2002-2006
Guide to the Collection
This project was funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.
Abstract
This collection consists of interviews with former secretaries of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) conducted between 2002 and 2006.
Collection Description
This oral history project arose as part of the Massachusetts Historical Society's collecting and programmatic initiatives in the area of environmental history. As valuable background for the project and as a research collection in its own right, a series of oral history interviews with the former secretaries of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA), perhaps the main environmental force in Massachusetts, were conducted between December 2002 and May 2003. The secretaries in chronological order are: Dr. Charles H. W. Foster (1971-1975), Dr. Evelyn F. Murphy (1975-1979), Dr. John A. Bewick (1979-1983), James S. Hoyte, Esq. (1983-1988), John P. DeVillars (1988-1991), Susan F. Tierney (1991-1993), Trudy Coxe (1993-1998), and Robert A. Durand (1999-2003).
The collection includes transcripts of interviews, interviewers' notes for most of the interviews, and general background information for the project. There is also an introduction written by Carolyn Barske, one of the project interviewers. There are two audio storage boxes (stored separately with the MHS audio/visual collections) containing cassette tapes of the oral history interviews. However, there is no tape of the Susan F. Tierney interview.
Interviews are listed below in chronological order of the interviewees' appointments to the position.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Introduction to project by Carolyn Barske
Charles Henry Wheelwright Foster (1971-1975)
Interview, December 11, 2002
Place of interview (1st): Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass.Interviewer (1st): Shannon MaterkaInterview, May 29, 2003
Place of interview (2nd): Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass.Interviewer (2nd): Lisa LunaFoster interview notes
Evelyn F. Murphy (1975-1979)
Interview, December 18, 2002
Place of interview: Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MAInterviewer: Shannon MaterkaMurphy interview notes
John A. Bewick (1979-1983)
Interview, January 17, 2003
Place of interview: Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MAInterviewer: Shannon MaterkaBewick interview notes
James Hoyte (1983-1988)
Interview, January 13, 2003
Place of interview: Holyoke Center, Cambridge, Mass.Interviewer: Carolyn BarskeHoyte interview notes
John P. DeVillars (1988-1991)
Interview, December 13, 2002
Place of interview: Newbury Street, Boston, Mass.Interviewer: Lisa LunaSusan F. Tierney (1991-1993)
Note: This is a synopsis of Foster's interview with Susan F. Tierney. There is no tape or transcript of this interview.
Interview, April 6, 2006
Place of interview: The Analysis Group, Boston, Mass.Interviewer: Charles H. W. FosterTrudy Coxe (1993-1998)
Interview, January 16, 2003
Place of interview: Appalachian Mountain Club, Boston, Mass.Interviewer: Carolyn BarskeCoxe interview notes
Robert Durand (1999-2003)
Interview, January 30, 2003
Place of interview: Marlborough, Mass.Interviewer: Lisa LunaDurand interview background material
Project background material
Preferred Citation
Oral history interviews with the secretaries of the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.