Lawrence History Center

Thanks to the hard work of two of our new volunteers, Meghan Bailey and Diane Lafond, we have two new collections available to researchers. The first is the Elizabeth Drwila Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps Collection, 1941-1992. Diane worked for over a month on the collection. Indeed, she went through the different parts and arranged them so that they can be easily accessed, and then wrote a finding aid for us to put up on the website. You can view the wonderful and comprehensive finding aid she created here. The collection contains scrapbooks, newsletters, medals, and patches relating to the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps, especially the Lawrence Unit. Although the collection consist of only four hollinger boxes (you can see one of them on the right), the information you can glean from this collection is quite extensive. If you are interested in women's history, United States history, or World War II you should definitely take a look at this collection.

The Lawrence History Center has another mystery photograph for you. We recently had a request for information on the woman in this photograph, which was taken at the S. R. Page studio on Essex Street. Do you think you can help? If you have any information please contact Jennifer Williams at jenn@lawrencehistory.org. Thank you for your help!

On June 14, 2012, the Lawrence History Center honored Dick Purinton, a man with a mission, quietly and effectively doing what one person can to make the Lawrence Gateway real for Lawrence's people and the organizations that serve them. Since 1998, the History Center has held the Eartha Dengler History Award Ceremony to spotlight the efforts and accomplishments of outstanding leaders who work to bring development, opportunity and prosperity to Lawrence. Dick certainly fits that criteria!

Click for more images from the event!
L to R: Hillary (Purinton) Salmons, Tim Purinton, Dick Purinton

The event was attended by well over 100 guests -- family, friends, and colleagues of our honoree -- who came to pay tribute to a wonderful person who has touched their lives in a positive and inspiring way. Guests enjoyed stories about Dick's characteristic good humor and the remarkable support he has provided to organizations and the people of Lawrence.

The Host Committee for our event was comprised of representatives from the many different organizations Dick has supported along the way:

With profound gratitude to the Purinton Family, our sponsors, friends, and many others whose contributions have made this 2012 Eartha Dengler History Award Ceremony possible…

On March 13, 2012, we welcomed about 100 guests and 26 models into our exhibit space for the "Follow the Thread Vintage Fashion Show," by Jacqueline Cooper. The show was wonderfully narrated by Terry Kelley and the models were members of the local community! It was a very fun event as you will see from the photos (Model, Maria M., pictured on right). Everyone looked stunning!

Click here for photographs!

Jacqueline Cooper's exhibit, "Follow the Thread: America's Jewish Immigrants and the Birth of the Garment Industry" will be on display within our exhibit, "Short pay! All out!" on the 6th floor of the Everett Mill through June 30, 2012. The exhibit tells the story of Jewish Immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, events unfolding, simultaneously on two continents, and the significance of their relationships to one another. "Adapting to the changing world" is a timeless and universal theme portrayed here by the Jewish immigrants' journey, with the garment industry as vehicle.

"Follow the Thread" is hosted by the Lawrence History Center, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, and funded in part by Mass Humanities.

On May 10, 2012, LHC President, Pamela Yameen, was honored at the YWCA Tribute to Women 2012 Awards Luncheon. Each year the YWCA honors a select group of women living and/or working in the Merrimack Valley who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and community.

Friends and colleagues describe Pamela as resourceful, motivated, generous, dedicated, and selfless. The following nomination was submitted by LHC Director, Susan Grabski, with the wholehearted support of the LHC Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers:

Pamela Yameen is a rare and unique woman who has had a wonderful impact on those around her in the Merrimack Valley. She has an active role in her family’s business, Butcher Boy Market, she is dedicated to her family, friends and colleagues, is active in the local not-for-profit community, and never hesitates to support worthy causes that benefit her hometown of Lawrence. Her generosity comes in many forms – financial, advice, support – and she physically exudes excitement about Lawrence and for making it a better place. It’s not just about individual organizations, it’s about doing something positive for Lawrence overall. Pamela is an effective communicator and she is successful in bringing people together to work toward common goals.

Pamela and her parents (and a table full of family members!)

Please join us for a Vintage Fashion Show on Mother's Day!

Follow the Thread: Vintage Fashion Show
Sunday, May 13, 2012
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Everett Mill, 15 Union Street, 6th Floor, Lawrence
(within the LHC bilingual exhibit, "Short pay! All out!")
~ Admission Free ~

"Yesterday was an amazing day for the LHC. Well over 300 walked through our door and the streets and historic buildings of Lawrence, from over 20 states and two foreign countries. There was an exciting buzz all day. People were constantly lingering at the end of sessions, there were conversations and networking, and as we checked in on panels, the packed rooms were hushed as people listened intently. Many certainly want to come back." ~ Pamela Yameen, LHC President

Saturday, April 28, 2012 was indeed a wonderful day in Lawrence. When our bilingual exhibit, "Short pay! All out!" opened on the 6th floor of the Everett Mill (15 Union Street, Lawrence) on January 12, 2012, our hope was to start a dialogue about the issues and themes brought to the forefront by the strikers one hundred years ago. The interest and attendance at the Bread and Roses Centennial Academic Symposium reaffirms that the same issues resonate today and that the conversations that began many months ago are continuing and expanding their reach all across this nation and beyond.

We have welcomed nearly 2,000 people to our bilingual exhibit, "Short pay! All out!" since we opened on January 12, 2012 - 100 years after the Great Lawrence Strike of 1912 began! We hope to welcome thousands more between now and the end of September when we will open our exhibit doors forthe Essex National Heritage Area's 11th annual Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks and Water, September 21-23 & September 28-30, 2012!

For a glimpse at upcoming events & ongoing exhibits at the Everett Mill, 15 Union Street, 6th Floor, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840 CLICK HERE.