Maine Humanities Council

David Carey, Jr. is an associate professor of History and Women’s Studies at the University of Southern Maine. He holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University; his publications include Ojer taq tzijob’äl kichin ri Kaqchikela’ Winaqi’ (A History of the Kaqchikel People) (Q’anilsa Ediciones, 2004) and Engendering Mayan History: Mayan Women as Agents and Conduits of the Past, 1875-1970 (Routledge, 2006).Professor Carey is the second in our series of podcasts from our December, 2009 event: Cuban Exceptionalism: Reflections on Latin American History. This one day event examined the colonial history of Cuba, the Revolution and the post-revolution era of the region. Professor Carey’s lecture entitled Cuba and the United States, informs us on Portland’s important connection with Cuba at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Professor Carey’s lecture was part of the Cuban Exceptionalism symposium which took place on December 4, 2009 in the Albert Brenner Glickman Library at the University of Southern Maine.

Cuba and the United States [ 15:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2908)

The Blaine House is the Governor’s residence in Augusta, Maine. At the 175th anniversary celebration of this historic house on August 16, 2008, historian Jo Radner interviewed some of its former residents and staff.

Phyllis H. Siebert was the Blaine House chef from 1972 until her retirement in 2001. Cass Longley-Leahy is one of James B. Longley’s children. Governor Longley was in office from 1975 to 1979. Burton Cross served as Governor of Maine between 1953 and 1955. Margaret (Peggy) Gardiner’s father, William Tudor Gardiner, was the Governor of Maine from 1929 to 1933. Nancy Catlin is the great-granddaughter of Edwin Chick Burleigh, U.S. Senator (1913-1916) and Governor of Maine (1889-1893). Several other descendents of the Burleigh family—Mary J. O’Connor, Dr. Susan O’Connor, and Mari McGuire—joined her for this interview. Nicholas S. Sewall occupied the wartime Blaine House while his father, Sumner Sewall, served as the Governor of Maine between 1941 and 1945.

Phyllis H. Siebert [ 26:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (631)

Cass Longley-Leahy [ 10:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (624)

Burton Cross [ 7:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (636)

Margaret (Peggy) Gardiner [ 13:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (634)

Nancy Catlin [ 5:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (614)

Nicholas S. Sewall [ 9:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3050)

The Voici the Valley Cultureway celebrates the places and culture of the St. John Valley, where the United States and Canada meet along the St. John River.

The St. John Valley is found at the top of the state of Maine with the neighboring province of New Brunswick. Fondly called “The Valley,” this international region is home to around 55,000 people, mostly of French heritage. The Voici the Valley Cultureway was created by Sheila Jans, Don Cyr, and Daniel Picard of CultureWorth to celebrate the places and culture of the Valley. Visitors can enhance their experience (and residents can deepen their understanding) of the region with the Voici the Valley Audio Story and Guide, available here for $15. The guide has maps and information about both sides of the international border. This podcast episode contains the introduction to the 80-minute Audio Story, which brings the region to life through stories, interviews, and traditional music.

This introduction to the St. John Valley is part of the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast. You can leave a comment below.

Voici the Valley - Introduction [ 4:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (462)

The complete Voici the Valley Audio Story (available here) includes a thorough historical account of the deportation of the Acadian people from the Maritime Provinces in 1755, the territorial disputes that ensued, and the eventual settlement of the Valley in 1785 by Acadian refugees. This brief excerpt explains how, in the wake of the 1842 treaty that established the border, residents of the south side of the Valley—now a part of the United States—turned to the Catholic Church to provide social services, schools, and hospitals. The Church, rather than their new government, shaped their lives and culture. The photo at right by Don Cyr shows the angel on the tower of the former Catholic church, Notre Dame du Mont-Carmel, now the Musee culturel du Mont-Carmel in Lille, Maine.

Alliances and Adversities: Shifting of Affairs [ 5:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (398)

Governments on both sides of the international border that runs through the Valley have made laws to regulate the crossing of people and goods. This segment offers a glimpse of how current residents feel about these laws and how their forebears got around them during Prohibition. At right: bagosse, which is homebrew or moonshine, depicted by Daniel Picard.

This recording is excerpted from the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast.

Law of the Lands: Dividing the Valley [ 5:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (405)

This excerpt from the Voici the Valley Audio Story features Allagash resident Joe Kelly recalling his experiences as a logger and river driver in the time before the chain saw. You’ll also hear a French folk song about a river driver, performed by traditional singer Rachel LeBlanc. The photo at right by Daniel Picard shows a traditional “Connors” river driving batteau on the St. John River.

This recording is excerpted from the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast.

Voici the Valley: Tales of Terrain: Shaping Land, Shaping People [ 5:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (268)