{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/2n4zg6hn05/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Lee Von Paris interview and photographs, circa 1990"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/053/original/cropped-marmia-logo-copy1.png?1586173104","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["https://marmia.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/archival_objects/25694"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["circa 1990 (Creation)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["Be advised that this video may contain sensitive, triggering, and offensive language and content. (Content warning)","Digitized with funding provided by the Council on Library and Information Resources' \"Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices\" grant program. (Funding note)","Lee Von Paris discusses his German immigrant family business providing moving services, including to the Baltimore Orioles. Part two of this footage is on WJZ-FLDTP-007-016. (Scope and Content Note)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["1 Betacam"]}},{"label":{"en":["Identifier"]},"value":{"en":["WJZ-FLDTP-005-008 (Identifier)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Series Title"]},"value":{"en":["Field Tapes"]}}],"summary":{"en":["Be advised that this video may contain sensitive, triggering, and offensive language and content.","Digitized with funding provided by the Council on Library and Information Resources' \"Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices\" grant program.","Lee Von Paris discusses his German immigrant family business providing moving services, including to the Baltimore Orioles. Part two of this footage is on WJZ-FLDTP-007-016."]},"provider":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["MARMIA"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["MARMIA"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/053/original/cropped-marmia-logo-copy1.png?1586173104","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/253/859/small/thumbnail_253859_1728337436.jpg?1728337437","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - open-uri20250109-552-55lfdg.mp4"]},"duration":1211.621,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/253/859/small/thumbnail_253859_1728337436.jpg?1728337437","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-marmia.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/253/859/original/open-uri20250109-552-55lfdg.mp4?1736436501","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":1211.621,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["AUTO_TRINT_WJZ-FLDTP-005-008.mp4 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"They have this back and then what? We have never looked back. Now, just give me a quick sound. All right, That's good. Just. Just relax now. Look at me. First off, give me your name. Yvonne Paris. And spell fine. Paris von Paris. And now your grandfather. Your grandfather's name was Elegies Elegies. I was named after him. But you. You took leave for sure. He was a little more practical and easier to recall. I think I still use elegies in personal family relationships. You're the youngest of how many? Nine. So your grandfather had one son in the business? Yes. His name was Bonaventure. And your dad had nine children? Right. And out of those nine, actually. What? This is the. The fifth generation of Von Paris's. I'm the youngest of the third. It was my grandfather and my father who had nine children. And then I'm the youngest of the third generation. The rest have retired. There are a fourth and a fifth and even a sack. Some some of the sixth generation. They're very small, but. But they're here. They're in the ranks. They're here. They're here. They're. That's right. They're hanging by their own call. Well, you know, we did some quick arithmetic and actually now your grandfather. Began a business that has provided an income or provided livelihood for five generations of the von Parish family and all together, including the in-laws. How many did we say? 17. Well, you mean that provided a livelihood in the family, right? No, it was closer to 30. 38 or 39? 38? 30. In the history of the company, of the family. Of the family. And and the company has employed hundreds of Marylanders over the years. That's correct. And you've moved how many families would you say since? I, I would very I would suspect very easily hundreds of thousands in the in the course of our history, starting back in 1892.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=1.29,201.63"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And that's all over the world. All over the world, where we started off as a little neighborhood mover. And today we we have no real limits as to where we can take families in the relocation process. It just became this not too long ago, the official movers of the Baltimore Orioles. All right. And you took a nostalgic move from from what, old? The old stadium to the new ballpark? Yeah, that's right. And I guess in the spring of 1992, it was a ideal marriage because that happened to be our 100th year. And we were very fortunate to to have been awarded the contract. And it tied in beautifully with our celebration. We moved many things for them, a lot of memorabilia similar to what I think you may have witnessed here. And it was just worked out great for us and and hopefully for the Orioles, too. For a company that has moved hundreds of thousands of families over the years, you all haven't done much moving yourself. I mean, you came from East Baltimore, which was almost the original building that your grandfather founded and what you have here today. So that was what you only made really one big move, the major. Well, the it was a sequence of moves, but that's true. What you said we the family has we were very close from the very beginning and we stuck together and and even today with the with a few exceptions, the nucleus of the generations still live in the love in the area. And that has landed a lot of stability to not only the family structure, but the growth of the of the business. Your grandfather came from where? Pasha, Germany. And he came over night in 1875. And why was he a wealthy man? By no means.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=202.74,345.03"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"He was looking for a new life and he settled in and they, I guess at that time was a German section of East Baltimore in the Holland town area. And he in those days they had small or regional breweries and he is career in the new country, started out as a brewery worker and he did that for quite a few years and he decided he wanted to be an entrepreneur on his own and bought all the team of horses and they called them carts in those days, but a wagon and started hauling in the general hauling business. And then he there was an interest that developed in moving families, and that's how it started. That was the beginning. I was the beginning. Your grandfather bought a team of horses, a wagon, and with his own strength. And it took that we're in a very labor intensive, hard business. We have never been able to mechanize how to to move furniture out of a configuration of so many houses. You know, it's everyone is different and it's still it takes a lot of person power. That's right. A lot of way to put it. Yeah. Yeah. Will we be accused of being chauvinist? Now we have to be very careful about. That won't be your. There's one, there's one shot of, of your, of your dad when he was a young man, picked up in a quarry that wasn't a German accordion. Yes, it was. It was. It looks like an accordion. And but it's a button type which is different than, as I understand the difference from a piano. Accordion as keys like a piano. And he he we had many good times. He was kind of he picked it up as a hobby. And on family affairs and gatherings, he would take that out and start playing it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=346.41,481.21"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And we we we we sang a lot in those days and and that was the beginning of, of a tradition that has and continues to today. Who picked that talent up? Well, it was basically my brother and I, carried the tradition on. And who's got the accordion? Well, we both have one. I have one, too. Well, you listen, you know, I tell you now and then that we have a reputation on the now and then segments of closing with a song. Now, I mean, I wouldn't want to put you on the spot, but if the accordion is closed at hand, how about closing this piece out with a little. A little song? All right. I can probably manage that if you can. You don't have a real keen ear for music. I yeah, we got that part. Let's get. Let's go back a little bit. Why don't you move in in the, in the business as it is today. Now you've made so many improvements. You started off your grandpop, your granddad started off with just him. Then your father took the business over and the children got involved. How many employees are there in the Vine Parish group today? Today, somewhere around 150. And do you have any any idea how many miles your your your trucks are logging per year now? We are. Our operation is quite diverse in that we go all in. We have some units that go all over the country. I would hazard a guess on this. I, I, I'm sure it could very well be over a million miles when we put our units together, possibly more than that. We have close to 100 units in operation. And actually a million miles would would be a minimum, I would say.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=481.36,614.51"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So the company is still doing very well. Yes, I would say we've we've grown quite a bit or the leader in Maryland in our industry. And and we're quite diverse. And for the future, I see a great future for us. We we if we stick together and the loyalty and dedication that has emanated from the family has been one of our strengths. And I think that we can we can go into that. We are into our second century. And I think there is a great a great and bright future ahead of it. And for us and so for the for the not only then is there a a continuance for the von Paris youngsters offspring, but then for the customers, I mean, the regular customers, because business is still good, they can they still get a good deal. They can get a good deal that we're we have a good reputation. The name is well known. It's a household household word, a name. And it carries with it that integrity. And and we we'd have to be doing something right to be around as long as we have. And we have a solid customer base. Most of our business is or I'd say a major segment of our business is from referrals. And that when you when you do that and your customer keeps coming back time and time again, then then that's one of the ingredients for success. And we've been very fortunate there. I with a business like this that has such a such a great roots here in Baltimore, such a history with Baltimoreans. What is your message to those who are listening now and not necessarily to those who have who are going to make a move in the very near future? But your message to to the community? Well, the one message would be it's so much talk about family today.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=615.65,754.55"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And in the recent elections, the word family almost became a political issue. And and I the closeness and the experience that we've had and the unity that and the efforts of our our family in making helping us to be as successful as we have been should be an inspiration to others to to to take the same road or at least be encouraged to take the same road if they want to be successful. That would be one one message that I could leave with you. So you're saying then, in essence, the the the idea of the family, you're the strength of this of this organization goes back to a family that many, many, many years ago. And there's still strength here. So you're saying that a good family. What a good family connection. Yeah, right. The the loyalty and dedication are key elements. Now, we we have a great nucleus of if you want to phrase them outsiders, we have a very diverse structure in our company. It is and strictly family. When you get into the hundred and 50 numbers, there are a lot of of opportunities there for others to to come into our company and to grow with us. And we've had very many successful people that have been with us over 20 years and sometimes 25 or 30 in some instances. So that speaks for itself. There is opportunity in in associating yourself with family businesses. Sometimes there may be some concern about that. But we've we've approached this issue with equal opportunity and equal chance for outside people to make a. Livelihood and be a success in our business. So we're many, many folks you our go to the big cities, go to the sun belts, the places like New York that work for business.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=755.15,893.63"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"A city like Baltimore has provided plenty business for for you and your family and for your workers all these years. I. Yes, they have. Or we have we've we feel proud of that, of course. And we're we have been part of the growth in our own way with with with the progress that our city and our state has made through the years. So, okay. I don't know. Again. Your grandfather's name is Elizabeth. You may write down E Ridge. Us. Religious. Religious. Religious. U.S.. No, I use my GI you, but it's pronounced like religion. Just think of religious. That's it. Religious. Religious. Religious. Religious. From Paris. From Germany. But. When he just got a little older, he turned the business over to Bonaventure and. And that's his wife, Teresa. Teresa. Then in 1915, Lee's dad bought the first motorized moving truck in the area. Right. Right. Right. I play. Munich, rented a car, went to Austria Garmisch, the area over Easter and we all right when the 4th of July was a big day for the family, they all got together and sang songs, right? Dad played the accordion. Now, for some reason, I got a chateau down there on the right. That's dad on the right. Five five of the brothers, one brother in law, all five of his sons might make it five. All right. There was dad, five of the sons, one son in law. Right. A worker and a and a and a devoted, obviously devoted daughter. Right. What's your name? Janet. Genevieve. Genevieve. It's amazing what you can do yourself. I mean with this camera I any experience I'm. How long were you here? About 11. Nine? Ten? Dad was a hard worker, Yes. I mean, he he got he got the bureaus and he always is on the bottom end.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=895.67,1143.43"},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And that's what we used to do. When you carry a piece, you know, going down the steps. Key And when the Bush's tour of the White House was over, Von Parrish came on back to Dallas, that right to Houston carried him on back to Houston. Doing more with less. You have to, you know. It remains to be seen what's going to happen with Clinton's plan. But it's. I got it. 3 or 4 more years. Well, Westinghouse is one of our major clients. We do moving for WJC.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859#t=1143.83,1202.01"}]},{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["English [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://marmia.aviaryplatform.com/collections/948/collection_resources/136847/file/253859/transcript/71680/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"subtitling","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/file_transcripts/associated_files/000/071/680/original/trint_WJZ-FLDTP-005-008_transcript.vtt?1728353305","format":"text/vtt","language":"en"},"target":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/file_transcripts/associated_files/000/071/680/original/trint_WJZ-FLDTP-005-008_transcript.vtt?1728353305"}]}]}]}