A collection of glass plate negatives depicting scenes from Lawrence, Mass. These fourteen negatives are 3 x 5 inch glass plates that are showing some signs of erosion. One of them is broken. Some of them had papers that showed what some of the images were. Some of these were numbered, the... more

This lithograph entitled "View of the City of Lawrence" was executed by Ed. Hoffman and published by S. W. Chandler & Bro. lithographers for A. J. Wondra. It has been dated at 1854, the year just after incorporation as a city, due to the population figures listed on the lithograph. This is... more

This collection is composed of black and white photographs. The photographs measure 5.5 x 4 inches and are mounted (possibly pasted) on gray construction paper. It is likely that the collection was once in a scrapbook. The name and years in office are written in black ink on the paper below the... more

The photographs in this collection were found in a number of locations in the Lawrence Public Library. Some of them were framed; others were rolled up. All were in poor condition. In some cases, the condition was so bad that the appraiser could not tell what the subject matter was. The items... more

This collection contains one photograph of the School Committee of Lawrence, Mass., taken on Decemeber 8, 1921. Present in the photo are Walter J. Rochefort, Irving W. Sargent, Thomas F. Greene, William P. White (Mayor, chairman, ex-officio), Bernard M. Sheridan, and Mrs. Anna M. Driscoll. Mrs.... more

The city started the 50th anniversary of Lawrence's incorporation as a city on Monday June 1, 1903. Homing pigeons were freed at the Dracut Car Barn at 7:00 AM to later come to roost in the Lawrence coops. There were monetary prizes for the fastest birds. For the next three days they hosted a... more

The Lawrence textile workers strike of 1912 began January 12 and ended March 14 of that year. 27,000 workers were affected and the cost would be figured at around $3,000,000 in lost wages, revenue, extra expense in policing, and harm to the general business community. 500 people were arrested... more

The first United States Post office in Lawrence, Mass. was established Sept. 7, 1846. The location was on Turnpike St. (now Broadway) at the intersection with Common Street. Lawrence was then Merrimack and the first Postmaster was George A. Waldo of Methuen. A year later, the post office moved... more

For 25 years, the citizens of Lawrence used wells and cisterns to supply water for domestic use. In 1848, John Tenney of Methuen, Alfred Kittredge of Haverhill, and Daniel Saunders of Lawrence, with other associates, formed a corporation called the Lawrence Aqueduct Company to bring water in... more

The Lawrence Municipal Airport was originally constructed in 1934 under the Civil Works Act. 312 acres of land in North Andover were acquired for the project. Today’s (2009) present configuration was finalized in 1946 with three runways. In 1968, both runways 05-23 and 14-32 were extended to... more

This growing collection includes photos of events that took place at the Lawrence Portuguese American club. The Club's soccer team is heavily featured.Biographical Note:     The Portuguese American community in Lawrence is as old as the city itself. When the city received its charter in 1853,... more

Lawrence Public Library photograph collections that were used as part of a Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System digitization project.

The Lawrence Public Library has a an interesting collection of maps and atlases. Represented here are individual maps of Lawrence and Essex County.

The Franklin Library Association was formed on March 31, 1847 with Capt. Charles H. Bigelow, the engineer, under whom the great dam was built, functioning as the library's first president. Abbott Lawrence donated $1000 to purchase books that would "tend to create mechanics, good Christians and... more

This collection contains photographs of the various schools in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as well as some class photos.

6,000 men from Lawrence served in the First World War. Lawrence’s first draft registration was conducted on June 5, 1917. The National Guard also prepared for deployment. In addition to the two regular infantry companies and the battery, the headquarters company of the 102nd Field artillery and... more

As a teenager in Baltimore, Lawrence Sykes discovered his love of photography, which initially he combined with sports, his other passion. Mr. Sykes, who became an accomplished athlete before choosing photography, art, and teaching as his life’s path. “The amazing Larry Sykes, a professor to... more

This collection includes documents relating to laws, regulations, and the general conduct of commerce during the period of dramatic change from the late-19th century through the Great Depression and World War II. 

The Lee Library Association was organized in 1874 and was granted the use of two large rooms in Memorial Hall. In 1903, funds were secured from Andrew Carnegie, the Town of Lee, and generous citizens to build a new library. The Lee Library--built from Lee marble and completed in 1907--is the... more

These plans are part of the Local History Collection at the Leicester Public Library. They are full sized architectural drawings related to the 1895-1896 construction of the Leicester Public Library at 1136 Main Street Leicester. The pink granite, Classical Revival style building was designed by... more