Martha's Vineyard Museum
A Finding Aid to the Robert Post Collection, 1956-1993
Table of Contents
Descriptive Summary
| Repository | Martha's Vineyard MuseumGale Huntington Research Library 59 School Street P.O. Box 1310 Edgartown, MA 02539 (508)627-4441 |
|---|---|
| Call Number | RU 434 |
| Creator - creator | Post, Robert |
| Title | Robert Post collection |
| Date [inclusive] | 1956-1993 |
| Extent | 3 boxes + 1 oversize folder (1.223 cubic feet) |
| Language | The materials are in English. |
| Abstract | The Robert Post Collection contains photographs, slides, oral history interviews, manuscripts and research materials accumulated during the writing of his book Reading the Water: Adventures in Surf Fishing on Martha’s Vineyard, and for later presentations on the history of fishing. |
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions to access.
Use and Reproduction Restrictions
Some materials may fall under the copyright of either the photographers or Globe Pequot Press, the publisher of Reading the Water.
Preferred Citation
Martha's Vineyard Museum, RU 434, Robert Post Collection.
Acquisition Information
The Robert Post Collection was acquired by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum from Pia Post after the death of Robert Post in 1994.
Bibliography
Post, Robert. Reading the Water: Adventures in Surf Fishing on Martha's Vineyard. Chester, Conn. : Globe Pequot Press, 1988.
Publication Information
Martha's Vineyard Museum
Gale Huntington Research Library59 School Street
P.O. Box 1310
Edgartown, MA 02539
(508)627-4441
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared and machine-encoded by Nathaniel Janick, May 2014.
Creation of this finding aid was sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Alternative Form Available
Oral history interviews are available in digital form. Please contact the library for more information.
Related Materials
Related Materials
See also, Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Collection (Accession no. 2001.032).
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Oral histories
- Photographs
- Slides
Geographic Name(s)
- Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)
Subject(s)
- Fishing--History
- Fishing lures
- Surf fishing--Massachusetts--Martha's Vineyard
Biography/Historical Note
Robert Post moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1972 and began surf casting. In 1986, he won the Martha’s Vineyard Bluefish Derby. At that time, he was preparing a book that would feature interviews with Martha’s Vineyard fishermen. He published the book in 1988 with the title Reading the Water: Adventures in Surf Fishing on Martha’s Vineyard. Robert Post passed away in 1994 and his wife Pia Post donated the materials to the museum shortly after.
The following is from Post's Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Hall of Fame biography:
Bob Post, self described as a "fisherman trapped in the body of a dentist", was also a gifted journalist, author, Public Health official, Derby member and father, among many other roles. Most importantly, Bob was a connector and chronicler of the living history of the Derby. Happiest when sitting astride a boulder on a Gay Head beach, after fishing into the dawn, conversing with a Jerry Jansen, Kib Bramhall, or another of the fishing denizens of the preceding night, Bob turned these conversations into the critically acclaimed book Reading the Waters, which, more than any other source, illuminates and brings to life the wonders and mystery of surf fishing the Vineyard and the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
Scope and Content Note
The Robert Post Collection contains photographs, slides, oral history interviews, and manuscripts created by Robert Post during the writing of his book Reading the Water: Adventures in Surf Fishing on Martha’s Vineyard, as well as materials created for many of his lectures on the history of fishing. The oral history materials include cassette tapes and, in some cases, typed transcripts of the interviews. While many of the materials in this collection were published in Post’s book, some of the photographs and interviews were not used.
Arrangement
Series are arranged by format.
- Series I: Photographs and Slides, 1956-1993
- Series II: Print Materials, 1968-1993
- Series III: Oral Histories, 1985-1987
Collection Inventory
Series I: Photographs and Slides, 1956-1993 Scope and ContentThis series contains slides and photographs collected and arranged by Robert Post for Reading the Water or one of his presentations on the history of fishing. The series is arranged by format and therein alphabetically. The slides in box 2, folders 10-13, were originally housed in slide carousels and were rehoused in their original order. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
"1992 Derby, Surf fishing, #11 Pia's Winner" slides, 1992-1993 | 1 | 1 | ||
"Cranberry Day '90, Scenic Stuff" slides, 1992-1993 | 1 | 2 | ||
"Humor" slides, 1993 | 1 | 3 | ||
"Lou Palma/Al Reinfeld, Alou Eels, Bait tail fishing" slides, 1993 | 1 | 4 | ||
"Kib Bramhall, Surf fishing" slides, 1976-1992 | 1 | 5 | ||
"People" slides, 1962-1993 | 1 | 6 | ||
"Plugs/Reels, Mark Lovewell" slides, 1992 | 1 | 7 | ||
"Ruthie's Plugs" slides, 1993, undated | 1 | 8 | ||
"Technical" slides, 1992-1993 | 1 | 9 | ||
History of Surf Fishing presentation slides from first carousel, circa 1993 NoteNote found in original housing reads "Change #36 to #57-Tackle Rack #1." | 2 | 10 | ||
History of Surf Fishing presentation slides from second carousel, circa 1993 | 2 | 11 | ||
Tackle History presentation slides from first carousel, circa 1993 | 2 | 12 | ||
Tackle History presentation slides from second carousel, circa 1993 | 2 | 13 | ||
Robert Post Collection Photographs, 1957-1987, undated | 1 | 10 | ||
Robert Post Collection Photographs, 1964-1987, undated | 1 | 11 | ||
Robert Post Collection Photographs, circa 1987 | 1 | 12 | ||
Robert Post Collection Photographs, 1986-1988 | 1 | 13 | ||
Photographs of Francis Bernard, circa 1986, undated | 1 | 14 | ||
Photographs of Kib Bramhall and Sergei de Somov, 1960, 1981, undated | 1 | 15 | ||
Photographs of Nelson Bryant, circa 1986 | 1 | 16 | ||
Photographs of Steve Bryant, circa 1987 | 1 | 17 | ||
Photographs of Roberto Germani, circa 1988 | 1 | 18 | ||
Photographs of Cooper Gilkes, circa 1989 | 1 | 19 | ||
Photographs of Ralph Grant, circa 1990 | 1 | 20 | ||
Photographs of Kevin Hearn, circa 1986, undated | 1 | 21 | ||
Photographs of Dick Landon and Joel Radding, undated | 1 | 22 | ||
Photographs of Janet Messineo, circa 1986 | 1 | 23 | ||
Photographs of Ray and Bernadette Metcalf, undated | 1 | 24 | ||
Photographs of Buddy Oliver, 1956, undated | 1 | 25 | ||
Photographs of Robert Post, 1986-1987 | 1 | 26 | ||
Photographs of Hank Schauer, circa 1986, undated | 1 | 27 | ||
Series II: Print Materials, 1968-1993 Scope and ContentThis series contains print materials produced by Robert Post while researching for Reading the Water or one of his presentations on the history of fishing. It contains interview transcripts, book manuscripts, and research materials, both original and photocopied. This series is arranged by the format. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Robert Post research materials, circa 1980-1993 NoteThese materials appear to have been produced while preparing for a presentation. Includes photocopies of magazine articles, newspaper clippings, fishing equipment advertisements and an extract from The Black Bass by James Henshall. | 2 | 1 | ||
Robert Post research materials, 1968-1971, 1991 NoteThis folder contains photographic materials that were originally found with the materials in Box 1, Folder 2. | 2 | 2 | ||
Robert Post research materials, undated | OS GEN 6 | 9 | ||
Reading the Water Photograph drafts, circa 1987 | 2 | 3 | ||
Reading the Water Draft, Chapter 1: Steve Bryant, 1986 | 2 | 4 | ||
Reading the Water Draft, Chapter2: Whit Manter, 1986 | 2 | 5 | ||
Transcript of Oral History Interview with Steve Bryant, 1986 January 24 | 2 | 6 | ||
Transcript of Oral History Interview with Whit Manter, 1986 January 27 | 2 | 7 | ||
Transcript of Oral History Interview with Tom Norton, 1986 February 12 | 2 | 8 | ||
Transcript of Oral History Interview with Daniel Burgo and Arthur P. Silvia, 1987 July 3 | 2 | 9 | ||
Series III: Oral Histories, 1985-1987 Scope and ContentThis series contains oral history interviews performed by Robert Post for Reading the Water. The masters are recorded on audiocassettes and are accessible via digital preservation copies. Interviews are arranged chronologically within the series. | ||||
| Box | ||||
Oral history interview with Cooper Gilkes, 1985 March 3 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Steve Bryant, 1986 January 24 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Whit Manter, 1986 January 27 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Ray and Bernadette Metcalf, 1986 February 1 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Tom Norton, 1986 February 12 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Arnold Spofford, 1986 March 26 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Kevin Hearn, 1986 April 5 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Kib Bramhall, 1986 July 16 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Ralph Grant, 1986 July 19 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Janet Messineo, 1986 August 27 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Roberto Germani, 1986 September 5 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Jerry Jansen, 1986 October 5 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Paul Schultz, 1986 December 26 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Daniel Bryant, 1987 February 15 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Hank Schauer, 1987 May 1 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Janet Messineo, 1987 June 8 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Francis Bernard, 1987 June 16 | OH-Post | |||
Oral history interview with Richard "Goose" Landon, 1987 June 24 | OH-Post | |||