MC 85.2.2, 5/24/1942 sides 1 +4
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the recordings of 22 or 23 broadcasts on 54 vinyl disks of "Voz de Portugal" hosted by Affonso Ferreira Ferreira-Mendes. The recordings were made over the period on one year, in 1942 by Pat Mauretti, of an unspecified government intelligence agency, possibly a World War II-era precursor to the CIA; they were done without Mr. Ferreira-Mendes' knowledge. Thirty years later, in the early 1970s, these disks were sent in a box to his daughters in Taunton. The originals are on 16-inch vinyl recording disks. Archives and Special Collections staff transferred most, but not all of these recordings to CD in 2007. All of these broadcasts are associated with WSAR in Fall River. Each program is about one hour in length. Each vinyl disk contains fifteen minutes of programming per side.
Dates
- Other: 5/24/1942 sides 1 +4
Language of Materials
Material entirely in Portuguese.
Extent
From the Collection: 55 items (55 vinyl recording disks and 72 compact disc recordings)
Materials Specific Details
Voice of Portugal Radio Station WSAR, Fall River MA
Affonso Ferreira Ferreira-Mendes
Track #1
Advertisements for local businesses.
Song (fado): (?)sung by Irene Almeida, guitar António Simões (live).
Speaking about experiences as immigrants; expressing gratitude for the country (USA) for defending freedom against Hitler.
Song: “Santo Antoninho do Bonfim”, by the Orchestra (live).
Last minutes of recording are unintelligible.
Track # 2
Advertisements for local businesses.
Song (marcha): “Marcha dos Marinheiros”, dedicated to all Portuguese sailors and the Allies; Orchestra (live).
Announcement: Wednesday 5/27/42 first viewing in Taunton, MA of Portuguese film “Portugal no Mundo”, next to the police station of that city; “Pão nosso”; “Maria Papoila”. Continuous film sessions from 2pm.
Advertisements for local businesses.
Announcement: Modern Dance at the Portuguese-American Club, Taunton, MA, Saturday May 30th from 8pm to 12am. Music by (?) Orchestra.
Advertisements for local businesses.
Reading a letter from a listener thanking community for contributing to a charitable cause: Mr. António Rodrigues from New Bedford, who was in the hospital, received financial support.
Song: “Olha o balão”, sung by Agostinho Bessa with Orchestra (live), dedicated to Ms. Maria Silva, who turned 18 recently, by her father José Silva.
Advertisements for local businesses.
Announcement: Trinity Feast, Clube da Trindade, East Providence RI; Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st
Repository Details
Part of the UMass Dartmouth Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives Repository
Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Rd.
N. Dartmouth MA 02747 USA
jfarrar@umassd.edu