About this Exhibit
Greater Lawrence is and has always been a mixture of different cultures and populations, but few have come to dominate the political, economic and social landscape of the area quite like people from Ireland and Latin America. As part of Essex Heritage’s Teaching Hidden Histories workshop, participants examined how these communities’ journeys exemplify a larger history of perseverance and change. In the fourth Teaching Hidden Histories workshop participants explored how local workers in the labor movement of the early 20th century faced nativist resistance, a recurring theme in American history. Participants analyzed how a post-WWI civics education plan in Lawrence reflected fears and how civics education has morphed through the years.
This exhibition was created from resources referenced in the Teaching Hidden Histories Workshops 1 & 4 (January & November 2021). Find the workshops below.
Watch the workshops here
While Exploring the Documents Ask Yourself:
How do examples of these groups' experiences in Essex County, Massachusetts illuminate how some histories have been "hidden" within our larger American story?
What is the shared struggle for these groups?
What are the similarities and differences between the people who came from Europe in the 19th century and the people who came from Latin America in the 20th century?
Common Themes
This exhibit is not a comprehensive study about the experience of people who came from Europe and Latin America. Instead, it is a closer look at the unique experiences of two groups, each arriving in different centuries in the city of Lawrence. While the details of each group’s experience vary, we have organized the exhibit to explore common themes: civic life, conflict and culture. Civic life refers to the public life of a citizen concerned with the affairs of the nation and community. It includes sources that fall into the following categories: citizenship, education, politics and patriotism. Conflict refers to the incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles or interests. It includes sources that focus on labor unrest and issues with the police. Culture refers to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. It includes sources that fall into the following categories: connections abroad, schools and students, and celebrations. It is our hope that a closer look at the history of these communities in Lawrence will give us a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience in America.
Civic Life
What role does civics education play in the past and present as we define what it means to be an American?
How can civics education be misused to exclude communities and restrict tolerance?
What enabled these groups to increase access to opportunities over time?
What are some factors that may lead someone to become involved in politics?
How is citizenship related to voting rights and governmental presence?
What are the biggest obstacles to obtaining citizenship in the later 20th and 21st centuries?
What challenges continue for immigrant communities?
Conflict
How would you compare the push and pull factors for people coming to Lawrence from Latin America in the 20th century to the earlier wave of people coming to Lawrence from Europe in the 19th century?
How does the nativist reaction to the labor movement of the early 20th century in Lawrence help us understand the impulse to “Americanize” newcomers and de-value “essential workers"?
What type of challenges did both populations face in finding jobs and housing?
What challenges were faced by students in the 1980s according to the Growing Up Hispanic article?
Culture
What organizations, movements, etc. show promise and hope for communities in Greater Lawrence?
How do both peoples demonstrate pride in their culture?
How can sport be a method of building culture?
How might celebrations build a grassroots base?
How did Lawrence serve as a nexus for interaction between America and places of peoples’ origins? How were trans-national ties maintained? How are these ties viewed by other groups in the US?
Credits:
Created with an image by Heidi - "Nineteenth century brick mill buildings "