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Film, Video David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons interview conducted by Brent A. Bjorkman, 2014-05-19

Interview with David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons, video.

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Interview with David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons, audio.
Interview with David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons, audio.

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[ Transcription of interview with David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons. ]

About this Item

Title

  • David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons interview conducted by Brent A. Bjorkman, 2014-05-19

Summary

  • A couple, David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons both started working for the National Park Service (NPS) in the 1970s and met in the Mammoth Cave guide lounge. David left after 15 years as a law enforcement ranger; Joy only recently retired in 2013. At first, they rented a house through the park and now live just outside the park's boundaries. The couple discuss the challenges NPS families faced in their early careers. Joy recalls the first female uniforms, which she describes as looking like a "1960s air stewardess outfit" and "an embarrassment to the Parks Service." She talks about her encounters with co-workers and visitors as a female in a male-dominated workspace, and admits that despite their mutual challenges, women didn't always treat each other fairly. Explaining the differences in law enforcement then and now, Joy and David talk about confronting poachers and illegal hunters. "People come to national parks to do things that aren't going to happen in other places," David says. Joy recounts a tragic road accident in which the niece of park employee passed away. Joy goes on to praise her co-workers, and express her pride in the mentoring and research she was able to carry out while on staff. She advises to people to work harder than their pay levels, and to never fear looking too good for a particular job. "Keep trying until you feel like you can't try anymore," she says.

Names

  • Lyons, Joy Medley, interviewee
  • Lyons, David M., interviewee
  • Björkman, Brent, interviewer
  • Occupational Folklife Project, sponsor

Created / Published

  • 2014-05-19

Headings

  • -  Lyons, Joy Medley--Interviews
  • -  Lyons, David M.--Interviews
  • -  Park rangers--Clothing and dress
  • -  Employees--Relocation
  • -  Work and family
  • -  Harassment
  • -  Mentoring
  • -  Park rangers--Promotions
  • -  Quality of work life
  • -  Sex discrimination in employment
  • -  Sex role in the work environment
  • -  Supervisors
  • -  Park rangers--Wages
  • -  Working mothers
  • -  Park rangers--Kentucky--Interviews
  • -  Park naturalists--Kentucky--Interviews
  • -  Women park rangers--Kentucky--Interviews
  • -  Women in conservation of natural resources--Kentucky
  • -  National parks and reserves--Kentucky
  • -  National parks and reserves--Employees--Kentucky
  • -  Park rangers' spouses--Interviews

Genre

  • Sound recordings
  • Video recordings
  • Interviews
  • Oral histories
  • Personal narratives

Notes

  • -  In addition to this joint interview, Joy Medley Lyons was interviewed separately as part of this project. See afc2013014_00701.
  • -  Recorded in Park City, Kentucky, May 19, 2014.
  • -  Ranger Lore: The Occupational Folklore of Park Rangers, Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/014: 00800) 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

  • 12 video recordings (01:09:09) : digital, sound, color, mov
  • 1 sound recording (01:09:09) : digital, sound, wav
  • 1 manuscript : pdf, docx, text file

Source Collection

  • Ranger Lore: The Occupational Folklore of Park Rangers, Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 AFC 2013/014: 00800

Repository

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2020785321

Rights Advisory

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

Access Advisory

Online Format

  • image
  • audio
  • video
  • pdf

Additional Metadata Formats

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

Beyond the Breakwater: Gulf of Alaska Small-Boat Fishermen: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/007), 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

Immigrant Women Artists in Oklahoma: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/011), 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

Training the Troops: Military Role-Players of Fort Polk, Louisiana: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/019), 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:

Lyons, Joy Medley, Interviewee, David M Lyons, Brent Björkman, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons interview conducted by Brent A. Bjorkman, -05-19. -05-19, 2014. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020785321/.

APA citation style:

Lyons, J. M., Lyons, D. M., Björkman, B. & Occupational Folklife Project, S. (2014) David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons interview conducted by Brent A. Bjorkman, -05-19. -05-19. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2020785321/.

MLA citation style:

Lyons, Joy Medley, Interviewee, et al. David Lyons and Joy Medley Lyons interview conducted by Brent A. Bjorkman, -05-19. -05-19, 2014. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2020785321/>.