James Fite Oral History
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of 1 DVD of a digital video recording. The DVD documents an oral history interview with James (Jim) Fite, labor activist and former White Lung Association (WLA) Executive Director and National Secretary. The interview was conducted by Bill Barry, labor activist, on December 10, 2018 and includes discussion of Fite’s work at the Baltimore Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Shipyard and his work with the White Lung Association. The interview also discusses Fite’s efforts to save and preserve the records of the White Lung Association. The collection also includes 1 paper copy list of questions for the interview.
Dates
- Creation: 2018 December 10
Creator
- Barry, Bill (Labor activist) (Project director, Person)
- Fite, Jim (Interviewee, Person)
Language of Materials
Oral history interview was conducted in English.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. This collection contains audio-visual and digital materials that may need further processing or special equipment to allow use.
Usage Restrictions
The creator retains all rights; Special Collections and Archives provides viewing access only.
Biographical Note
James (Jim) Fite is the former White Lung Association (WLA) Executive Director and National Secretary. He is a labor activist. Born in Oklahoma, Fite began work in Baltimore, Maryland as a machinist at the Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Shipyard in 1979 and continued working there for a number of years. The White Lung Association was formed in 1979 to protect workers in the steel, auto, and shipyard industries. It was a worker-led nonprofit based in Baltimore. They advocated for laborers exposed to asbestos, a deadly, naturally-occurring silicate used in building and manufacturing and educated the public regarding the hazards of asbestos exposure. The group successfully helped change national, state, and local laws concerning asbestos.
Information for this historical note came from the interview in this collection, news articles, and the historical note from the White Lung Association Records.
Extent
0.21 Linear feet (1 container) : DVD and paper
Abstract
This collection contains a video oral history interview with James (Jim) Fite, labor activist and former White Lung Association (WLA) Executive Director and National Secretary. The interview was conducted by Bill Barry, labor activist in 2018.
Arrangement
Collection is organized as an inventory.
Custodial History
A refrence copy of the interview was given to Special Collections and Archives by Bill Barry on July 15, 2019.
Processing Information
Collection was processed by Laura Bell and Fatemeh Rezaei in 2019.
- Title
- Finding aid for the James Fite Oral History
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Laura Bell (2019).
- Date
- July 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Baltimore Studies Archives Repository
H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons, Room 104
1415 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore Maryland 21201 USA
410-837-4253
specialcollections@ubalt.edu