Azorean Americans]]> Brazilian Americans]]> Bullying in schools]]> Bullfights]]> Catholic Church--Dioceses]]> Catholic Church--Societies, etc.]]> Children of immigrants]]> Code switching (Linguistics)]]> Conflict of generations]]> Earthquakes]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Evening and continuation schools]]> Factories]]> Immigrants--Cultural Assimilation--United States]]> Portuguese American women]]> Priests]]> Volcanos]]>
Biographical Note:
Maria Rosa was born on the Azorean Island of Faial in 1945. She was one of four children (two brothers and a sister) and grew up in the village of Flamengos, a short distance from Horta, in a four-room house constructed of stone. Her father operated a small farm. She attended the public school in the village completing her education through grade 4. In 1957, when Maria was 12 years old, the Capelhinos volcano on Faial erupted, an event that altered the lives of many Azoreans. In the United States, Congress passed special legislation liberalizing immigration for all Azoreans.
Aided by a Portuguese family in Lowell, which sponsored Maria and her family, the Rosas departed Faial in 1960, arriving in Boston and then traveling to Lowell, where she, her parents, and her siblings settled in the city’s “Back Central” neighborhood. Maria entered the Lowell public schools, attending the Colburn School in her neighborhood. Despite the difficulties with having to learn English without any formal support by the public schools, Maria completed her studies at the Colburn and then at the Butler Junior High School. At the age of 16 she received a work permit and obtained a job at the Hathaway Shirt Company that operated a clothing manufacturing firm in the old Hamilton Mill. She met her husband, Joseph Mendonça, in Lowell and married him in 1966. Maria subsequently worked at the Raytheon Corporation and had a son and daughter.

Born in 1942 in Ponta Garça on the island of São Miguel, Joseph Mendonça moved to the United States at the age of 15, settling in Lowell with his family. His father had been born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1905 and therefore had U.S. citizenship, despite returning to São Miguel when he was quite young. Joseph attended a public school in Ponta Garça before entering high school in Ponta Delgada. Upon moving to Lowell, he was placed in the Butler Junior High School, but when he turned 16 he received a work permit and entered the employ of Grace Shoe Company, one a several shoe manufacturers in the city. For a number of years, Joseph worked in the shoe industry, while marrying Maria and beginning a family. He eventually attained a high school degree and began work at BASF Industries. Joseph and Maria were active parishioners at St. Anthony’s Church in Lowell as well as in the Holy Ghost Society. Joseph served as president of the Holy Ghost Society in the 1970s. They lived for a number of years in Lowell’s Back Central neighborhood before purchasing a house in South Lowell.]]>
Fitzsimons, Gray]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Faial (Azores)]]> São Miguel (Azores)]]>
Immigrant families]]> Immigrants]]> Azorean Americans]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Catholic Church--Dioceses]]> Catholic Church--Societies, etc.]]> Priests]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Code switching (Linguistics)]]> Soccer]]> Instrumentation and orchestration (Band)]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Fitzsimons, Gray]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Lawrence (Mass.)]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Children of immigrants]]> Suicide]]> Cleaning compounds]]> Tenement houses]]> Immigrant families]]> World War, 1939-1945]]> Rug and carpet industry]]> Entrepreneurship]]> Irish Americans]]> Politics and government]]> City council members]]> Campaign management]]> Urban renewal]]>
His mother, Helen (Spinney) Durkin, was part of the Spinney family, a large Portuguese family in Lowell. The family's surname was originally Espinola, but the patriarch, Dominus, changed it to Spinney when he immigrated to the United States. In this interview, John tells the family folklore of how Dominus was kicked out of Portugal, eventually opening a bookstore in Lowell.]]>
Ali, Mehmed]]> Image of Spinney Family circa 1915]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Ethnic neighborhoods]]>
All the photos taken in Back Central have been digitized and are accessible on the Internet Archive.

Click each link below to view the photograph from that location:


247 Appleton Street
253 Appleton Street
264 Appleton Street
291 Appleton Street
893 Central Street
61-63 Church Street
164 Church Street
Colburn School (1)
Colburn School (2)
First United Baptist Church
Joiners Court (1)
Joiners Court (2)
Joiners Court (3)
Joiners Court (4)
Joiners Court (5)
Lawrence Street Engine House
80 Linden Street (1)
80 Linden Street (2)
Lyon Street
Middlesex County Court House
33-35 Newhall Street
Old Opera House
Portuguese American War Memorial (1)
Portuguese American War Memorial (2)
St. Anthony's Parish Hall (1)
St. Anthony's Parish Hall (2)
St. Anthony's Parish Hall (3)
St. Vartanantz Armenian Church (1)
St. Vartanantz Armenian Church (2)
209 Summer Street
20 Tyler Street
58-60 Tyler Street
7 Wamesit Street]]>
Foley, Elizabeth]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Portuguese American women]]> Catholic Church--Dioceses]]> Children of immigrants]]> Orphanages]]> Sailors]]> Processions, Religious--Catholic Church]]> Priests]]> Fasts and Feasts]]> Nuns]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Conflict of generations]]> Ethnic food]]> Christmas cooking]]> Azorean Americans]]> Grocer]]> Kelley, Joan]]> Saab, Estelle]]> English]]> Lawrence (Mass.)]]> Peabody (Mass.)]]> Portuguese American women]]> Azorean Americans]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Education, Bilingual]]> Portuguese language]]> Construction workers]]> Orphans]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Evening and continuation schools]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Immigrants]]> Immigrants--Cultural Assimilation--United States]]> Children of immigrants]]> Public welfare]]> Depressions--1929]]> Cooper, Jeanie]]> Murphy, Ezilda Cardoza]]> Click here to listen to audio of Ezilda Cardoza Murphy's oral history interview with the Lawrence History Center.]]> English]]> Lawrence (Mass.)]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Portugal--Emigration and immigration]]> Azorean Americans]]> Immigrants]]> Boardinghouses]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Education, Bilingual]]> Code switching (Linguistics)]]> Catholic Church--Dioceses]]> Depressions--1929]]> Priests]]> Fasts and Feasts]]> Processions, Religious--Catholic Church]]> Ethnic food]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Portuguese language]]> Portuguese American women]]> Childbirth at home]]> Wine and wine making]]>
People mentioned: John Sears, Fr. De Lima, Mary Bettencourt, Mike Silva, Charles Cardoza]]>
Poirier, Clarisse]]> Murphy, Ezilda Cardoza]]> Click here to listen to audio of Ezilda Cardoza Murphy's oral history interview with the Lawrence History Center.]]> English]]> Lawrence (Mass.)]]>
Real estate agents]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Community development--Religious aspects--Catholic Church]]>
Transcript:
Aug 20th 87
Real Estate Office
When I had the Real Estate office - on the corner of 7th and Camb. St. E. Camb.
I had two partners - one was Bill Smith who owned three bar rooms - and the other one was Charlie Burke - who owned a Rest and Submarine Sandwich Shop on Camb. St. Next door to the Italian Church St. Francis of Assisi - [illegible] Al Vellucci (Mayor) and Joe [illegible].
I had a file - the Irish Church was the Sacred Heart on 6th St. State Rep John Toomey and Father Ferrick who was a priest born in E. Camb. The Portuguese Church St. Anthony was on the corner of Camb. St. and Portland. We had the Irish and Lithuanian use the St. Patrick on Berkshire St. Walter Sullivan Councillor and Sen Dan O'Brien used to attend mass there. We also had St. Hendricks on [illegible] St. That was the Polish Church. St. Zelewiski the undertaker and a fellow head of the Polish Club were the ward bosses for that Church - Each church had its own politicians and ward bosses to get things done for them.
Now I used to go to most of them and knew quite a few people from all nationalities.
The nuns from the Sacred Heart would come in and sell me tickets to their affairs - I had a file on my desk. All the churches used to come in to sell me + Bill tickets to all of their events. The old folks senior citizens would also come in with chance books of some kind - I always took them. They would always go out of our office happy. I would buy two - The Esquire Bar + Lounge of which I owned half interest - Rose's Disposal Service - I ran LoPardo was my partner - Mystic Maintenance Corp. - of which I owned half interest and was Gen. Mgr. Plus the east Cambridge Real Estate office - So I could always find a check to buy tickets to help any charity in the neighborhood. We also sponsored softball teams or basketball teams in the neighborhood suits sneakers ect. We also sponsored a boxing club at the St. Francis Church (Italian Church) and [illegible] and cards Ping Pong, for the kids. I would always have a few drunks who would stop by in the mornings to get a cup of coffee - We always had a pot on. They would sleep out all night - Then I would give them a note to go to Mannie Costa my partner at the Esquire Bar to give them a free meal no beer no money. I think that is why god had been good to me. I did a lot of charity in my time. And got alot of people jobs and favors often. It made me feel good.
Patty Michaels had an office down the street from us 6 blocks near the Ital. Church. I would send customers to her office and she would give our office a cut if she made a sale or any money on whoever I recommended to her. She was pretty honest w/ us.
Walter Sullivan, Eddit Sul. Al Velluci State Rep Pete Velluci the Chief of Police Tony Palillo would also stop in once in a while for a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze with us. We had Jimmy Sower. He was weighted at one time and worked for the boys in the North End. He was in our office every day. He lived just one block up from us. He was a good guy - along with Eddie [illegible] who was a friend of mine for years. I got him a job w/ Sears Roebuck in Boston during a [illegible] for local 25 - He became the shop stewart - and when I had some problems w/ the Union 10 years later he was there to help me out.
My men used to take the rubbish off of the platform. Now some time we would have to wait until Sears men would bring it out to the platform. The Union used to raise hell when we would go in ourselves and roll the four wheel trucks w/ the rubbish and cardboard to the [illegible] platform. They tried to get me thrown out of there. But the manager and Eddie Bangs wouldn't let the Union do anything to my men and my trucks. So I kept the account for 3 years. It paid for me to have gotten Eddie that job years ago.
So many times I got people jobs, and later on in years they were in a position to return the favor. The women cop on the beat who used to be the meter maid in front of our office - She would overlook our cars not putting dimes in the meters - She used to stop in two times a day for her coffee - once in a while we would have to put money in when the Sgt was in the area checking her.
Charlie Burke also a partner in the E. Camb Realty Office - His nephew lived up stair over us. He kept his bike in our back room at the office. He was Cambridge Police Officer. His father Charlie Burkes brother was Lt. on the Camb. police and lived 3 doors down on the side street. He too was always in our office. We had Rep. Peter Vellucci Sen. Michael LoPresti and many other pols who liked to stop in also Judges who were friends of ours enjoyed talking to us.
We had poor and rich - sick and unfortunate. We had a good relationship with all departments of the city of Camb. We used to get invited to everything that was going on in the area. Always some one to do a favor for.
(Billy Maher was head of the Police internal affairs Dept. and was a good friend of mine)
Between Billy Smith Charlie Burke or myself we could do just about anything in the City and the people knew it. Senator Dennis McKenna would stop in to see me also once in a while.
We never knew who was going to stop in to say hellow to me mostly State Rep. from Somervill Marie Haue. She used to do alot of favors for people. I wanted to her in good w/ the Portuguese people because there were alot of them in Som. Manny Rogers son was also very active and he helped the Portuguese. He was pres of the Portuguese Credit Union Inman Sq. Camb. and I know his dad Manny Rogers very well. A peach of a man. He buried my son Geo Jr. when he died at the age of 27 yrs. He was great to me and my family.
Al Vellucci was the mayor of Camb. and he was always calling me to help some charity he was involved in for the City. We had the Warren Pals. Club on Warren St. Bugger Lampassi Joe Niealoro, Camb Bd. of Health Comm. Bill [illegible] Jim Parcie Income Tax inspector, Arthur [illegible] - and many more were influential people in the city hall - we had strength in all walks of life in Camb. Al Vellucci Jr. was head of the Camb City Hospital and many times Portuguese or others who could not pay their hospital bill and Al Jr. would take care of the bill for the poor people. This would also help his father the mayor and his brother the State Rep Peter Velucci to get some votes.
I told Al Vellucci one time I was going to take out my papers to run for City Councillor because he ignored me on some favor I had asked him to do for some poor unfortunate person. A Portuguese. I said to Al "If he was an Italian you would do it in a minute" When I said I would run against him he went pale and boy did I always get action after that time to this date.
I helped him very much with some of my Portuguese people to get the new Dante [illegible] Society building built and get it started. I donated money and materials and trucks along with my good from John Serpa Portuguese contractor ]]>
Rose, George W.]]> English]]> Cambridge (Mass.)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Portuguese American women]]> Immigrants]]> Community organization]]> Fasts and feasts]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Portuguese language]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Immigrant families]]>
Biographical Note:
Maria Cunha arrived in the United States in 1967. She moved to Lowell, MA from the island of Terceira, with her parents and two younger siblings. She worked for the International Institute and later worked for Congressman Meehan.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Christoph Strobel. Ms. Cunha discusses preconceived notions of the U.S., her immigration journey, her parents' work in the mills, the Portuguese community in the 1960s, learning English, parents as an immigrant, working to help other people in the immigrant communit, how the Park Service can further engage with local communities.]]>
Strobel, Christoph]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Terceira Island (Azores)]]> Graciosa (Azores)]]>
Children of immigrants]]> Immigrant families]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Baking]]> Bakery employees]]> Ethnic food]]> Tradition (Theology)]]> Music]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Boardinghouses]]> Christmas]]> Folk dancing, Portuguese]]>
Biographical Note:
Manuel Barros, Sr. was born in Lowell, MA. His parents were born in Madeira. They immigrated to Brazil before they immigrated to the United States, where they had their children. Manuel took over his parents' baking buisness and opened up Barros Pastry Shop.

Scope and
Contents:
Interview conducted by Barbara Fertig of the American Folklife Center. Mr. Barros discusses his mother's boardinghouse, his father's bakery, the local Portuguese community, the type of baked goods that he produces, Christmas traditions, dances at the Portuguese Band Club, folk dancing, local emigration to California, feasts, the struggle of owning a bakery, his parents' childhood.]]>
Fertig, Barbara]]> Part 1 - Part 2]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Immigrants]]> Ethnic food]]> Civic leaders]]> Community organization]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Music]]> Religious gatherings]]> Folk dancing, Portuguese]]> Police]]>
Biographical Note:
Henry Desousa was born on the island of Faial and later moved to the island of Terceira. His brother moved to the United States in 1960 under the Azorean Refugee Act after the Capelinhos volcano erupted. He later followed his brother and immigrated to the United States in September 1970. He originally moved to Hartford, CT but then moved to Lowell in 1976.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Barbara Fertig of the American Folklife Center. Mr. DeSousa discusses the food and traditions for the Feast of the Holy Ghost; folk dancing; emigration from the Azores; being a business man in Lowell; helping the local Portuguese community; lack of Portuguese representation in city hall; state of the modern community; Portuguese churches in Lowell; police mistreatment.]]>
Fertig, Barbara]]> Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Cambridge (Mass.)]]> Azores]]>
Children of immigrants]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Portuguese language]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]>
Biographical Note:
Henry was born on October 3, 1912 in Lowell, MA. Henry's parents (Manuel J. Pestana and Hilda A. Alves) came to this country in 1910 from Madeira on their honeymoon. They came by cattle boat. He was born in Lowell near Prince and Tremont Streets (now gone) near the Little Canada area. At age seven, his family moved to the Wamesit area of Tewksbury.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Olga Spandagos. Discussion includes his parents' immigration to the U.S.; languages spoken at home; Back Central; mill work.]]>
Spandagos, Olga]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Portuguese American women]]> Children of immigrants]]> Cooking]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Balls (parties)]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Veterans]]>
Biographical Note:
Gladys (Glorina) Mendonca Picanso was born on July 18, 1918 in Lowell, MA. Her parents were born on the island of Graciosa. She worked as a hairdresser and owned her own shop.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; discussion included her parents' family and immigration; her father's store (Sousa's Market); trips back to the Azores; education history; local dances; her siblings' time in the army; the Holy Ghost Society; current immigration.]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> ]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Immigrant families]]> Tenement houses]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Education]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Cooking]]> Oral History Interview with Joseph Freitas, February 24, 1999.

Biographical Note:
Joseph Freitas was born on August 23, 1908 in Funchal, Madeira. He immigrated with his mother (Herminia Freitas) to the United State in 1914 when he was 5 years old.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; discussion included growing up in tenement housing; leaving school to work in the mills; extending his education; joining the Portuguese American society; living with other ethnic groups;  local portuguese culture; playing on the radio

]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Portuguese American women]]> Children of immigrants]]> Boardinghouses]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]>
Biographical Note:
Mary Foley was born on October 5, 1925 in Lowell, MA. Her mother was Violante Sousa (b. March 10, 1894). Her father was Belarmino C. Leite (b. September 5, 1892). They were both born on the island of Graciosa. Her sister is Wilhelmina Leite Machado.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; discussion included her parents' immigration to the United States; her mom's time in the mills; her childhood in both Lowell and Manchester, NH.]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> here.]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Manchester (N.H.)]]>
Portuguese American women]]> Children of immigrants]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Boardinghouses]]>
Biographical Note:
Sally (Zelta) G. Francisco Correa was born on June 29, 1921 in Lowell, MA. Both of her parents immigrated from the Azores. Her mother was Rose Picanso, who was born on September 19, 1891. Her father was Joseph Francisco, who was born on February 1, 1891. Rose and Joseph married at St. Anthony's Church in Lowell, MA.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; discussion focuses on her parents' journey to America; life in the Portuguese community in Lowell; mills; live in poverty.]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> ]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Tenement houses]]> Portuguese American women]]> Children of immigrants]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Cooking]]> Boardinghouses]]>
Biographical Note:
Grace Freitas was born in Lawrence, MA on May 23, 1913. Her mother was Maria Mendonca, who was born on April 16, 1883 in the Azores. She left for the United States in 1898. Her father was Leno Espinola. Six weeks after Grace was born, her parents took her back to the Azores for one year, before returning back to Lawrence in 1914. Her parents split after their return. Since they were being raised by a single mother, Grace and her brother worked in the mills from a young age. She later married Joe Freitas.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; discussion included Grace's parents' immigration story; time working in the mills; tenement living; Portuguese cooking.
]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> English]]> Lawrence (Mass.)]]>
Mills and mill-work]]> Children of immigrants]]> Radio programs]]> Veterans]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Cooking]]> Tenement houses]]>
Biographical Note:
Edward Santos was born on March 25, 1919 in Lowell, MA. His mother, Rose Espanola, was born in Graciosa in 1896 and immigrated to the United States in 1902. His father, Antero Santos, was born in Madeira in 1891 and immigrated to the United States in 1913. His parents were married at St. Anthony's Church on September 26, 1914 by Bishop Henry DaSilva.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by Carole MacDougal Perkins, a grad student in the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell; conducted at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS); spoke about his family's immigration to America; the Back Central neighborhood in Lowell, MA; living conditions; Portuguese food; St. Anthony's feasts; local clubs; radio programs; mill work; economic crash; local sports; time in the military.]]>
Perkins, Carole MacDougal]]> ]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Graciosa (Azores)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Bakeries]]> Children of immigrants]]> Community organization]]> Easter service]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Immigrant families]]> Loreto, Our Lady Of]]> Wine and wine making]]> Click here to view the items in this collection.]]> Please note that this collection was not digitized by the Portuguese American Digital Archive. By clicking the link above, you will be brought to the Library of Congress' website. Read below or on the project's website for more information on the digitization of these records.



The Lowell Folklife Project was conducted in 1987-1988 as a cooperative project of the American Folklife Center and the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, with support from the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities, to document contemporary ethnic neighborhoods, occupations, and community life related to the history of industrialization in Lowell, Massachusetts.

This year-long study yielded an ethnographic collection consisting of 196 hours of sound recordings covering a wide range of subjects and activities, including oral history interviews, religious services and festivals (Catholic and Greek Orthodox holy week and Easter services and religious processions; a Cambodian Buddhist wedding ceremony; Cambodian and Laotian New Year's celebrations; Puerto Rican festivals), musical events, parades, ethnic restaurants,
and neighborhood tours. An additional 23 hours of sound recordings of musical events and oral history interviews were copied from originals lent by Lowell residents. Collection materials also include correspondence; field notes; questionnaires; neighborhood maps; reports; publications;
administrative files; interview transcripts; black-and-white photographic prints, contact sheets, and film negatives (ca. 10,000 images); and color slides and prints, (ca. 3500 images).
Documentation was created by fieldworkers working for the American Folklife Center: Peter Bartis, Michael E. Bell, Douglas DeNatale, Barbara Fertig, Carl Fleischhauer, John Lueders-Booth, Mario Montaño, Martha K. Norkunas, Tom Rankin, David Alan Taylor, Eleanor F. Wachs,and members of the Refugee Arts Group.



Items related to the Portuguese American community in Lowell are as follows:

Oral Histories:
• Interview with Manuel Barros, Jr.
• Interview with Manuel Barros, Sr., Part 1
• Interview with Manuel Barros, Sr., Part 2
• Interview with Francisco (Frank) Corvalno
• Interview with Maria Cunha
• Interview with Henry DeSousa
• Interview with Henry DeSousa, Part 1
• Interview with Henry DeSousa, Part 2
• Interview with Henry DeSousa, Part 3
• Interview with Henry DeSousa, Part 4
• Interview with Bob Estacio
• Interview with Manuel and Umbelina Figueira
• Interview with Anthony Garcia
• Interview with Adrien Luz, Part 1
• Interview with Adrien Luz, Part 2
• Interview with Adrien Luz, Part 3
• Interview with Gabriela Oliveira
• Interview with Fr. Eusebio Silva, Part 1
• Interview with Fr. Eusebio Silva, Part 2
• Interview with Fr. Eusebio Silva, Part 3
• Interview with Maria Silva
• Interview with Jose Simao

Audio Recordings:
• Carnaval, Holy Ghost Park, Part 1
• Carnaval, Holy Ghost Park, Part 2
• Carnaval, Holy Ghost Park, Part 3
• Carnaval, Holy Ghost Park, Part 4
• Carnaval, St. Anthony’s Church, Part 1
• Carnaval, St. Anthony’s Church, Part 2
• Carnaval, St. Anthony’s Church, Part 3
• Fado Music at IV Seasons, Part 1
• Fado Music at IV Seasons, Part 2
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Part 1
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Part 2
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Band Concert, Part 1
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Band Concert, Part 2
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Band Concert, Part 3
• Loreto Fest Committee
• Mass, St. Anthony’s Church, Part 1
• Mass, St. Anthony’s Church, Part 2
• “The Portuguese in Lowell,” Bicentennial Presentation
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 1
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 2
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 3
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 4
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 5
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 6
• Weekend Festival, Holy Ghost Society Park, Part 7

Photographs:
Church (St. Anthony’s)
• Prayer card for Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts; Meeting of former St. Peter's Church parishioners, Lowell, Massachusetts (24 photos)
• Easter Mass, St. Anthony Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Easter Mass, St. Margaret Church, 374 Stephens Street, Lowell, Massachusetts; Easter Mass, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• Copy of photos of prayer card for our Lady of Loreto, St. Anthony Church Rectory, Lowell, Massachusetts (2 photos)
• 1-33, not part of the Lowell Folklife Project collection; Christmas manger, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (38 photos)
• St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (23 photos)
• Father Silva's office, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (19 photos)
• St. Anthony's Parish, Lowell, Massachusetts; Home of Arlindo Espinola and Dionisia Espinola, Lowell, Massachusetts (19 photos)
• St. Anthony's Parish during Easter Sunday Mass, Lowell, Massachusetts; Home of Arlindo Espinola and Dionisia Espinola, Lowell, Massachusetts (18 photos)
• Interior of St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (11 photos)
• Interior of St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)

Community
• Medeiro's Portuguese American variety store, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• On the grounds and in the wine cellar of the residence of Manuel Figueira, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• On the grounds and in the wine cellar of the residence of Manuel Figueira, Lowell, Massachusetts (34 photos)
• St. Anthony's parish, Lowell, Massachusetts; Martin's Fish and Produce, Lowell, Massachusetts; The Lowell Union of Portuguese Americans, 944 Central St., Lowell, Massachusetts (38 photos)
• Lowell Union of Portuguese Americans, Lowell, Massachusetts (17 photos)
• Manuel Figueira and Doug DeNatale, at home of Figueira, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Manual Figueira at his home, showing his winepress, grape arbor, and garden, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Manual Figueira at his home, showing his winepress, grape arbor, and garden, Lowell, Massachusetts (10 images)
• Street scenes of Central St., Lowell, Massachusetts; Father Silva at St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (14 photos)
• Central St. fish peddler, Lowell, Massachusetts; Martin's Fish and Produce, Lowell, Massachusetts; Office of the Lowell Union of Portuguese Americans, Lowell, Massachusetts (17 photos)
• Christmas manger, Lowell, Massachusetts; Manuel Barros' home, Tewksbury, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Religious yard shrine in the yard of Joe Mello, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Religious yard shrine in the yard of Joe Mello, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Religious yard shrine in the yard of Joe Mello, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Joe Mello's yard, North Common Housing Project, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Joe Mello's yard, North Common Housing Project, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Joe Mellos' yard, Lowell, Massachusetts; Grape arbors in Back Central, Lowell, Massachusetts (2 photos)
• Joe Mellos' yard, Lowell, Massachusetts; Grape arbors in Back Central, Lowell, Massachusetts (2 photos)
• Joe Mellos' yard, Lowell, Massachusetts; Grape arbors in Back Central, Lowell, Massachusetts (2 photos)
• Joe Mellos' yard, Lowell, Massachusetts; Grape arbors in Back Central, Lowell, Massachusetts (8 photos)
• Gardens of Back Central, Lowell, Massachusetts (8 photos)
• Religious yard art, Joe Mello's yard, Lowell, Massachusetts (8 photos)

Work Life
• Tony Medeiros holding up fish in back of his fish truck at Central and Elm Streets, Lowell, Massachusetts (3 photos)
• Maria Cunha at work, Lowell, Massachusetts; Manuel Barros, Barry's Pastry Shop, Lowell, Massachusetts; Maria Silva's knitting and crocheting projects, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Francisco "Frank" Corvalno, First Bank, Central St. Branch, Lowell, Massachusetts (7 photos)
• Tony Medeiros in back of retail fish truck in neighborhood of St. Anthony's Parish, Lowell, Massachusetts; Street scenes of various unidentified individuals, Lowell, Massachusetts (13 photos)
• Barry's Pastry Shop, Central St., Lowell, Massachusetts (32 photos)
• Barry's Pastry Shop, Central St., Lowell, Massachusetts; Martin's Fish and Produce Market, Lowell, Massachusetts (17 photos)
• Barry's Pastry Shop, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Fish salesman, Central St., Portuguese yards, Back Central, grape arbors, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)

Carnaval
• Carnaval celebration, Pioneer Club, Lowell, Massachusetts (22 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts (33 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (38 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Pioneer Club, Lowell, Massachusetts (11 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts (6 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Carnaval celebration, Pioneer Club, Lowell, Massachusetts (5 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts; Carnaval celebration, Pioneer Club, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts; Carnaval celebration, Pioneer Club, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts; Carnaval Celebration; St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Carnaval celebration, Holy Ghost Society, Lowell, Massachusetts; Carnaval Celebration; St. Anthony Parish Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)

Fado at IV Seasons
• Olivete Maria singing at the IV Seasons Restaurant, Lowell, Massachusetts; Manuel Barros, Jr., Barry's Pastry Shop, Lowell, Massachusetts; Manny Silva and customers at rear of fish trucks, Back Central Street, Lowell, Massachusetts (12 photos)
• IV Seasons Portuguese Restaurant during dinner and the musical performances of Duarte Tavares, Mario Bulhoes, and Olivete Poulart, Lowell, Massachusetts (19 photos)
• IV Seasons Portuguese Restaurant during dinner and the musical performances of Duarte Tavares, Mario Bulhoes, and Olivete Poulart, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• IV Seasons Portuguese Restaurant during dinner and the musical performances of Duarte Tavares, Mario Bulhoes, and Olivete Poulart, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Fado musicians, IV Seasons Restaurant, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• Fado musicians, IV Seasons Restaurant, Lowell, Massachusetts (13 photos)

Feast of Our Lady of Loredo
• Skateboarding, Merrimack St., Lowell, Massachusetts; Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, St. Anthony's church, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Festival of Our Lady Of Loreto, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (14 photos)
• Procession for Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts; Dick Taffe, Lowell, Massachusetts (14 photos)
• Festival of Our Lady Of Loreto, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Festival of Our Lady Of Loreto, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (12 photos)
• Parade from St. Anthony's Church in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (37 photos)
• Mass at St. Anthony's Church on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (7 photos)
• Parade from St. Anthony's Church in occasion of the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (31 photos)
• Parade from St. Anthony's Church in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 images)
• Committee of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (13 photos)
• Committee of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts; Martin's Fish and Produce, Lowell, Massachusetts (32 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto procession, St. Anthony's Church, Lowell, Massachusetts (6 photos)
• Loreto Organizing Committee, St. Anthony's Parish, Lowell, Massachusetts; Fish peddler and tow truck drivers, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• St. Joseph's cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts; Portuguese Festival of Our Lady, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 images)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (24 photos)
• Our Lady of Loreto, procession, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (15 photos)
• Portuguese Festival of Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (16 photos)
• Holy Ghost Park, Portuguese Festival ol Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts; St. Anthony's Church on the morning of the procession of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (16 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto procession, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (38 photos)
• Our Lady of Loreto Procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (38 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• Back Central festival, Lucy Larcom Park, Lowell, Massachusetts; Our Lady of Loreto preparation and procession, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (36 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (1 photo)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Lowell, Massachusetts (9 photos)
• Fish salesman on Central St., Our Lady of Loreto Festival at Holy Ghost Park, Lowell, Massachusetts (11 photos)
• The Feast of Our Lady of Loretto procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• The Feast of Our Lady of Loretto procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photos)
• The Feast of Our Lady of Loretto procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (20 photso)
• The Feast of Our Lady of Loretto, after the procession, Lowell, Massachusetts (3 photos]]>
American Folklife Center, Library of Congress]]> American Folklife Center Website

A copy of all items can be found at the Center for Lowell History in Lowell, MA.

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English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Children of immigrants]]> Cultural assimilation]]> Civic leaders]]> Education]]> Community schools]]> Immigrant families]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Oral History Interview with Francis J. “Jack” Picanso, March 3, 2017

Biographical Note:

Francis J. “Jack” Picanso was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1936; son of Rita R. (Stillings) and Anthony Picanso, who were also born in Lowell; the fraternal grandfather, Manuel C. Picanso (1868-1937) immigrated from the Azores (most likely the island of Graciosa), settling in Lowell in 1887; Manuel Picanso was one of the founders of Lowell’s first Portuguese Catholic church (on Gorham and Congress streets) and subsequently helped found Saint Anthony Catholic Church on Central Street; he worked in the Appleton Cotton Mills as weaver and later in the skilled position of loom fixer; Manuel Picanso also purchased a house—most Portuguese immigrants at this time rented in tenements—near Lincoln Square in Lowell in a part of the city where few Portuguese lived; Jack Picanso attended parochial schools in Lowell, graduating from Keith Academy in 1953; he then matriculated at Boston College, graduating with a bachelor of arts in Greek; Picanso returned to Lowell, taught at Keith Academy, followed by two public schools in Lowell, the Varnum elementary and the Daley middle schools; after teaching math at the Daley, Picanso was appointed assistant to the principal at the Daley and also served as president of the employee’s bargaining unit of Lowell’s school administrators.

Scope and Contents:

Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali; focuses on the Picanso family history, notably Manuel C. Picanso, a prominent member of Lowell’s Portuguese community in the late 19th century; also includes information on the small businesses operated by Picanso relatives, as well as marriage and family life with non-Portuguese spouses in pre-WWII and post-war Lowell; part of the interview also focuses on parochial school education in 1940s in Lowell, and Jack Picanso’s career as a teacher and administrator in Lowell’s public schools, beginning in the late 1950s.

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Ali, Mehmed]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Immigrants]]> Entrepreneurship]]> Veterans]]> Angola--History--Revolution, 1961-1975]]> Agriculture]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Oral History Interview with Mario F. Veiga, November 21, 2016

Biographical Note:
Born on the Azorean island of Graciosa in 1946; son of Luzomira A. (Augusta) and Manuel J. Veiga; Mario F. Veiga was raised on the family’s farm and attended school until age eleven; he continued to work on the family’s farm until age twenty when he was drafted into the Portuguese Army; served two years in Angola, during the Angolan War of Independence; returned to Graciosa where he married Maria Natalia, whose father was born in U.S. and was therefore a U.S. citizen, but had returned to Graciosa (the home of his ancestors); in 1971 Mr. Veiga and his wife settled in Lowell, where she had lived, beginning around 1960, with her family; he immediately obtained a job in the Prince pasta factory in packing and as a machine operator; after nearly eight years at Prince, he opened a small grocery (Mario’s Variety Store) in the “Lower Belvidere” section of Lowell; about three years later he sold the business and opened a furniture store in the “Back Central” neighborhood; run by Mr. Veiga and his wife, “Mario’s Discount Furniture” proved financially successful and remains in business today (2018).

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali; focuses on Mr. Veigas’ family background, growing up on Graciosa in the 1950s and 1960s; his service in the Portuguese military in Angola in the late 1960s; his marriage and immigration to the U.S.; Lowell’s Portuguese community in the 1970s; working in Lowell’s Prince pasta factory in the 1970s; and owning and operating a family-run business in Lowell’s “Back Central” neighborhood.]]>
Ali, Mehmed]]> English]]> Graciosa (Azores)]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Children of immigrants]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Community organization]]> Civic leaders]]> Music]]> Music teachers]]> Oral History Interview with Joseph A. Camara, March 5, 2016

Biographical Note:

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1927; parents Jose and Maria A. (Francisco) Camara immigrated to the U.S. from Madeira Island, settling in Lowell ca. 1920; they worked in various textile mills in the city and the father worked, as well, in the city’s large tannery; they had two children, a son and daughter; the son, Joseph A. Camara, was educated in Lowell’s public schools and studied music, and graduated from Boston University; while a young adult pursuing his education, Mr. Camara worked in a number of Lowell factories, including the Educator Biscuit Company, American Hide and Leather, the Lowell Silk Mill, and a furniture (bridge table) manufacturer; he taught music in Lowell’s public schools at the junior high and high school levels; Mr. Camara also played soccer for local Portuguese teams and was a member and board director of the Portuguese-American Center.

Scope and Contents:

Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali; included is information on Lowell’s “Back Central” neighborhood, growing up there in the 1930s and 1940s, and working in a number of factory jobs in the 1940s; there is also information on the role of the Portuguese in local politics and the activities of the Portuguese Democratic Club, as well as the activities of various Portuguese social and fraternal clubs, and activities of the Holy Ghost Society, Saint Anthony Catholic Church and two of its prominent Portuguese priests (Father Grillo and Father Silva); the interview also includes information on Lowell’s Portuguese musical and marching bands.

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Ali, Mehmed]]> English]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]>
Azorean Americans]]> Children of immigrants]]> Mills and mill-work]]> Ethnic neighborhoods]]> Music]]> Fathers and sons]]> Civic leaders]]> Portuguese language]]> Cultural assimilation]]>
Biographical Note:
Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1933; parents from Graciosa, Azores, immigrated to the U.S. ca. 1926; both parents worked in textile mills in Manchester and Lowell; father a loom fixer, mother a spinner; they settled permanently in Lowell ca. 1936; members of St. Anthony Catholic Church, they had three daughters and one son, John J. who was educated in Lowell’s public schools; his father was a trombonist who played in and managed Lowell’s Portuguese Colonial Band; Mr. Leite joined the band as boy, playing the trumpet and later the trombone; after serving in the U.S. Army in post-war Europe, he returned home and matriculated at Lowell State Teachers’ College; after graduating from the college he taught in the area’s public schools, performed as a professional trombonist in well-known local bands, and formed his own band; beginning in the 1970s Mr. Leite became secretary/treasurer of the Lowell local of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), AFL-CIO, and after its merger with other locals in 1995, he was elected president of AFM Local 300.

Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali covers John Leite’s family background, growing up in Lowell’s Portuguese neighborhood “Back Central” in the 1930s and 1940s, activities at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Portuguese music and musicians in Lowell, and Lowell’s changing musical culture. There is a great deal of material on the personalities and musical playing styles of a number of prominent Portuguese musicians in Lowell from the 1950s into the 1990s. [For more on John J. Leite and his role in the American Federation of Musicians, Local 300, see “Oral History with John Leite, 1999,” interview by Gray Fitzsimons, Historian, Lowell National Historical Park]]]>
Ali, Mehmed]]> English]]> Graciosa (Azores)]]> Lowell (Mass.)]]> Manchester (N.H.)]]>