April, 2008 Workshop - Lawrence Heritage State Park, Lawrence, Mass.

Documents for the "I Can Make Myself Contented Most Anywhere... Changes Caused by the Industrial Revolution" Lesson ...from the American Textile Museum, Lowell, MA

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• Transcript (pdf)
• Letter from "Ann" , Lawrence, 1854
• LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE; This letter from an unidentified mill worker describes early Lawrence (plank sidewalks, factory buildings, etc.), a typical mill girl's room (two beds per room, dresses hung up, six trunks, bandboxes & carpetbags, looking glasses and chairs), fashions of the time (with an allusion to "bloomers") and a bit about her friends and family. **Note: This is a low image resolution of only the 1st page, the original document can be found at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, however the complete transcription is included here.(see link above)

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• Transcript (pdf)
• Jarvis Miller letter, Amesbury, 1836
• LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE; In 1836 Jarvis Miller travelled to Amesbury via Lowell. He describes Lowell's factories briefly and then tells about how he learned to work in a local mill. Of note is the payment for mill work and his complaints about the standing and the noise. **Note: This is a low image resolution of only the 1st page, the original document can be found at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, however the complete transcription is included here.(see link above)

Documents ...from the Archives of the Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, MA

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• Mid 19thc Map from the Lawrence City Directory
• This map was included in a city directory of Lawrence. It can be used to show how Lawrence grew as a city centered around its mill industry. In comparison to a map of Andover (available for purchase from the Andover and North Andover Historical Societies), the orderly mill complexes and boardinghouses present a markedly "planned" layout.

Documents ...from the Lawrence History Center, Lawrence, MA

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• View from Prospect Hill- Lawrence, 1850s
• LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE; This engraving from the mid 19th century shows Lawrence in a state of change from an agricultural community to an industrial one. While the countryside is evident in the foreground of this scene, the mills fill most of the frame. Rows of boardinghouses and small buildings blend into the city as a whole on the right. **Note: This is a low resolution image, the original document can be found at the Lawrence History Center, Lawrence, Massachusetts.(see link above)

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• Canal Street Boardinghouses , Lawrence
• LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE; This image is from a steroptican card. It shows the type of boardinghouse described in the "Ann" letter from the American Textile History Museum. Boardinghouses were common in mill communities like Lawrence, because they were able to house large numbers of mill workers near their workplaces. **Note: This is a low resolution image, the original document can be found at the Lawrence History Center, Lawrence, Massachusetts.(see link above)

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• Advertisement for Lawrence businesses, Lawrence, 1860
• LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE; This image is from the 1860 City Directory for Lawrence. It shows the type of businesses which were common in Lawrence and were often frequented by mill workers. "Ann" may have bought her shawl here. **Note: This is a low resolution image, the original document can be found at the Lawrence History Center, Lawrence, Massachusetts.(see link above)

Documents ...from the North Andover Historical Society, North Andover MA

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• Photo of Fuller House, North Andover, MA
• This photograph shows the house that Fanny Farnum Fuller moved to while writing her diary . She married to Abijah Fuller in 1861.

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• Transcript (pdf)
• Diary of Fanny Farnum Fuller - North Andover, January, July and November 1859
• This diary was written by a young farm woman from North Andover, Massachusetts. She does various work including; washing, baking, ironing, sewing, quilting, making butter, cleaning, making sausage, and weeding. She also describes the work of other members of her family. She mentions many opportunities for visiing and travelling. More information about this original document can be found at the North Andover Historical Society, N Andover, on a webpage devoted to the diary.

Documents ...from the Gloucester Archives, Gloucester, MA

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• Transcript (pdf)
• Rogers Indenture, Gloucester, 1785
• In 1785 John Rogers was indentured out by the "Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor in Gloucester" to Francis Low to be taught the trade of a mariner. An orphaned boy of 14, he was to be taught to read, write and cipher, as well as being given room & board, clothing, and medical care until the age of 21. This process of apprenticing out orphans or children of the poor from a community ensured that they would be taken care of and not put out to work at the local poor house/farm. In fishing communities, where sailors' children could be left destitute when a father did not return from a voyage, this was a somewhat common circumstance.

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• Voice Indenture, Gloucester, 1818
• Lucy Voice was a young black girl, the daughter of Marney Voice, when she was put out by the Overseers of the Poor to Caleb Norwood and his wife Esther. She was to be taught the art of a "spinstress" and maintained by the Norwoods until 1827.

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• Nickerson Indenture, Gloucester, 1852
• This indenture is contemporary with the farm diary and "Ann" letter from above. Emma Nickerson was again put out as an apprentice by the Overseers of the Poor. Emma was only 2 years of age when this document was written and served as an apprentice seamstress until 1868. Of interest are the crossed out sections pertaining to male military service and the fact that unlike the above indentures, Emma was able to attend the local school to learn her reading and writing skills.

Documents ...from the Beverly Historical Society, Beverly, MA

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• Transcript (pdf)
• Farris Indenture, Beverly, 1808
• This document is another indenture of a child by the Overseers of the Poor in Beverly. It places Thomas Farris in the care of Ebenezer Smith, Junior to learn the art of cabinet making. Date 1808, Farris will remain an apprentice until 1821.