Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

People

Other Keywords


For more information about this item, contact:

Western Maine Cultural Alliance
4 Lovell Landing Road, Lovell, ME 04051
(207) 928-3712
Website

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.

How to cite content on this site


Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.