Lawrence History Center

Lawrence History Center To collect, preserve, share, and animate the history and heritage of Lawrence, Massachusetts and its people.

Since 1978, the Lawrence History Center (LHC) has served as a dynamic living archive as an active and engaging community partner, contributing to the fabric of the contemporary community through extensive collections development, meaningful educational programming, research services, digitization efforts and research technology enhancements, and the continued growth of our reputation both locally,

nationally, and globally. That success has meant an increase in research requests, school and community group programming, and more visitors through our doors. The initial archival collection was started at the YWCA with documents from women immigrants in Lawrence. More than forty years later, The LHC owns its home at 6 Essex Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts in the former Essex Company complex - a site on the National Register of Historic Places built in 1883 that includes a main office building, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, stable, and warehouse. The largest single collection is the Essex Company business and planning records that meticulously document the building of the city of Lawrence starting in 1845. Other collections include well over 40,000 photographs and glass plate negatives, 800 digitally mastered oral histories, mayoral papers, non-current municipal records, church records, organizational records from local businesses and agencies, and an array of family and individual records that document the ethnically diverse and intellectually challenging nature of Lawrence. The community is actively engaged with these unique materials through physical and online exhibits, symposia, educational programs, and research services to foster understanding of the interaction of the built community and the lives of those who live and work there.

Criollo Restaurant, 330 Park St., Lawrence, MA, late 1970s; photo by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.
06/01/2026

Criollo Restaurant, 330 Park St., Lawrence, MA, late 1970s; photo by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.

From the Lawrence History Center Photograph Collection:Cross Street School, 50 Cross St., Lawrence, built in 1852The cap...
05/31/2026

From the Lawrence History Center Photograph Collection:

Cross Street School, 50 Cross St., Lawrence, built in 1852

The caption reads:

"This is a picture of the scholars in one room, one class at the Cross Street grammar school, Lawrence, Mass. Taken about 1885 or 1886, Miss Carlton, teacher.

Scholars:

No. 1 Maude Wheelock (bottom row, all the way on left)

No. 2 Abbie Dacey (second row from bottom, all the way on left)

No. 3 Bessie Nay (bottom row, seated, second from right)

No. 4 Nat Rankin (bottom row, seated forward, all the way on right)

No. 5 Maude Sellers (bottom row, 5th from right)

No. 6 Miss Carlton, teacher (top row, 3rd from right)"

The school was eventually renamed for General William H. Donovan, who began his military career in the Civil War and became a General during the Spanish American War. According to the Lawrence Public Library, "The General Donovan School ceased being a Lawrence Public School in 1954 and Boston Catholic Arch Diocese took ownership two years later for the purpose being a school for St. Francis Parish in Lawrence. St. Francis School opened in 1956."

The building is still standing, but is no longer a school.

This is the only photograph that we have representing the Cross Street School, and we'd love to add more material to our collection. If you have anything you'd like to donate, please reach out to [email protected]

Photograph taken March, 1976, of the Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence St., Lawrence, MA.Photographer may be Joseph P...
05/29/2026

Photograph taken March, 1976, of the Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence St., Lawrence, MA.

Photographer may be Joseph P. Messina, Lawrence History Center Collection

Lawrence History Center is saddened to learn about the passing of Moises Brea. Moises was a kind and generous friend to ...
05/29/2026

Lawrence History Center is saddened to learn about the passing of Moises Brea. Moises was a kind and generous friend to LHC, particularly when helping us with our recycling needs years ago.

He and the Greater Lawrence Young Professionals Network were honored with the 2018 Eartha Dengler History Award when we were celebrating our 40th anniversary. Honoring Moises and GLYPN was a promise to future Lawrence:

"Nearly a decade ago (written in 2018), the founders of the Greater Lawrence Young Professionals Network (GLYPN) set out to create something that any city wishing to thrive in the 21st century must have: a lively community of young professionals that is motivated to live, work, and play locally, and looks for ways to invest their time and talents in the city. From hosting networking events and community volunteer efforts to facilitating high school resume workshops and career mentorship nights, GLYPN has increased the level of young professional engagement across the Lawrence community. Its members are playing a vital role in ensuring that Lawrence has the energetic, cultured, skilled, and passionate leaders that the future calls for. And they are helping to ensure that future generations can take as much pride in the history and culture of Lawrence as these young professionals do today."

May he rest in peace. 🙏

View Moises Brea's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

2 Weeks Until We Honor Steve Kelley — Ticket & Sponsorship Deadlines Approaching! Sponsorship Deadline (to be included i...
05/28/2026

2 Weeks Until We Honor Steve Kelley — Ticket & Sponsorship Deadlines Approaching!

Sponsorship Deadline (to be included in printed materials):
Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Ticket Sales Deadline:
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM (or earlier if the event sells out)

No tickets will be sold at the door

Don’t miss the opportunity to join community leaders, friends, and supporters on June 11, 2026, as we honor Steve Kelley with the 2026 Eartha Dengler History Award. Be part of this special evening celebrating Steve’s extraordinary impact on youth in Lawrence!

https://lawrencehistory.org/dengler/2026

Wonderful upcoming event on Portuguese immigrant history ~FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC community archives-centered sympos...
05/28/2026

Wonderful upcoming event on Portuguese immigrant history ~

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC community archives-centered symposium hosted by the Portuguese American Digital Archive (PADA) at UMass Lowell: “Preserving Portuguese Immigrant History: A Symposium on Community Archiving”

This event will focus entirely on the work being done by archivists all over New England and North America, with a specific focus on the work being done by Portuguese American and Portuguese Canadian archives, to preserve the historical and cultural records of our local communities.

This symposium will feature archivist guest speakers from York University in Canada, UMass Dartmouth, and Rhode Island College, as well as presentations about UMass Lowell’s community archives, including the Portuguese American Digital Archive.

The symposium will take place in on PortugalJune 10th, 2026 from 10:00am to 3:00pm in Room 255 in Coburn Hall on UMass Lowell’s campus, and free parking will be available in the Wilder Lot.

Breakfast and lunch will be included, and there will be a special invitation after the event to join us for Lowell’s Portugal Day parade and flag raising at 6:00pm that same evening for those who can attend. The event is completely free and open to the public.

You can RSVP and learn more about the event’s schedule here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preserving-portuguese-immigrant-history-a-symposium-on-community-archiving-tickets-1988506846507

Check out Portuguese material from the Lawrence History Center archives here - https://umlportuguesearchives.omeka.net/collections/show/23

THANK YOU to Lawrence-based writer, storyteller, and educator Wangeci Wambui Gitau for donating an autographed copy of h...
05/26/2026

THANK YOU to Lawrence-based writer, storyteller, and educator Wangeci Wambui Gitau for donating an autographed copy of her beautiful new book to the Lawrence History Center!

Wangeci says "Coka Mũciĩ (Return Home) is a collection of poems in Gikũyũ and English about my trip home to Kenya after being away for 24 years. These pages honor the life I left behind, the stories that continued to unfold while I was away, and the quiet miracle of discovering the truth of my lineage, from the physical place, the traditional culture, and even the family conflicts that led to me being who I am today.

In a moment when immigrants are often scapegoated for society’s struggles, I hope this book invites curiosity about the nuanced lives people lived before they arrived here. We must regard all parts, not in spite of their complexities, but precisely because these complexities are what make us deeply human and worthy of living, whether we stay home or migrate across the world."

Coka Mũciĩ is the first book in our collection written in Gikũyũ, but joins other foreign language books that reflect Lawrence's immigrant history in languages such as Spanish, Lithuanian, French, Arabic, Vietnamese, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, and Italian.

This poem, "Memorial Day", was written by Lawrence author, teacher, and poet Emily Greene Wetherbee. As we reflect on h...
05/24/2026

This poem, "Memorial Day", was written by Lawrence author, teacher, and poet Emily Greene Wetherbee.

As we reflect on her words, we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Who are you remembering this Memorial Day weekend? Please share their name and story below so that we may honor their legacy.

Address

6 Essex Street (in The Essex Company Offices & Yard)
Lawrence, MA
01840

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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