Audio Recording Michael LaTrace interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, 2017-06-06.

Title

• Michael LaTrace interview conducted by Jaime Lopez, 2017-06-06.

Summary

• Initiated into Local Union #3 in 1975, Michael LaTrace is currently the General Foreman at 2 Penn and 1 Penn Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. Born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Michael recalls his neighborhood and his early school days at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He talks about his vegetable garden; his earlier jobs as a lifeguard, a milkman, mozzarella cheese maker, and sorting construction material at his family contracting business. His Uncle John LaTrace, a Bell Telephone worker, convinced Michael to join the apprenticeship program. He expresses gratitude for Harry Van Arsdale Jr. and Local 3 and is amazed that, after 42 years in the business, he still learns something new everyday. Michael talks about a longtime partner and good friend, Tommy Pellattere, how much he learned from him, and how Tommy is "pound for pound, the greatest journeyman in Local 3." He tells stories about the installation work they did and their adventures. He discusses how improvements in safety on the job site are a welcome change; the harsh deadlines General Contractors impose on workers today; improvements in tools--the battery-powered mini-bandsaw is his favorite. Drawing on his long career, he recounts some fabulous tales, including working at John Lenon's apartment; being the first Local 3 apprentice ever to go on furlough; almost winning the life saving award; and working at Studio 54 at the height of disco. Nearing retirement (on 09/01/2017), his self-proclaimed humorous titles include "Biggest calves in Local #3," "King of Electricity," first to use the whistle in the disco, and first to wear his baseball cap backwards.

Names

• LaTrace, Michael, interviewee.
• Lopez, Jaime, 1986- interviewer.
• Occupational Folklife Project, sponsor.

Created / Published

• 2017-06-06

Headings

• -  LaTrace, Michael--Interviews
• -  Accidents
• -  Apprenticeship programs
• -  Blue collar workers
• -  Courtesy in the workplace
• -  Education
• -  Employee morale
• -  Employee ownership
• -  Employees
• -  Employees--Training of
• -  Families
• -  Handicraft
• -  Hazardous occupations
• -  Hobbies
• -  Humor in the workplace
• -  Income
• -  Jargon (Terminology)
• -  Job satisfaction
• -  Job security
• -  Job stress
• -  Joking
• -  Labor unions
• -  Manners and customs
• -  Mentoring
• -  Music
• -  Non-formal education
• -  Occupational therapy
• -  Occupational training
• -  Oral tradition
• -  Part-time employment
• -  Performance standards
• -  Practical jokes
• -  Promotions
• -  Quality of products
• -  Quality of work life
• -  Retirement
• -  Social life and customs
• -  Storytelling
• -  Supervisors
• -  Technical education
• -  Technology
• -  Training needs
• -  Unfair labor practices
• -  Vocational education
• -  Vocational interests
• -  Wages
• -  Work and family
• -  Work environment
• -  Work ethic
• -  Work-life balance
• -  Workmanship
• -  Youth
• -  Electricians--New York (State)--New York--Interviews
• -  Electric industry workers--New York (State)--New York--Interviews
• -  Manhattan (New York, N.Y.),--event place

Genre

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

Notes

• -  Interviewers notes- Mike LaTrace and I have worked together for over a decade in the Madison Square Garden area, and because of that special bond that we have built, it was particularly difficult NOT to ask him to retell the stories I have heard dozens of times before, and love hearing again. I have watched Mike accomplish some amazing things during our time together. He has taught me worlds about this electrical industry and more importantly the power of humor, always making space to smile in our demanding jobs. Thank you Mike for being a great role model and teacher throughout the years, I'm going to miss you buddy! -Jaime Lopez
• -  Recorded at the Union's office at Penn Plaza, Manhattan, New York, June 6, 2017.
• -  Illuminating history: union electricians in New York City, Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/035: 03627) 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) (00:54:42) : 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: 03627

Repository

• Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC USA 20540-4610 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home

Digital Id

• http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc2016035.afc2016035_03627_sr01
• afc2016035.afc2016035_03627_ph
• afc2016035.afc2016035_03627_ms01

Library of Congress Control Number

• 2020655322

Rights Advisory

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

Access Advisory

• Collection is open for research. To request materials, please contact the Folklife Reading Room at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact

Online Format

• image
• audio
• pdf

LCCN Permalink

• https://lccn.loc.gov/2020655322

Additional Metadata Formats

• MARCXML Record
• MODS Record
• Dublin Core Record

IIIF Presentation Manifest

• Manifest (JSON/LD)