Interview with Joseph Melissa

Audio recording and transcript of Joseph Melissa's 1979 interview with Shirley Ramsay for the Coal Tyee History Project. Melissa shares his memories of working in coal mines around Nanaimo, which he started doing in 1921 after emigrating from Italy to join family members who were already working on Vancouver Island. He reflects on working in the Protection Island Mine and the difference between it and the Number 1 Esplanade Mine (which it was joined to). He talks about what it was like to be an Italian immigrant in Nanaimo, how he met his wife, and aspects of his social life. Melissa concludes the interview by sharing his recollections of early union activity.