2020.025.026

This book covers Lawrence’s immigration history from 1845-1921. It addresses the stereotypes pinned onto immigrants through the late 19th and early 20th century, with particular focus on Irish immigrants. The book contains several Maps include The Lower Merrimack River, Streets and Immigrant Centers in Lawrence, Lawrence Ward and Gerrymandering, Ethnic Shifts in Lawrence and Ward Boundaries, Precinct Boundaries pictures of
This book reveals how immigration influenced the creation, culture, and environment of the city.

Donald B. Cold highlights the evolution, importance, and necessities of immigrants to Lawrence, Massachusetts. In hopes to combat stereotypes depicting Lawrence as, “a slum-ridden city filled with poor immigrant revolutionaries,” in 1912, he traces Lawrence’s immigration history to put the 1912 strikes into context. Topics discussed in the book include the city planning in 1845-1850, immigration of Irish people from 1850s-1865. He highlights the discrimination Irish immigrants faced, including slander in the media, job discrimination, and prejudice.

Cole fights the stereotype of Lawrence being “a slum-ridden city filled with poor immigrant revolutionaries” “This work proposes to find the truth about Lawrence and in the process to discover much about the immigrant in urban America.” Focuses on immigration: book opens with stereotype that 1912 labor strike has been posed “penniless, un-American slum”; describes history of city from 1845-1912 to combat the stereotype
a. The book is divided into three sections: “Model Town to Immigrant City, The Search for Security, and Immigrant City to American City. Model Town, 1845-1850 Shanty Irish, 1850-1865: Decades of Promise, 1865-1890: Decades of Despair, 1890-1912)
b. Maps include The Lower Merrimack River, Streets and Immigrant Centers in Lawrence, Lawrence Ward and Gerrymandering, Ethnic Shifts in Lawrence and Ward Boundaries, Precinct Boundaries
c. Chapter I - focuses on the 1912 Lawrence Strikes and it’s fame throughout the world; immigration changes throughout the early 1900s (pre WWI); 1912 was a heated moment of inequality in Lawrence, prejudice toward immigrants
d. Chapter II – Lawrence founded by Patrick Jackson and Nathan Appleton – discusses city planning, development of Lawrence from rural area, and erection of buildings, homes, and businesses. Mills were developed on Canal and Methuen Streets with boarding houses for the workers. Public buildings
e. Chapter III – Irish immigration had exponential growth in 1850-1865; slander Irish immigrants received in media; Courier discussed heavily
f. Chapter IV – Focuses on political movements and election results of Lawrence in 1865-1890; promises made to the city and the citizens; discusses Irish discrimination (through slurs in media, discrimination, and criminality/over-policing); gerrymandering & it’s influence in population; occupations for other immigrant groups; city official’s planned to beautify Lawrence through street paving, sewage renewal, and water purification; typhoid fever averages dropped as a result; death rate dropped; leisurely activities normalized (like sports, walking around the city, betting on dog fights)

Tear on front cover;