Letters/Lettres

In a message dated 3/3/00 9:09:23 PM, sharlex3@aol.com writes:

<< I am a French middle school teacher interested in highlighting famous French women for Women's History Month.  Can someone give me some ideas?  Thanks. >>

Our women are of Franco-American French heritage, which means they originally immigrated from France, during the 1600s, and came to the North American continent.  Many descendants still speak French.  If you visit some of the links on the Franco-American Women's Institute site you will see some historical and some modern examples of women that you can use in your course work.

I hope to put up a timeline of the women immigrants soon, so stay tuned!

thanks for writing.

Rhea Cote Robbins
Director
Franco-American Women's Institute

Friday, March 3, 2000 9:09:23 PM
From: sharlex3@aol.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Sharon Nachimson
Renaissance Middle School
Montclair, NJ  07042

I am a French middle school teacher interested in highlighting famous French women for Women's History Month.  Can someone give me some ideas?  Thanks.

Subj:  Re: North Caribou Francos?
Date:  Wednesday, March 1, 2000 9:51:38 PM
From: belanger@primenet.com
To:    RJCR@aol.com

Thank you for passing on to me that story.  I was aware of friction between the two parishes, but this is great material!  I appreciate your continued support in my research efforts.

Take care
Trina

Monday, February 28, 2000 3:55:18 PM From:
Northern Maine Franco
To: RJCR@aol.com

Rhea,
 

 I have nothing to substantiate what Jim Belanger wrote to Trina of, but my upbringing and stories of the Caribou/North Caribou area do not recall anything of sorts like what he writes of below.  The only thing I can recall about the Caribou/North Caribou was a church conflict , hence; the separation between Caribou and North Caribou.  As the story goes the church was located in North Caribou and as people migrated to Caribou area, the Catholic Diocese wanted to rebuild the church in Caribou and North Caribou would then become the mission of Caribou. So, the feud began and the 1st church was built in Caribou (1886).  The church burned approximately 1934s, second church was built approximately 1935s and burned again around 1954s.  The 3rd church was dedicated in 1962 and still stands to this day.  There's stories to the effect that Holy Rosary church in Caribou was cursed and that is why it burned to the ground not only once, but twice.  Interesting tidbit, but again, this other fellas recollect makes for interesting reading or campfire stories, but I'm not buying it! I'm intrigued as to where he's coming from and where he's gathered this information?

 Well, I'm not sure if my account of things helps, but I cannot attest or validated anything of what this gentleman speaks of.
 
 

  Rhea wrote:

 Hello, can some of you read and verify what is being said below about the Francos in the North Caribou area?  This woman is doing research on her family from that area...and the following explanation was sent to her...does it seem viable?  It sounds convoluted to me...but I also think the French spoken is family situational.  My maman was from Wallagrass, but left when she was 17...she came to live and be in Waterville all her life hanging out with the Quebecoises down there...my maman did not speak No. Maine French...as far as I can tell...
 Judy, I remember you telling me the story of the accents St. John way...des gants blancs...long on the "a" you said...but what of Caribou.  Mme. P. can you shed some light on this?
 merci toutes et tous...whichever way it is spelt.
 Rhea

 In a message dated 2/22/00 11:29:00 PM, belanger@primenet.com writes: << One person who contacted me with genealogy info provided me with an explanation of why my French roots are not clearly delineated.  I've pasted his response here (several paragraphs long) - I'd appreciate if you would tell me whether it concurs with your understanding:
 "Now, on the French we speak! The French of Quebec came from Normandy in France which is on the ocean side of France.  The Acadians who settled Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick came from the mountains in France.  Now, you know the difference in Louisiana English and Maine English.  The same was true of Normandy France and Mountainous France.
 In the St. John Valley, the French that is spoken there (north of Caribou) is Acadian French.  It is not like Quebec French.  Many Quebecois came from
 Quebec and settled in northern Maine but they soon came to speak the Acadian dialect.  So, now we have two dialects; the Quebec one and the Acadian one.
 Now, take into account that the Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1755.  The English (from England) invaded the Acadians (coming from the Boston area) and put all the Acadians on ships, split up families and exported them to the New England coast and to England and France. Many of them tried to come back to their lands in the later years and some went to New Orleans.
 Well, to take the place of the expelled Acadians, the English moved in their settlers which included a lot of Scots.  They settled Nova Scotia and Eastern New Brunswick.  As these new settlers moved west, they intermingled with the Acadians who had fled into the western territory of New Brunswick and into Maine and came to speak French with a Scot dialect.  These, for the most part, settled from Houlton Maine up to Caribou and on the Canadian side of the border over the same area.  They have that funny dialect you find so
 prominent in Caribou.  So, now we introduce a third French dialect to add to the Quebec and the Acadian which is the Scot brogue mixed with French Acadian.
 The St. John Valley was truly an Acadian settlement but was infiltrated, so to speak, with Quebec families like Belanger, Gagnon, Michaud, St. Pierre, etc. These are Quebecois names but were raised Acadian along with the real Acadian descendants like Martin, Comeau, Cormier, Cyr, etc.  So, if you are a Belanger raised in the St. John Valley you are a Quebecois descendant with an Acadian upbringing speaking Acadian French and having Acadian traditions. If you live south of Van Buren, (Caribou to Houlton) you have a mixture of Quebecois ancestry, Acadian traditions but speak a Scottish French.
 Is that clear now???
 Jim Belanger 32 Plain Road Hollis, NH 03049 mailto:NHBelanger@cs.com
 Rhea - how does that sound to you.  It confuses the heck out of me, but I'm not knowledgeable in the field.  Trina

Subj:  Re: Northern Me Franco-Americans
Date:  Friday, February 25, 2000 5:43:25 PM
From:  RJCR
To:    belanger@primenet.com
 

In a message dated 2/22/00 11:29:00 PM, belanger@primenet.com writes:

<< One more question - at your website I was
thrilled to see a breakdown of Census data from 1900.  But I'm having difficulty interpreting it.  Column headings are something like, "French Ancestry; French Canadian; French or ..."  Could you explain to me the definitions that were employed for each of the headings?

You could contact Madeleine Giguere on the headings as that is her work that I am quoting:

207-782-1474

A friend of mine has read your book and called it, "an 85 page gem".  I want
to pick it up. >>
Amazon.com or me...thanks for passing this on.

Rhea

Could you please let me know at which campus of the University of Maine the Franco-American Women's Institute is located?

Mille mercis!

Best,
Joan E. Howard, Ph.D.
Manuscript Editor
Encyclopedia of New England Culture
329 Huddleston Hall
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
Tel. (603) 862-2904
Fax (603) 862-0110
E-mail jeh4@cisunix.unh.edu

Hello Joan, The Franco-American Women's Institute is an institute without walls.  It is affiliated with all of the University of Maine campuses, but it is not on any particular campus.  It is also not a university-based organization.  I hope that this helps.  If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
 

Subj:  RE: Franco-American Women's Institute
Date:  Thursday, February 24, 2000 2:27:08 PM
From: jeh4@cisunix.unh.edu
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Thank you, Rhea. And congratulations on the wonderful reception accorded to Wednesday's Child

Joan

Subj: Re: Northern Me Franco-Americans
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 11:29:00 PM
From: belanger@primenet.com
To: FAWI2000@aol.com

Hello  Rhea -
 I was very pleased to receive your e-mail.  So many people have responded to my plea for info that it is almost overwhelming!  What a dramatic shift away from no info!
 Regarding some of the comment you offered in your message.  I am pleased that there is a Franco-American Women's Institute.  Until a few weeks ago, I didn't even realize that I was Franco-American!  I would love to see whether my work might be suitable for your ezine.   Did I miss an address where I can look at past issues?  Or may I access them through the FAWI web site? I'm not sure of the type of work you publish.  My book is creative nonfiction, yet it reads like a novel.  I am hoping to have individual chapters published as whole pieces.  Also, my critical paper, for which I'm doing this research, might also be a candidate for your ezine - in whole or in part - depending on your focus.  I would be very interested in learning more, especially since it seems you are in the gearing-up stage for the next edition.
 I had been in contact with Lisa Orstein at the Acadian Archives previously, and she felt that she would not have info that would pertain to the Caribou area - only the St. John valley area.  But after your e-mail, I wrote back asking whether any details on the life of women at that time might not be transferable to women a tad further south.  The problem with historical societies is the season - they're all closed.  But I will contact Judy (and probably A_____) as you suggest.  Thank you for those contacts.
 One person who contacted me with genealogy info provided me with an explanation of why my French roots are not clearly delineated.  I've pasted his response here (several paragraphs long) - I'd appreciate if you would tell me whether it concurs with your understanding:
 "Now, on the French we speak! The French of Quebec came from Normandy in France which is on the ocean side of France.  The Acadians who settled Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick came from the mountains in France.  Now, you know the difference in Louisiana English and Maine English.  The same was true of Normandy France and Mountainous France.
 In the St. John Valley, the French that is spoken there (north of Caribou) is Acadian French.  It is not like Quebec French.  Many Quebecois came from Quebec and settled in northern Maine but they soon came to speak the Acadian dialect.  So, now we have two dialects; the Quebec one and the Acadian one. Now, take into account that the Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1755.  The English (from England) invaded the Acadians (coming from the Boston area) and put all the Acadians on ships, split up families and exported them to the New England coast and to England and France. Many of them tried to come back to their lands in the later years and some went to New Orleans.
 Well, to take the place of the expelled Acadians, the English moved in their settlers which included a lot of Scots.  They settled Nova Scotia and Eastern New Brunswick.  As these new settlers moved west, they intermingled with the Acadians who had fled into the western territory of New Brunswick and into Maine and came to speak French with a Scot dialect.  These, for the most part, settled from Houlton Maine up to Caribou and on the Canadian side of the border over the same area.  They have that funny dialect you find so prominent in Caribou.  So, now we introduce a third French dialect to add to the Quebec and the Acadian which is the Scot brogue mixed with French Acadian.
 The St. John Valley was truly an Acadian settlement but was infiltrated, so to speak, with Quebec families like Belanger, Gagnon, Michaud, St. Pierre, etc. These are Quebecois names but were raised Acadian along with the real Acadian descendants like Martin, Comeau, Cormier, Cyr, etc.  So, if you are a Belanger raised in the St. John Valley you are a Quebecois descendant with an Acadian upbringing speaking Acadian French and having Acadian traditions. If you live south of Van Buren, (Caribou to Houlton) you have a mixture of Quebecois ancestry, Acadian traditions but speak a Scottish French.
 Is that clear now???
 Jim Belanger 32 Plain Road Hollis, NH 03049 mailto:NHBelanger@cs.com "
 Rhea - how does that sound to you.  It confuses the heck out of me, but I'm not knowledgeable in the field.  One more question - at your website I was thrilled to see a breakdown of Census data from 1900.  But I'm having difficulty interpreting it.  Column headings are something like, "French Ancestry; French Canadian; French or ..."  Could you explain to me the definitions that were employed for each of the headings?

 A friend of mine has read your book and called it, "an 85 page gem".  I want to pick it up.
 Thank you again for taking the time to respond and provide information.  I look forward to hearing from you again.

Trina (Belanger) Lambert belanger@primenet.com

Thursday, February 10, 2000 1:41:14 PM
From: RJCR
To:  belanger@primenet.com

Hello Trina,

I was very interested in your work and your request.  I am the founder and Director of the Franco-American Women's Institute (FAWI).  I worked for ten years at the Franco-American Center and then went out on my own to focus solely on Franco-American women.

You have already visited the Franco-American Women's Institute's web site and perhaps seen some of the information that is there.  There is also the Acadian Archives/Archives Acadien in No. ME at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.  Lisa Orstein is the Director.  There is work there which pertains to some of your research.  Perhaps you've heard of it?  I know that there has been some studies done on the women of the era which you mention and is housed at UMFK.  Lisa can be contacted at:  ORNSTEIN@MAINE.maine.edu

There are also documents to do with the geographical area that you are researching at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  Also, there are several EXCELLENT historical societies in No. Maine. The best one in my opinion is in Ste.-Agathe, St. Agatha.  There are many items donated by the townspeople at this Historical Society.  A person who can put you in touch with those who could help you is a good friend of mine from that town and she lives in Alaska.  Her name is Judy Chamberland Voisine and her email is:  DaveVSR@aol.com
Tell her that I said she'd know of some folks you could contact.  There has been several histories written locally, and these people would know of your people maybe.

Nylander Museum in Caribou may have some material in their archives as well.  393 Main St., Caribou, 493-4474.

A friend of mine who grew up in Caribou may know of other sources. She is of Franco-American extraction as well, and particularly of the specificity which you want to focus on of No. Caribou and the detour to So. Me. first.  Her name is _______

I lived in Presque Isle for 7 years when I was first married and I remember that No. Caribou has a flavor all of its own.  My knowledge of it at the time, the early 70s, was that the Catholic Church was into more charismatic services.  I don't quite remember the name of the type of service, but people would come from miles around to go to church there.  I think you are on to something, but I also think you are blazing a trail.

Geraldine Chasse is a good resource for No. Maine as well.  I don't know how to get in touch with her, but Lisa Michaud could probably help you.

I worked on an anthology, Old Women's Wisdom with several other women gathering stories, doing interviews on women over the age of 80 and it was put into a publication.  Information to order the book is on the FAWI web site at the ezine section, The Initiative, in Letters and Advertisements.

Also, I am very interested in the possibility of you submitting some of your writing to the ezine.  I am in the process of putting a new issue together soon.  We are in our third year of publication.  Recently, I taught a course on the Franco-American women's experiences which looked at their migration pattern to Canada and to the US and there will be some writings included in the ezine from the students in the course and their original research.  The Franco-American Women's Institute site is listed as a resource for many universities and institutions and the ezine is used in many of the courses from these institutions as well.  Take a look at the Links Page and see who is listing FAWI as a resource:  http://www.fawi.net/Links.html
I hope that you consider submitting some of your writings to the ezine.

My book, Wednesday's Child, creative nonfiction, is about my growing up Franco and female in the state of Maine as well as what does it mean to be Franco in the historical process.  It includes material about my maman and memere who were from Wallagrass.  I grew up in Waterville, the southern part of Maine and so your process of inquiry is one which I believe is of importance in understanding the lives of the Franco-American women in the state.
You can visit the web page for my book at:
http://www.rhetapress.com/

Where are you working on your studies?  Hope to hear from you again.

Rhea Cote Robbins
Director
Franco-American Women's Institute

Wednesday, February 9, 2000 6:17:33 PM
From: belanger@primenet.com
To:   FAWI2000@aol.com

Trina Belanger Lambert
belanger@primenet.com
U.S. 602/257-8898
1630 West Wilshire Drive
Phoenix, AZ  85007
French women in Northern Maine - 1900
I'm doing research for a book and a MFA critical paper dealing with the life of my grandmother - basically,  influences were prevalent upon young women of French descent in northern Maine (Caribou) from 1900 to 1920.  In addition to any general suggestions you could offer for source material, I'm really struggling with one point.  My ancestors migrated from Quebec to central Maine, and then up to North Caribou.  Apparently, because of that detour to central Maine they ended up developing a micro-culture quite different from those persons who migrated to Maine from Quebec, but came straight across the border and stayed north of North Caribou).  Would you have any suggestions for information on that point?
Thank you!

Subj:  Re: Hello!
Date:  Monday, February 7, 2000 12:55:29 PM
From: joly8@hotmail.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Hello Rhea,

Thank you for S. Pinette's address. It does work!

Eric

In a message dated 2/2/00 2:43:29 PM, mboucher@arobas.net writes:

<< Madame Diana-Jeannette Auger (avocate née à Lynn-Massachusetts en 1916 >>

Bonjour,  I do not have any information on the above-mentioned woman, but if you contacted the French Institute at Assumption College, Worcester, MA, 508-767-7415, they may have some info on her.

Also,  Claire Quintal, 508-752-7494 might know of her or put you in touch with someone who would have information.

Also, Armand Chartier, ach5117u@postoffice.uri.edu
may know some info as well.

Good Luck!
Rhea Cote Robbins

Wednesday, February 2, 2000 2:43:29 PM
From: Martin Boucher
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com
Montréal, Québec Canada

Madame,
 Je suis en train d'élaborer une exposition à Montréal (au bureau d'Info-touriste) sur la présence des Québécois et des Franco-Américains d'origine québécoise aux États-Unis, ainsi que de leur influence sur ce pays.

 Pour cette exposition, j'ai retenu quelques personnes célèbres comme Madame Diana-Jeannette Auger (avocate née à Lynn-Massachusets en 1916).  J'aimerais savoir si vous avez quelques informations sur cette personne car celles que
 je possède datent de quelques années.

 Si vous n'avez aucune information sur elle, pourriez-vous m'indiquer où je pourrais faire mes recherches.  Je crois qu'elle est une personne qui a influencé le système judisciaire au E-U et elle fut une des rare femme a
 exercé la profession d'avocate aux États-Unis.

 Merci des vos renseigements et veuillez agréer mes sentiments les plus
 sincères!

 Martin Boucher
 Étudiant en Muséologie à l'Université de Montréal.

 P.S.  Je serais très heureux de recevoir vos rensignements par E-Mail.
 Merci!

Eric, I get her email from inside the system, but try Susan_Pinette@umit.maine.edu
and see if it works...

Rhea

Subj:  Hello!
Date:  Tuesday, February 1, 2000 5:05:20 PM
From: joly8@hotmail.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Hello Rhea,

Thanks for the precious info that you gave me in your last e-mail. However,  I have yet another question. Would you have the e-mail address of the new  person in charge (S. Pinette, I believe) of the Franco-American Centre at the  U of Maine (Orono)?

Thank you very much,
Eric

Subj:  Re: Hello!
Date:  Tuesday, January 18, 2000 5:01:00 PM
From: RJCR
To:    joly8@hotmail.com

Eric, Your work that you propose is very much needed.  To modernize the movement and the effort, the research and so forth.  There have been several papers in the past and you can take a look at
http://libraries.maine.edu/orocanstudies/theses.htm
this page which is connected to the Canadian American Center, different than the Franco-American Center, and you will see listed some of the surveys that have been done on the Francos.

There are others not listed, but that is a start.

The main page for the Canadian American Center collections is:
http://www.umaine.edu/canam/Web%20Front%20Page/library.htm

You ask which community.  Well, there is a big difference between the North and the South when it comes to Francos in Maine.  The contributing factors being how much infiltration of the modern culture has diluted the awareness of being Franco in the youth.  Most from the Southern part of the state do not know they are of a particular French heritage.  But they are very open and willing to look at it in some ways.  I think it is great to mix the generations in your survey.  To get a cross-section of the differences you might want to consider a North/South axis in your survey.  A thought.

There are several bibliographies out there which list some of the other work that has been done in the past.  Let me know how you do in your research...things should come up pretty easily in the libraries.  I'm glad to hear you will be continuing in your work.  Hope to hear from you some more.

Rhea

Hello Rhea,

How is everything in your neck of the woods? It's been a long time since we  have last spoken. I am presently doing my master's here at the University of  Ottawa. I would like to try and conduct a survey in a Franco-American  community or communities if everything goes well. I do not know the  magnitude of my undertaking and I am from the outside so perhaps my project  is too ambitious. I would like to conduct a survey with questions revolving  around the topic of identity and how people situate themselves today in  relation to their francophone roots. I know this is an emotional topic (as  much in your community as in mine...in regards to Québec's attempt at  separation). Also, your book displays the poignancy of this question. At  this moment, I plan on conducting my survey (in school's - I am not sure at  which level yet) in Lewiston-Auburn. I would also like to speak to elders in  Franco-American cultural centres/meeting places. I would like to clearly put  the emphasis on these two groups...the youngsters and the elders and the  world that exists between the two. In this case, I truly value your  insights. Would there be a better city to conduct this type of survey? Also,  I was wondering if you knew of any paper or thesis (master's, doctorate)  which had surveyed a Franco-American community.  Thank you and I am sorry for bombarding you with all of these questions...

Eric Joly
Department of Geography
University of Ottawa

Mo,
Yes, the Boston Globe article would be  great if you don't mind looking it up. I never thought of Un Canandian Errant as a protest song, but in a way it is, as are all the other "complainte" in their own way. That's really a pretty brilliant insight I would have never come to on my own, but that does in fact represent the way Francos express their discontent, doesn't it? Merci mille fois!

Kim

Subj:  Re: Martin Luther King Day
Date:  Tuesday, January 4, 2000 1:31:15 PM
From: moperr@hotmail.com
To:    KChase7@aol.com, Rhea_Cote@umit.maine.edu

Salut, femmes!
     Bonne annee!  I just returned hier from a very nice 12 jours avec ma
famille.
     Both Noel and Jour de l'An were fairly low-key, but nice.  Quality time  avec la famille, beaucoup a manger, etc.  You get the idea.
     Kim, I remember from a few years ago a Boston Globe article that pretty  much describes Francos as an ignored group and discusses the reluctance of  many Francos to blow their own horns.  If that article would be of use, I'll  try to look it up again.  Also, would "Un Canadien Errant" count as a  protest song?  It was written about the Papineau rebellion.  Des idees. . .
.
     Plus de nouvelles plus tard, as I'm still catching up on stuff that's  been waiting for me pendant mes vacances.  Comme toujours, I'm thinking of  you and praying for you.
--A bientot,
  Mo Perry

Subj:  Martin Luther King Day
To:  Kim Chase
Date:  Saturday, December 28, 1999 1:05:47 PM
From:  RJCR

Really quick response...more later if my brain kicks in...tired from
the razzmatazz of the holidays...

White Niggers of the North and Chinese of the East, two descriptors in lit that has described Francos ought to lift eyebrows on MLKing Day...at least it should.  Plus, the 1930s eugenics experiments that were carried out in VT...I published an article on this work in the Forum when I was editing, the experiments were in part directed towards
Francos...the doc was in VT somewhere.  more later.  Rhea

Subj:  Re: Martin Luther King Day
Date:  Tuesday, December 28, 1999 9:39:05 AM
From: KChase7
To:    Rhea_Cote@umit.maine.edu

Rhea,

Thanks for the speedy response. My next questions are:

1. Do you know the origin of the whitenigger/Chinese of the East expressions?
2. I don't suppose you could track me down a copy of your article...?
(I knew about the eugenics thing but can't find documentation very readily)

Merci mille fois!

Kim

Subj:  Re: Martin Luther King Day
Date:  Tuesday, December 28, 1999 5:21:12 PM
From: Rhea_Cote@umit.maine.edu
To:    KChase7@aol.com

I can find the white nigger reference and the eugenics one I'll look
into as well.  Rhea
[White niggers of America.  Vallières, Pierre.  Publisher Toronto, McClelland and Stewart [c1971]  of Nègres blancs d'Amérique: autobiographie précoce d'un terroriste québécois  Subject: French-Canadians, Québec Province) -- History -- Autonomy and independence movements. Québec (Province) -- Social conditions.  Alt titles Nègres blancs d'Amérìque.  White niggers of America : the precocious autobiography of a Quebec "terrorist"]

Rhea Cote Robbins

Subj:  Re: Chinese of the East
Date:  Tuesday, December 28, 1999 10:30:21 AM
From: christine_rafal@stanfordalumni.org
To:    KChase7@aol.com, Rhea_Cote@umit.maine.edu

Hi Kim,
"The Chinese of the East" was used in a government report: Carroll Wright, Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor Annual Report for 1881.
I don't know if it's the origin.
Christine

Dear Femmes,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but I'm still here and read faithfully everything I get from you.

I am writing to ask for your help once again. I have been asked by the Vermont Historical Society to present at their Martin Luther King day conference. They want me to talk about discrimination against Francos in Vermont/New England. The organizer knows nothing about Francos; she asked the music presenter, Michele Choiniere, if there were any Frano protest songs!

Rhea, I printed out the article you posted awhile back called the French Canadians in New England because it provides a good historical perspective. Also, I will use Dyke Hendrickson's book, Brault's book, Rhea's book and all the other obvious ones, but I thought I would ask if anything jumps to mind when you put the words "discrimination" and "Franco-American" together.

Here are some questions I am asking myself, mostly about Francos in Vermont but also Francos in New England.

1. Was/is discrimination against FA's anecdotal or more widespread?
2. If someone does not perceive that they are being discriminated against, can you still call it discrimination?
3. How much of it did we bring upon ourselves as Francos (oppressing women, making our children quit school to go to work, huge families despite poverty) and what are the deeper, historical causes for these problems, such as the clergy and Canadian government acting together to promote huge families whose lives centered around the church?
 

I am sort of trying to play devil's advocate as I ask these questions. Also, I know from experience that when some people see the announcement for the presentation, they are going to laugh and say "Franco-Americans discriminated against? You've got to be kidding!"  That is the climate here, I'm afraid. Maybe I'll be surprised, but I'm not holding my breath and I'm not going to let it stop me from saying what needs to be said.
 

Merci! Bonne et  heureuse annee!

Kim Chase

Hello Rhea:
 My snail-mail address is:
    Cecilia Poulin
    6 Alora Drive
    Lisbon Falls, ME 04252

Dear FAWI:
 Could you send me further information about joining.  I'm a Franco-American woman, a graduate of the University of Fort Kent (through UMA) and I'm interested in your group.  Love your website.

Sincerely,
Cecilia Poulin
E-mail:   Rpoulin803@aol.com

Hello, thank you for visiting our site and your interest in joining FAWI...can you send me your snail mail and I will send you info to join?  Merci,
Rhea Cote Robbins, Director

In a message dated 11/17/99 5:17:25 PM, claudette@quickconnect.com writes:

<< Claudette Fougere
I am writing also to ask what it means to belong to this group.

Thank you for your note.  I think what it means to belong to the Franco-American Women's Institute is exactly what you are doing, what you are interested in and intrigued by.  Not everyone contributes writing, but what we provide is the knowledge and network that there are many Franco-American women in the state.  Something we can all be proud of and promote.  Hope to hear from you again.  You have done some very important work for you family.

Rhea

Subj:  Institute
Date:  Wednesday, November 17, 1999 5:17:25 PM
From: claudette@quickconnect.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com
 

Hi,  I was at your reading at the Waterville Public Library and found you very learned and interesting.  Keep up the good work.  I am writing also to ask what it means to belong to this group.  I have never published anything nor do I intend to have anything published.  I have however, worked on my husband's and my genealogy for almost thirty years.  We are both descended from Franco-Americans.

My Father-in-law's ancestors were originally from Chateaudin, Eure-et-Loir, France and Champagne, France. Both ancestors landing in Nova Scotia (Acadia) in the early 1600's.  My mother-in-laws ancestors were original from Charente, Maritime, France and Vendee, France.  Both ancestors landing in the Quebec area in the 1600's.  My father's ancestors were original from Vendee, France and Brittany, France.  Both ancestors landing in the Quebec area in the middle 1600's.  My mother's ancestors were original from Rouen, Normandie, France and Anjou, France.  One ancestor landed in the Quebec area and the other landing in the Montreal area in the middle 1600's.

 Growing up I never identified myself as Franco-American but was proud to be French.  Unlike yourself, I never attended parochial school but instead attended public school.  I did have a problem with that at times.  My parents lived in an area which was predominately French in Brunswick.  My grandmother was a saint and related many French stories and songs.  I could sit for hours listening to her.

All the kids I went to school with lived at the other side of town, nearer to the college.  I was not allowed because of the distance to see my school friends after school let out.  So my closest friends were French attending another school.  It was a little confusing at times  but I probably had a broader scope of friends than most.  I found that if there was any snobbery it came from some of the French children whose parents were either merchants or at least did not work in the mills and had moved to a better locality.

I only started to relate to my Franco American heritage when I started working on this genealogy.  Every ancestor has a different story which makes this analogy interesting.  I have written several poems and prose of my recollections on the more recent relatives.  Stories of the early ancestors from what I read in books and the internet have also been included.

I started this first out of curiosity in the 60's then as I got more involved I told myself that this project was to acquaint my children with their heritage and also for their descendants.  However, now I have become so involved in writing data that may never interest anyone that I have come to the conclusion that genealogy is addictive.  I have decided to put an end to this search and will make copies of my work for the family.

I would be interested to hear from you about your group.  As I said I have never published nor aspire to publish anything but I have become interested in my roots by working on this genealogy.

Claudette Fougere

Monday, November 15, 1999 11:10:14 PM
Kathryn Graham
Boston, MA

Request:  Franco-Americans in Maine, or education of Franco-Americans in New England
 I am a college student who is working on a paper regarding Franco-American culture. I am particularly interested in Franco-American heritage in Maine. I am curious of statistics regarding this, and also the education of Franco-American children in the state of Maine. I'd be very interested in reading personal accounts of education. Any information you can give me would be great! Thanks!

Also, I am a future teacher and therefore am very interested in learning about a variety of culture to best be able to educate students.

To:  Kim Chase, I received this and seeing as it is your state, do you wish to correspond with this woman?  Rhea

In a message dated 11/9/99 11:01:54 AM, pch@world.std.com writes:

<< Do you have the email address for the Franco-American Center in Maine
that you mentioned?

Thank you,

Peter Holloran >>

Try:
Lisa_Michaud@umit.maine.edu
Rhea

Tuesday, November 9, 1999 5:39:36 AM
From:  RJCR
To:    pch@world.std.com

Hello, I've been away and just got back.  I do not have the stats for the states which you ask for, but if you contact the Franco-American Center, University of Maine, they might have them.  Rhea

Thursday, November 4, 1999 11:26:30 AM
From: pch@world.std.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com
Peter Holloran
Northeast PCA/ACA
Do you have statistics on Franco-Americans in Massachusetts and other states as you do for Maine?

Thank you,
Peter Holloran

Date:  Wednesday, October 13, 1999 12:46:09 PM
From: pbra11@netscape.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Carole Bradley
Birmingham, England
request = black culture
notes = all areas of black culture

Subj:  Hello
Date:  Wednesday, October 6, 1999 8:16:31 AM
From: RJCR
To:    jdeprizio@vhs.state.vt.us

Hello, I received your request for information and I sent it onto a woman who lives in Burlington, VT as she would know more about what was happening in your area.  I hope you hear from her soon, or maybe you already have, if not let me know.  Thanks for your interest.
Rhea Cote Robbins, Franco-American Women's Institute

Thursday, September 30, 1999 11:10:18 AM
From: jdeprizio@vhs.state.vt.us
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Jennifer DePrizio
Vermont HIstorical Society
 (802)828-2291
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT  05609

request = Public outreach and education
I recently begun working as the Head of Education at the Vermont Historical Society and am looking to offer  programming related to Franco-American culture. I am not familiar with your organization and was wondering if you have speakers that do public programming, such as lecturing, specializing in Franco-American women in Vermont.  Any  information you could send me would be wonderful.

Thank you.

Subj:  Re: Le_Conseil_de_la_vie_française_en_Amérique
Date:  Saturday, October 2, 1999 4:07:12 PM
From: RJCR
To:    guylef@cvfa.ca

Bonjour Guy Lefebvre,

I have to apologize for not being able to write to you in French.  This response will have to be in English and also, I hope that I can answer your requests to the degree which you require.  I was also able to translate your attached files.

I was very intrigued reading the new resolves of the CVFA and its re-dedication to the task at hand of reassessing the "conditions" of the Franco-Americans on the Northeast continent.

For my part, I find that examining the cultural work in general does not always go deep enough to examine the conditions, effects, attitudes, particularities, etc. of the women and their contributions.  That was my prime reason for starting an organization such as the Franco-American Women's Institute.  My goal, which the membership shares, is to make known, worldwide, the presence of the Franco-American women in this sector of the planet.  We are numerous and we have made immeasurable contributions to the settlement of this continent.

Among the contributions, are the literary works of the women throughout the last century and into the 19th century as well.  Part of the work that I am doing is to recapture these texts, but to have them translated so that they are available to the Franco-American women of today who may or may not be able to read the French.  I, myself, can read the French, but I believe that these texts are far too important to be lost, so I am working with several other women, translators, biographers, and others to make these texts available.  This is one of the prime directives of the Franco-American Women's Institute, FAWI, to leave a written record, as many as possible for the coming generations.

To that end, we have an ezine, electronic magazine, which FAWI publishes twice a year, and more often if possible, to get the voice of the Franco-American women heard and known.

Other means by which the presence of the Franco-American women are being made known is by many institutions, cultural organizations, universities, literary sites listing us on their web pages.  If you visit the following page, you will see that there has been some very positive work done in making the FAWI and its membership known:
http://www.fawi.net/Links.html

I take that as a very good sign for the well-being of the culture and assurance of our presence being recognized into the 21st century.  I could cite you many examples of acceptance and recognition from many prestigious organizations of the work which has been proclaimed thus far.  Ours is more of an actual physical presence in the community, communities, in the states as well as a presence on the internet.  As for funding, I have not been as successful in procuring funding from several institutions for whom I wrote grants in this state as there are still pockets of misunderstanding about the importance of this cultural group.

I choose not to focus on that aspect.  I believe that the presence and upkeep of the culture, a continued vigilance of making our voices heard and known to be as effective as any large budgeted organization.  It is amazing how much can be done with very little funding!

I receive email, calls or letter contacts every week from women who are awakened to the FACT of their culture for themselves, and I am heartened by this response.  The membership, which is not large, all believe in the work in which they do and work to get the word out in their communities.

Working with the women is a specialized work because many factors of their busy and hectic lives have to be taken into consideration. Also, they have to learn to value their contributions that they have made.  Many aspects of the work of FAWI is in the line of reeducating vision.  Seeing the work which women do, both traditional and not so traditional, is of importance to developing a FULL definition of the culture.  Ours is a special case because we are Franco-American women, who are not Canadian and not of France and so we must work on the defining of who we are.  So, who are we and what do we stand for?  There is much diversity in the group, and that is another consideration:  We must not discriminate against the diversity in the group.  Anyone who wishes to belong, can and they do.  What they wish to concentrate on for their "work" is of their own design, and direction.  They can be as public with their work or as private as they wish to be.  We are more like a "union" of Franco-American women, providing support and networking for one another in a time when there is very little time for activities.

In response to your requests, I would say that being aware of the women's contributions and concerns is of deep importance to developing the definitions of the future for the Franco-Americans and CVFA.  This only means that we are pro-woman and we are NOT anti-male...as many of us have husbands, sons and grandsons.  Our work is simply a specialization to get at the deeper meanings and consequences of the lives of women in all of the aspects of living.

Maybe I have been too general in answering your requests, but if you need something more specific from me, please let me know.  I appreciate your inquiry into the Franco-American women and their lives, because this is also a step for us as a group, to have recognition and validation.  Merci!

Rhea Cote Robbins
Director
Franco-American Women's Institute
641 South Main St.
Brewer, Maine 04412-2516
Telephone: 207-989-7059
Fax:  207-989-2453
Email:
Rhea_Cote@umit.maine.edu
RJCR@aol.com
Web Site:
http://www.fawi.net
Author of Wednesday's Child, winner of the Maine Chapbook Award for Creative Nonfiction:
http://www.rhetapress.com/

Subj:  Le_Conseil_de_la_vie_française_en_Amérique
Date:  Monday, September 27, 1999 2:45:00 PM
From: guylef@cvfa.ca
To:    rjcr@aol.com
 

Madame Rhéa Côté-Robbins,

 Le Conseil de la vie française en Amérique réunit présentement quelques personnalités du monde francophone nord-américain, notamment Dean Louder, Fernand Harvey, Yvon Labbé, ... , à la recherche d'une nouvelle "vocation" pour le Conseil, en voulant adapter sa mission aux réalités nouvelles.
 Pour l'aider dans son travail, le comité a décidé de solliciter la collaboration de quelques personnalités du monde francophone nord-américain, afin d'obtenir un éclairage, le plus complet possible, de la situation; le comité sollicite donc votre avis.
 A cet effet, je joins, à la présente, trois documents (en Word Perfect et en MSWord pour Windows 97) expliquant les détails de notre démarche.
 Votre collaboration nous est très précieuse et nous espérons qu'il vous sera possible de nous faire part de vos comentaires.
 Nous vous en remercions à l'avance pour votre aide et vous prions d'accepter les salutations distinguées de nos collaborateurs .
Merci !

Guy Lefebvre

NOTE: si vous éprouvez quelque difficulté que ce soit pour ouvrir les documents, prière de m'en aviser.

Guy Lefebvre,
Directeur général,
Le Conseil de la vie française en Amérique
guylef@cvfa.ca

Sunday, September 26, 1999 3:55:21 PM
From: burwell@acadia.net
To:   rjcr@aol.com

Hi Rhea,
 I was just reading a calendar from Bates College and saw an event in October that I thought would interest you.  On Thursday, October 14 there is a lecture titled:   “Franco women:  The History and the Future” with Susan Hudson, a graduate student from Catholic University and scholar of French-Canadian women living in 19th century Lewiston.  It is part of the Muskie Archives Millennial Series and will be held in Chase hall Lounge.  For more information call either 786-6330 or 786-6255.
Hope you are well.
Deb Burwell

Saturday, September 18, 1999 8:18:39 AM
From: zwhite@mediaone.net
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com
Diane Elizabeth Dalphonse White
Catholic Medical Center
603-663-6018
100 McGregor Street
E-505
Manchester, NH  03102
  I am currently a masters student in health and human services studying the ways in which culture and values affect the workplace.  I am a nurse in a catholic hospital located in Manchester, New Hampshire.  We have gone through a merger with a secular hospital and are now going through a de-merger from that institution due in great part to the efforts on the part of a large sector of the Franco-American community members who reside in the area where the Catholic hospital is located.  I am interested in the roots of this community.

Subj:  apology
Date:  Saturday, March 25, 2000 11:13:24 AM
From: RJCR
To:    zwhite@mediaone.net

Hello, you sent the message above way back in September...and I cannot find a file where I responded...I apologize for not answering your request.

There are several organizations in Manchester that have in-depth information on the Franco-American population in Manchester.

The Centre Franco-American and also the Franco-American Genealogical Society are two sources for the search you are looking for.  Also, on the Franco-American Women's Institute's Suggested Reading site, there are several bibliographies which include information on the healthcare area as well on histories of specific geographical areas.  One book specific to Manchester is entitled "Amoskeag."  You might want to read Peyton Place and the other books by Grace Metalious who was from Manchester and who writes a very brave story in regards to women's health.

For more info on Grace see:  http://www.fawi.net/Grace/GMLinks.html

I also found the following in the internet and there are other pieces of information on the internet as well in regards to the Franco-Americans and NH:
About New Hampshire
History of Manchester, NH

 Settlers began moving into the region now known as Manchester in the early 1700's. The Pennacooks, an Algonquin speaking native American tribe, chose to move northward to avoid the influx of Europeans, and by 1725 were virtually absent from the Merrimack River Valley.

 The town of Derryfield was incorporated in 1751.   It began  as a small farming community, a far cry from the busy Manchester of today.  Samuel Blodget, a citizen of Derryfield, became instrumental in the transformation from an agricultural to an industrial focus for the town.  He developed a canal and lock system around the Amoskeap falls, opening trade routes with Boston, MA and Concord, NH.  In 1810, Derryfield was renamed Manchester, after the successful industrial city of Manchester, England, which Blodget envisioned Derryfield could become.

 Through the influence of the Amoskeap Manufacturing Company, Manchester became a city.  The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company was a major textile firm who operated itself and its associate companies in the Manchester area from 1838 to 1936.  Their mills produced cotton and woolen textiles, as well as steam powered fire engines, railroad engines, and other products.  As the largest textile producer in the world in the early 20th century, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company had 30 mills in operation with 8 million feet of floor space, and 17,000 workers in its employ.

 Following several years of decline, the company closed in 1936.  The city of Manchester was forced into a rebuilding period, and led largely by the citizens of the city, diversified the types of industry in Manchester.  In recent years, electronics and high-tech industries have become the high growth industries of the city, helping to transform Manchester into a service based economy.

 Manchester today still has reminders of its past connection with the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company.  The physical layout of the central district of the city, as well as the complex of mills still standing along the Merrimack River tie Amoskeag Manufacturing Company to present day Manchester.  These characteristics stand to remind Manchester's inhabitants of the past from which the modern day city was born.

I think that the Amoskeag was an important formation for the city of Manchester and its legacy lives on today.

You might also want to view the film, Les Tisserands du Pouvoir, The Mills of Power, to gain an insight into the Catholic, historical hierarchy in New England.  It deals with the Corporation Sole Controversy which mostly took place in Rhode Island, but it was an event that was felt New England wide in the 1920s.

There is also a book store in Manchester that deals exclusively with Franco-American works, although they do not carry my book, Wednesday's Child, http://www.rhetapress.com which is about the Franco-American women's experience growing up in Maine.

I apologize for the over-sight in not responding to your request...as I recall now, I think I sent it onto another medical person and perhaps they responded?  I hope they did.  Otherwise, please write again if you need any more leads.  Thank you.

Rhea Cote Robbins, Director
Franco-American Women's Institute
 

Sunday, August 22, 1999 2:32:26 AM
From: lucretiadmcbride@worldnet.att.net

Lucretia McBride and the Historical Exhumation Project
A Multidiscipline Team Recovery and Analysis of Antebellum Burial Sites in
Southern Louisiana
My Home Page (http://home.att.net/~lucretiadmcbride/index.html)
Forensic Studio
Post Office Box 1319
Houma, Louisiana USA 70361-1319

Fax (504) 580-4825
 (504) 580-1852
LucretiaDMcBride@worldnet.att.net
Years Ago, Resting In A Small Religious Cemetery

Wednesday, August 11, 1999 1:57:03 PM
From: holman@usm.maine.edu
To:   FAWI2000@aol.com
Robyn Holman
holman@usm.maine.edu
University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn College
Lewiston, ME  04240
notes = Yes, please send newsletter and brochure.

Subj:  Your web page.
Date:  Tuesday, August 10, 1999 6:49:32 PM
From: rkvoskuh@pilot.infi.net
 

Hello:

very informative to say the least.  Look forward to doing it again some time.

Thank you;

Robert
Robert K. & Diane P. Voskuhl rkvoskuh@pilot.infi.net

Friday, July 30, 1999 10:40:50 AM
From: JuOlivier
To:    RJCR

In a message dated 7/30/99 9:40:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time, RJCR writes:

<<  new edition of The Initiative, the online electronic magazine for Franco-American women, as well as collaborative cultural writing is now available. >>

Congratulations!

Julien

July 30, 1999 9:42:16 AM
From: guedon@ERE.UMontreal.CA
To:  FAWI2000@aol.com
 

Many thanks for keeping me informed of your wonderful projects.

A bientôt,

Jean-Claude
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Qc H3C 3J7  Canada
http://www.pum.umontreal.ca/revues/surfaces/

Friday, July 30, 1999 12:59:01 PM
From:  Dean.Louder@ggr.ulaval.ca
To:   RJCR@aol.com

Hi Rhea,
 Thanks for this latest message regarding Initiative.

 You will recall me speaking to you on several occasions about Marie Moser of Edmonton, Alberta who wrote Counterpoint in 1987, a marvelous first novel on the experience of Franco women in the Canadian West which was later translated and published in French here (1991).  I just this week re-read the book in  French. Better the second time around. I urge you to read this book and to get in touch with Marie. I doubt if she knows any more about FAWI than you know about her, yet you should all know each other:
 Marie Moser, 9329 95th, Edmonton, Alberta T6C 3X1

 Look on the net at: cnet.ffa.ulcalgary.ca/yabs/moserm.html

 My second point, or is it my third? Have you done anything about getting Wednesday's Child into French? You really should. As sympathetic an audience as you have found for the book in Maine, I believe could be expanded and multiplied many times over if it were available in French.

Dean LOUDER
Sillery, Québec G1S 1P3

Friday, July 30, 1999 11:30:09 PM
From: VAdig
To:    FAWI2000

Thank you very for forwarding me your web site.  The articles available on line are very good.

Sincerely,

Virginia Bommer
New Orleans, Louisiana

Subj:  Your work
Date:  Friday, July 30, 1999 4:26:06 PM
From: joly8@hotmail.com
To:    FAWI2000@aol.com

Rhea,

I just glanced through the ezine and it's great! Thank you for including my  work. I'm now trying to upgrade my text so that I can send it to Dean  Louder.

Thank you once again,

Date:  Friday, July 2, 1999 6:11:54 PM
From: DaniNath@AOL.COM
To:    FAWI2000@AOL.COM

Irène Blondeau Cosenzo
Orléans, ON, Canada
request = Keeping your French culture in the USA

Thursday, June 3, 1999 8:12:34 PM
From: jrhappy@gwi.net
To:    FAWI2000@AOL.com

Juliana L'Heureux
Brunswick, ME 04011
request: Family Stories
Stories, histories, genealogies, anything that documents the personal histories of Franco-Americans.

An Exploration of Immigration, Industrialization & Ethnicity in Waterville, Maine
Tuesday, June 1, 1999 8:37:50 PM
From: arowe@hds.harvard.edu
To:    RJCR@AOL.com

Dear Rhea,
Hope all is well with you and that you received a copy of my thesis.  I'll be curious to hear what you think (if you ever have time to read it all!).  I have one favor--could you please thank your mother-in-law for speaking with me regarding my project?  I sent postcards out today to those people who do not have email that I interviewed and she is the only person I don't have an address for  (I only had her phone number).  I would appreciate that, the paper would be nothing without all the oral history interviews I did...

Thanks again,
Amy

Tuesday, June 1, 1999 7:56:34 PM
Subj:  Senior Thesis on the Franco-American & Lebanese Communities in Waterville, ME
From: arowe@hds.harvard.edu

Hello:

 This email message is going out to people who I had email contact with (and some of whom I spoke with in person ) regarding my senior thesis on the Franco-American and Lebanese communities in Waterville.  I want to thank you all for your help...I learned a great deal from this project and collected lots of valuable information.  I graduated from Colby on May 23, and finished my paper the week before that.  My final paper was over 250 pgs. and thus I could not send copies of it to everyone.  However, you can access the thesis at the following locations: Colby's Miller Library (special collections), the Waterville Public Library, the Waterville Historical Society (Redington Museum), the Franco-American Center at UMO, and at the Center for Maine History in Portland (run by the Maine Historical Society).  [And the Franco-American Women’s Institute Archives.]
 I hope that you do have the chance to read part (if not all ) of it, I truly believe it uncovers a great deal of lost history and it was through connecting with so many different people that I was able to piece together this history.  Thank you all again.
 I will be using this Colby email account infrequently over the next few months until I get my own new account in the fall.  The best way to get in touch with me is at the address below anytime after June 20:

Amy E. Rowe
158 Lawrence Hill Road
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802)748-5787

Thank you again & Have a good summer,
Sincerely,
Amy E. Rowe
 

Comments from our Guest Book:

 Name: Pierre-Alexandre Tremblay
 Website:
 Referred by: Just Surfed On In
 From: Montréal (Québec)
 Time: 2000-03-03 02:59:00
 Comments: Very interesting site! Franco-american and french-canadian communities can only benefit from having stronger ties. Your web site certainly contributes to
 that. Encore toutes mes félicitations!
 

 Name: Barbara
 Website: Poetry In Motion
 Referred by: Just Surfed On In
 From: NH
 Time: 2000-01-30 22:49:00
 Comments: Nice web!
 

 Name: Bri
 Website:
 Referred by: Just Surfed On In
 From: Canada
 Time: 1999-12-16 02:26:00
 Comments: What exactly is this site for? But, otherwise, great site!
 

 Name: susan finnegan
 Website:
 Referred by: From a Friend
 From: falmouth me
 Time: 1999-09-11 23:39:00
 Comments: my friend lili told of me of this site and it is quite wonderful.
 

 Name: Pat Rihner
 Website:
 Referred by: NewsGroups
 From: Colorado by way of Louisiana
 Time: 1999-08-27 20:20:00
 Comments: Great site,Ican't wait to get to more of it.My line is Landry from Canada and Perriloux from France both to Louisiana Keep up the good work.