Two students will engage in research related to Portuguese records at the International Institute and at local archives, including the Lowell Historical Society and the UMass Lowell Center for Lowell History. Objectives are to: 1) further develop the research that produced last fall’s exhibit at the Lowell National Historical Park; 2) begin the creation of a traveling exhibit that will be on view at banks, restaurants, and other highly visible location throughout the city of Lowell; 3) provide students with hands-on experience in historical research; and 4) to create an academic year-end exhibit based on the research.

 

The proposed work will build upon research by the Saab-Pedroso Center and will add to our understanding of a regionally prominent, though significantly understudied and underrepresented, immigrant group. The work will include an assessment of the Portuguese records, akin to passports, available at the Center for Lowell History. So called proof-of-age documents that were previously donated by City Hall to Center for Lowell History and have had a cursory review will be examined in detail as part of the academic year 2016-17 project. (http://library.uml.edu/clh/P/P.pdf)

 

Specific research questions include: Where in Portugal did these young people come from?  How old were they when they immigrated?  Were they single or married?  Did they travel alone or escorted?  Was their migration the result of direct recruiting by New England mills, which by this time was illegal?  What connection, if any, exists between the mills in southeastern Massachusetts and Lowell and did this influence the arrival of Portuguese immigrants in Lowell? Moreover, once they arrived, where did they find employment and how were they employed? Where and in what conditions did they live? Where did they worship?

 

The International Institute has over 100 boxes of historical records, many of which contain information pertinent to an understanding of Portuguese immigration to Lowell from 1900 to approximately 1930. Students under my supervision will analyze these records, which will be placed in a secure location in O’Leary Library.  This will provide students with easy access to the research files.

 

Two students will work 8 to 10 hours a week on the project starting in Fall 2016 through the academic year for 28 weeks of work. You will earn $1000 a semester for the effort. Work will be completed by the last week of the Spring 2017 semester. 

 

If you are interested, send Professor Forrant (History) a brief letter of interest by April 28, indicating why you’d like to be part of this project. Experience doing historical research a plus, but not necessary. Robert_Forrant@uml.edu