A Day in the Life of a Whaler

New Bedford Whaling Museum docents Nancy Gentile and Captain Michael HM Taylor are shipping up to the Ames Free Library to share about a day in the life of a whaling voyage, the whaling business, and the lives of whaling wives. See baleen samples and a harpoon demonstration!

About the presenters:

Captain Michael HM Taylor: Mr. Taylor spent the first half of his career in the British Merchant Navy, starting as Apprentice in 1958 and rising to Ships Master. He has sailed in all classes of vessels and to ports all over the world. In 1978 he came to the United States to manage vessels trading with project cargoes to N. Africa and the Middle East. Later he was employed as Vice President at Maritime International New Bedford. On retirement, he farmed in S. America before returning to Massachusetts where he now volunteers as a docent at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Nancy Gentile spent 39 years as a research librarian in various capacities in private and public libraries. After stints at the Newton Public Library and Millipore Corporation, her longest tenure was at the Robbins Library in Arlington, MA. where she was Head of Adult Services. Nancy has been a docent at the New Bedford Whaling Museum since 2017. She enjoys giving tours to student groups and to visiting adults weekly. Nancy resides in Mattapoisett with her husband Mark.