Finding Aid to the Golden Gate Bridge Workers Oral History Collection
Finding aid prepared by Marissa Friedman
Labor Archives and Research Center
2020
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722
larc@sfsu.edu
Title: Golden Gate Bridge Workers oral history collection
Date: 1987
Creator:
Schwartz, Harvey
Physical Description:
20 Cassettes
Collection number: larc.oh.bridgeworkers
Repository:
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Abstract: Sound recordings of ten interviews with Golden Gate Bridge workers, some of their wives, and nurses who cared for them, conducted
by Harvey Schwartz. These interviews were collected between April 4 and August 6, 1987, as part of the Golden Gate Bridge
Workers Oral History Project.
Location: Collection is available onsite.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English.
Collection is open for research.
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Golden Gate Bridge Workers Oral History Collection. San Francisco State University. Labor Archives and Research Center
Oral histories conducted by Harvey Schwartz in 1987.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Labor Archives received a grant from the
California Council for the Humanities to conduct interviews with nine bridge workers, two wives of bridge workers, and two
nurses who cared for workers hurt on the job. Between April 4 and August 6, 1987, ten interviews were conducted by Harvey
Schwartz as part of the Golden Gate Bridge Workers Oral History project.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, Calif.) -- Design and construction
Blue collar workers -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Bridges -- Design and construction -- Employees
Adams, Martin
Brusati, Fred
Divita, Fred A.
Feliciano, Mary Zita
De Weese, Pat
Lambert, Evan C.
McIntyre, Alvina
Vestnys, Mary Louise
Noren, John
Urban, John
Vestnys, Bert
Vestnys, Walter L.
McIntyre, Glenn
Martin Adams oral history 1987 May 21
Physical Description: 2 Cassettes
Sound recording of interview with laborer and pile driver Martin Adams conducted by Harvey Schwartz. In his interview Adams
discusses his early life, his work on the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, and the net collapse of February 1937. At the 22, Adams
moved to California to work on the Bay Bridge. At the completion of that job, he worked on the Golden Gate Bridge until it
was near completion in 1937. Adams was an active member of Laborers' Locals 261 and 301, and later Pile Drivers Local 34.
Fred Brusati oral history 1987 April 28
Physical Description: 2 Cassettes
Sound recording of interview with electrician Fred Brusati conducted by Harvey Schwartz. In this interview Brusati discusses
his early life, his professional work as an electrician in Marin County, his union membership, and his work on the Golden
Gate Bridge from 1934 to 1937. He also provides several detailed descrtiptions of bridge work, including wire dewaxing, cable
spinning, wire running, and safety equipment use.
Fred A. Divita oral history 1987 May 15
Physical Description: 3 Cassettes
Sound recording of interview with laborer Fred Devita conducted by Harvey Schwartz. After graduating with a degree in engineering
in 1934, Fred Devita began work on the Golden Gate Bridge as a laborer. He worked on the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges between
1934 and 1937 in a variety of capacities, including paint scraper, sandblaster, materials man, timekeeper, field engineer,
and rigger. In this interview Divita describes his early life and education, his experiences on the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges,
his experiences working in construction on Midway Island during WW II, and his subsequent career as an engineer and Vice President
of the J.H. Pomeroy Company.
Sister Mary Zita Feliciano and Pat De Weese oral history 1987 August 6
Physical Description: 1 Cassettes
Sound recording of the interview with nurses Sister Mary Zita Feliciano and Sister Pat De Weese. In this interview the sisters
discuss their backgrounds, their memories of the Bridge workers under their care, and the natture of health care in the 1930s.
Evan C. "Slim" Lambert oral history 1987 May 25
Physical Description: 1 Cassettes
Sound recording of the interview with laborer Slim Lambert conducted by Harvey Schwartz. Slim Lambert moved to San Francisco
where he worked as a laborer on both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges. In this interview Lambert provides a firsthand account
of the February 1937 net accident in which ten Golden Gate Bridge workers were killed. He survived the fall, and attempted
to save Fred Dummatzen.
Alvina McIntyre and Mary Louise Vestnys oral history 1987 April 4
Physical Description: 1 Cassettes
Sound recording of Alvina McIntyre and Mary Louise Vestnys, wives of Golden Gate Bridge workers Glenn McIntyre and [ ] Vestnys,
conducted by Harvey Schwartz. Alvina and Mary Lousie briefly discuss their feelings about their husbands' work on the Golden
Gate Bridge, and the Bridge's opening day ceremonies.
John Noren oral history 1987 March 26
Physical Description: 2 Cassettes
Sound recording of the interview with elevator worker John Noren conducted by Harvey Schwartz. John Noren worked for a short
time as an apprentice elevator mechanic on the Golden Gate Bridge. In this interview he discusses life during the 1930s depression,
his experiences in baseball, working conditions on the Golden Gate Bridge, and his thoughts on management/labor relationships.
John V. Urban oral history 1987 April 15
Physical Description: 3 Cassettes
Sound recording of the interview with ironworker John V. Urban conducted by Harvey Schwartz. Urban joined the Ironworkers
as an apprentice in 1935. He worked on the Golden Gate Bridge from 1935 to 1937. In this interview he discusses his early
life, his work on the Golden Gate Bridge, and his subsequent professional life. He includes information about fellow workers,
and his feelings about the bridge.
Glenn McIntyre oral history 1987 April 4-April 6
Physical Description: 3 Cassettes
Sound recording of ironworker Glenn McIntyre conducted by Harvey Schwartz. After the completion of the Oakland Bay Bridge,
Glenn McIntyre joined the Ironworkers Union as a journeyman and began work with a raising gang on the Golden Gate Bridge.
In this interview Mcintyre relates information concerning his early life and his experiences working on the Oakland Bay and
Golden Gate Bridges. He describes jobs hiring practices, accidents, weather, wages, fellow workers, and his feelings about
his work.