Letter found in the wall of the rectory of the Roman Catholic priest in Redford, NY. It is in French and written by a young woman who says that she is "compelled by law" to return to Montreal. It was found in the wall along with a linen with a cross on it.
Joseph Lewis' naturalization form, formerly of Canada, now living in West Troy. Note that the name Octave is now removed. Because of immigration policies at the time, we know that Joseph must have been living in the US for at least 5 years.
Studio Photograph of (from left to right) Maria Perras, Louise Perras, Alphonse Perras, and baby Rose Perras taken during a visit to Adams, MA before emigrating permanently from Canada.
This paper was originally prepared for a symposium on the French Canadian outside of Quebec in Toronto, Canada on August 24, 1974; it was revised and expanded for presentation at an American Anthropoligical Association meeting in November 1974.
Robert Pontbriant, of French-Canadian descent, talks with Kim Chase about how his parents came to Winooski, Vt. from Canada. He relates many other family stories including soirées and the singing and dancing that went along with those gatherings. In particular he talks about the ability of certain family members and friends to be able to take the pain away from burns and to stop bleeding (side 3) by using a "power" or "gift" of faith healing. Also discussed are: trapping, foods, his blindness due to an inherited disease, farming, and more family stories and memories.
Lucille West, 80, talks with Kim Chase in French and English about growing up on farms in Canada and in North Troy, Vermont. In French she talks with Kim about various French songs. In English Lucille relates how her family came to move to Vermont when she was 10, and the adjustments she had to make in learning new ways and a new language, English. She also talks about celebrating Christmas in Vermont, which her family had never done before in Canada, home health remedies, foods eaten, how her mother became blind when Lucille was only 4, and other family stories. Lucille and Kim switch between French and English but there is enough in English for the non-French speaker to understand.
