Francis E. Bowker Oral History Interview, March 14, 2001
(Oral History #OH0205)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Francis E. Bowker Oral History Interview |
| Creators: |
Bowker, Francis E.
Sugg, H. A. I. |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Extent: | 0.0050 Cubic feet, 1 audiocassette, 1.5 hours, no transcription. |
Administrative Information
General note
1930s-1960s
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
Copyright Notice
Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs.
Preferred Citation
Francis E. Bowker Oral History Interview (#OH0205), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Francis E. Bowker
Processing Information
-
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Biographical / Historical Note
Captain Bowker's maritime career began in the 1930s, sailing a three-masted schooner off Nova Scotia. He second ship was a five-masted schooner, of which he gives an excellent description in the interview. In 1941 he went to officer's school and became a 3rd mate. He was still on schooners during the early part of World War II and discusses being stopped by the U.S. Navy to have the ship's cargo inspected. Later in the war he served on a tanker where he was exposed to toxic gas fumes. He was hospitalized for three months, whereupon his merchant marine career ended when it was discovered he had permanent lung damage.
After his merchant marine career ended, he became very involved with Sea Scouts (which included Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts), taking them on sailing adventures in two-masted schooners.
Container List
Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.
