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Audio Recording William Ward interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, 2017-06-12.

Audio recording of interview with William Ward.
Audio recording of interview with William Ward.

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About this Item

Title

  • William Ward interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, 2017-06-12.

Summary

  • William "Billy" Ward was initiated into Local 3 in 1988, and after 29 years, he is currently the only NETA Level 4 Senior Certified Test Technician in the Local. Born in New York, he grew up in Washington Heights, and as a teenage moved to Riverdale, where he still resides. He speaks about his extended family, his Irish roots, his mother and father and how important they are in his life. He reflects on the lack of focus and direction he had in his youth, how he was initially denied when he first applied to Local 3, and how he took the rejection personally. He talks about a white collar job he had at Lehman Brothers, and how he turned down a raise and took a pay cut when entering the apprenticeship program as well as why he decided to pursue a more mechanical career involving outdoor work in a less restrictive environment. He shares stories about his apprenticeship, the people who influenced him, how he became interested in high voltage testing, the various levels of testing, and how he overcame barriers to reach Level 4. His talks about the technical aspects of his work, and how his favorite part of the job is troubleshooting electrical equipment in emergency situations--a process he compares to his experiences outside of work. He uses electrical jargon throughout the interview.

Names

  • Ward, William J., 1966- interviewee.
  • Lopez, Jaime, 1986- interviewer.
  • Occupational Folklife Project, sponsor.

Created / Published

  • 2017-06-12

Headings

  • -  Ward, William J.,--1966---Interviews
  • -  Accidents
  • -  Age and employment
  • -  Apprenticeship programs
  • -  Blue collar workers
  • -  Clubs
  • -  Collective bargaining
  • -  Corporations
  • -  Courtesy in the workplace
  • -  Education
  • -  Employee morale
  • -  Employee ownership
  • -  Employees
  • -  Employees--Training of
  • -  Families
  • -  Handicraft
  • -  Hazing
  • -  Hobbies
  • -  Hours of labor
  • -  Humor in the workplace
  • -  Income
  • -  Industrial safety
  • -  Jargon (Terminology)
  • -  Job satisfaction
  • -  Job security
  • -  Job stress
  • -  Joking
  • -  Labor contract
  • -  Labor unions
  • -  Layoff systems
  • -  Manners and customs
  • -  Mentoring
  • -  Night work
  • -  Non-formal education
  • -  Occupational retraining
  • -  Occupational training
  • -  Office politics
  • -  Oral tradition
  • -  Overtime
  • -  Performance standards
  • -  Professional associations
  • -  Promotions
  • -  Quality of products
  • -  Quality of work life
  • -  Right to labor
  • -  Social life and customs
  • -  Storytelling
  • -  Supervisors
  • -  Technical education
  • -  Technology
  • -  Training needs
  • -  Unemployment
  • -  Vocational interests
  • -  Volunteers
  • -  Wages
  • -  White collar workers
  • -  Work and family
  • -  Work environment
  • -  Work ethic
  • -  Work sharing
  • -  Workmanship
  • -  Medical care
  • -  Health insurance
  • -  Youth
  • -  Substance abuse
  • -  Electricians--New York (State)--New York--Interviews
  • -  Electric industry workers--New York (State)--New York--Interviews
  • -  Long Island City (New York, N.Y.),--event place

Genre

  • Sound recordings
  • Digital photographs--Color--2010-2020
  • Interviews
  • Oral histories
  • Personal narratives

Notes

  • -  Recorded at the Electrical Industry Training Center, Long Island City, New York, June 12, 2017.
  • -  Illuminating history: union electricians in New York City, Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/035: 03624) Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
  • -  To honor the memory of Archie Green (1917-2009), a fellowship program was established at the American Folklife Center in 2010. Archie Green Fellowships support new research in the contemporary culture and traditions of American workers.
  • -  In English.

Medium

  • 1 sound file (wav) (01:11:24) : digital, sound.
  • 7 photographs : digital, jpg, color.
  • 1 manuscript : pdf, text file.

Source Collection

  • Illuminating history: union electricians in New York City, Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 AFC 2016/035: 03624

Repository

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2020655319

Rights Advisory

  • Duplication of collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions.

Access Advisory

Online Format

  • image
  • audio
  • pdf

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright protection (see Title 17, U.S.C.) or any other restrictions in the material in this collection, except as noted below. Users should keep in mind that the Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other holders of rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. See our Legal Notices and Privacy and Publicity Rights for additional information and restrictions.

The individuals documented by the Occupational Folklife Project retain copyright and related rights to the use of their recorded and written testimonies and memories.  They have granted the Library of Congress permission to provide access to their interviews and related materials for purposes that are consistent with the agency’s educational mission, such as publication and transmission, in whole or in part, on the Web. Project participants’ written permission is required for any commercial, profit-making distribution, reproduction, or other use beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

The American Folklife Center and the Occupational Folklife Project fieldworkers who carry out these projects feel a strong ethical responsibility to the people they have visited and who have consented to have their lives documented for the historical record. The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these collection materials should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. 

Credit line

Agricultural Aviation: Crop Dusters in Rural America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/007), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Baton Rouge Small Businesses and Trades: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/023), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The "Big Top" Show Goes On: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/003), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Boeing Aircraft Factory Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/036), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cement Workers in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/008), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Commercial Bookbinders: Occupational Folklife Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/021), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cultural Traditions of Ironworkers in America's Upper Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2011/062), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Dairy Farm Workers in New York's North Country: Archie Green Fellows project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/033), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Doctoring: The Occupational Folklore of Physicians: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Domestic Workers United: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/027), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ethnic Grocers in the Urban Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2013/016), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Finding Roots: Asian American Farmers in Contemporary America: Occupational Folklife Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fixing, Mending, Making New: North Carolina's Repair Professionals: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/009), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fresh Produce Workers in Arizona: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Funeral Services Workers in the Carolinas: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/037), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Green Book--Documenting African American entrepreneurs: Archie Green Fellows project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/029), Archie Green Fellows Project American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hairdresser and Beauty Shop Culture in America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Homeless Shelter Workers in the Upper Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hope for Recovery: Peer Support Workers in Kentucky: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/010), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Illuminating History: Union Electricians in New York City: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Independent Professional Wrestlers in Central Appalachia: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/029), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Kitchen Workers in Central Ohio: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Midwives, doulas, and birth workers in North Carolina: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/027), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Multigenerational African-Descended Farmers of the Midwest: Surviving Erasure: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2021 (AFC 2019/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Personal Home Health Care Aides in Michigan: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/018), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Production Potters of the Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Psychiatric nurses in Wisconsin: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ranger Lore: The Occupational Folklore of Park Rangers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Ransomville Speedway: Dirt Track Racing in Western New York: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/013), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Recent Immigrant Workers in Iowa's Meatpacking Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/026), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Stable Views: Voices and Stories from the Thoroughbred Racetrack: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Taking Care--Documenting the Occupational Culture of Home Care Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/021), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress)

Teaching in Wisconsin Classrooms: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/017), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Tobacco Workers of the Connecticut River Valley: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Trash Talk: Workers in Vermont's Waste Management Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/031), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Washington State Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Western Folklife Center Occupational Folklore Project: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2011/064), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Winery Workers in Virginia: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/017), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Women Architects: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/031), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Working the Port of Houston: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/006), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Working the Waterfront, New Bedford, Massachusetts: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/036), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Ward, William J., Interviewee, Jaime Lopez, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. William Ward interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, -06-12. -06-12, 2017. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020655319/.

APA citation style:

Ward, W. J., Lopez, J. & Occupational Folklife Project, S. (2017) William Ward interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, -06-12. -06-12. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2020655319/.

MLA citation style:

Ward, William J., Interviewee, Jaime Lopez, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. William Ward interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, -06-12. -06-12, 2017. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2020655319/>.