Large group of people on stage with Cambodian flags and American flag Image by Courtesy of Lowell National Historical Park

Throughout Lowell’s history, people have immigrated to the city from many different countries – from the Irish in the 1800s to the Greeks in the 1900s to the Congolese in the 2000s – making Lowell a vibrant and diverse community.

The Immigrant Experience - Oral History

Ever wonder what it was like for Portuguese immigrants in 20th-century Lowell? Maria Pombeiro was born in the Azores in 1940 and moved to the United States in 1958. In this oral history she discusses her experiences working in different mills in Lowell, as well as Lowell’s Portuguese community. [This link goes to the Center for Lowell History’s website.]

Additional oral histories from Lowellians can be found at:

Children’s Books on Immigration and Community

We have assembled a list of books that highlight stories from the different cultural groups who make their home in Massachusetts. Additionally, here’s a link to the Library of Congress’s YouTube page with author Jamie Lee Curtis reading her book This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Come From.

DIY: Oral History Instructions

Teachers, you can have your students complete an oral history project by interviewing a family member or friend. We’ve put together some guidelines to help you get started.

Lowell: The Continuing Revolution

Lowell National Historical Park tells the story of an industrial city that has typified the American experience – including immigration – over the last 200 years. Explore the history of Lowell through this short introductory film. [This link goes to Lowell National Historical Park’s website.]

We have created two activities for use with the film. 
Writing Prompt Activity: Newspaper Writing
Writing Prompt Activity: Immigration

Lowell’s Irish Community: “A School for Kids Like Me”

This 3-minute video introduces students to the controversial 1830's issue of whether or not public funds should support what was essentially a parochial school in Lowell’s Irish neighborhood. The film provides students with valuable insight into how early Irish immigrants lived and challenges they faced integrating into Lowell’s community. There are additional resources for using this video.

Exploring Similarities and Differences Through Cultural Objects

In this Exploring Similarities and Differences Through Cultural Objects activity, students explore similarities and differences between cultural groups, and themselves, as represented by objects.

Pushes and Pulls: Why People Immigrate

In this activity, Pushes and Pulls: Why People Immigrate, students explore the stories of people who have immigrated to Lowell using the role cards from our Yankees and Immigrants program.