Lawrence History Center

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Lawrence History Center To collect, preserve, share, and animate the history and heritage of Lawrence, Massachusetts and its people.

Since 1978, the Lawrence History Center (LHC) has served as a dynamic living archive as an active and engaging community partner, contributing to the fabric of the contemporary community through extensive collections development, meaningful educational programming, research services, digitization efforts and research technology enhancements, and the continued growth of our reputation both locally, nationally, and globally. That success has meant an increase in research requests, school and community group programming, and more visitors through our doors. The initial archival collection was started at the YWCA with documents from women immigrants in Lawrence. More than forty years later, The LHC owns its home at 6 Essex Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts in the former Essex Company complex - a site on the National Register of Historic Places built in 1883 that includes a main office building, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, stable, and warehouse. The largest single collection is the Essex Company business and planning records that meticulously document the building of the city of Lawrence starting in 1845. Other collections include well over 40,000 photographs and glass plate negatives, 800 digitally mastered oral histories, mayoral papers, non-current municipal records, church records, organizational records from local businesses and agencies, and an array of family and individual records that document the ethnically diverse and intellectually challenging nature of Lawrence. The community is actively engaged with these unique materials through physical and online exhibits, symposia, educational programs, and research services to foster understanding of the interaction of the built community and the lives of those who live and work there.

See someone you know in the video? Tag them in the comments!Building on "From VHS to Digital—A Preview of Newly Digitize...
10/23/2026

See someone you know in the video? Tag them in the comments!

Building on "From VHS to Digital—A Preview of Newly Digitized Lawrence Memories" launched by the Lawrence History Center on September 26, 2026, here is another one of nearly 175 newly digitized pieces from our collections:

Reviviendo Gateway Initiative, Winter 2002 Focus Group
https://vimeo.com/1238807572?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Length:13:35

This video focuses on a new generation of Lawrencians, led by Lawrence CommunityWorks, striving to transform the city following the post-WWII years of de-industrialization, economic downturn, and population decline. The Reviviendo Gateway Initiative was a project of Reviviendo Planning Group, Lawrence CommunityWorks & Groundwork Lawrence.

At a neighborhood summit in May 2001, Lawrence CommunityWorks, along with their partner Groundwork Lawrence, brought together North Common neighborhood residents to talk about The Gateway Project, a public investment to rebuild roads and clean up contaminated industrial sites. They also spoke about other needs – affordable housing, parks, job training, and a vibrant downtown.

The Reviviendo Gateway Initiative began with a series of focus groups of more than 100 residents, business people, artists, politicians, and community leaders as they discussed the following topics: Defining the Gateway, Tackling the Issues, and Building the Vision.

This video documents the many voices that shaped the vision for The Lawrence Gateway.

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2026 Digitization Project funded, in part, by the Mass Cultural Council/Lawrence Cultural Council, the Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Fund, the Charles G. Pringle Foundation, and The White Fund of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Reviviendo Gateway Initiative, Winter 2002 Focus Group Length:13:35 This video focuses on a new generation of Lawrencians, led by Lawrence CommunityWorks, striving to transform the city following the post-WWII years of de-industrialization, economic downturn, and population decline. The Reviviendo G...

Early to mid 1970s looking east on Elm St. toward Jackson St. The abandoned Italian Colonial Band brick building is show...
10/22/2026

Early to mid 1970s looking east on Elm St. toward Jackson St. The abandoned Italian Colonial Band brick building is shown. The empty spaces in the foreground were once thriving tenement neighborhoods. In the far background is the Rollins School clock tower. Photograph by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.

Sharing for The White Fund of Lawrence, Massachusetts and Northern Essex Community College.Please register at necc.be/ba...
10/20/2026

Sharing for The White Fund of Lawrence, Massachusetts and Northern Essex Community College.

Please register at necc.be/barber to help them plan for refreshments.

Booklovers, local historians, and community members: join us on Tuesday 10/27 for a discussion with Professor Llana Barber, author of "Latino City" 💫

In this The White Fund of Lawrence, Massachusetts lecture, we will explore the history, resilience, and future of Lawrence’s Latino community. Drawing on her award-winning book Latino City: Immigration and Urban Crisis in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1945–2000, Professor Llana Barber traces how Latino immigrants, particularly from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, revitalized Lawrence amid deindustrialization, disinvestment, and suburban flight, transforming it into one of New England’s first Latino-majority cities.

Looking forward, she explores what this history teaches us about building an equitable future for Lawrence, one in which the community’s resilience, culture, and civic leadership drive economic opportunity and inclusive growth.

EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Lawrence Campus, 45 Franklin Street, Dimitry Atrium

UPDATED SCHEDULE & INFORMATIONThis terrific Civic Matters Series continues tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM -...
10/20/2026

UPDATED SCHEDULE & INFORMATION

This terrific Civic Matters Series continues tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, with speaker Modesto Maldonado talking about City Government Structure - Before & After 1986.

Please consider joining this free series!

For additional information, participation details, or press inquiries, contact Julia Silverio at [email protected] or (978) 390-3324.

Abandoned loading shed, George L. Gage Co., along the railroad tracks, before the wooden bridge on Lowell St, looking No...
10/19/2026

Abandoned loading shed, George L. Gage Co., along the railroad tracks, before the wooden bridge on Lowell St, looking North, 1980s. Photograph by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.

The original St. Anne’s Church, 369 Haverhill St., early 2000s. Now converted to apartments. Photo by Tom Delisle, Lawr...
10/18/2026

The original St. Anne’s Church, 369 Haverhill St., early 2000s. Now converted to apartments. Photo by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.

Ghost sign on the side of the building at 611 Common St., at the end of Common St., past Broadway, 1980s. Photo by Tom ...
10/18/2026

Ghost sign on the side of the building at 611 Common St., at the end of Common St., past Broadway, 1980s. Photo by Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center Collection.

Congratulations to the National Museum of the American Latino on finding its permanent home!
10/17/2026

Congratulations to the National Museum of the American Latino on finding its permanent home!

A new look for the permanent home of the National Museum of the American Latino.

New exterior banners and signage now identify the building as the museum’s permanent home. These changes are part of the building’s ongoing transition.

The building remains closed to regular public visitation as planning and transformation work continue, though it may be used periodically for select special events.

In the meantime, visit the museum’s exhibition at the Molina Family Latino Gallery in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, or explore the museum online at latino.si.edu.

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Una nueva imagen para la sede permanente del Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense.

Nuevos letreros y señalización exterior identifican ahora el edificio como la sede permanente del museo. Estos cambios forman parte de la transición continua del edificio.

El edificio permanece cerrado a las visitas regulares del público mientras continúan los trabajos de planificación y transformación, aunque puede utilizarse ocasionalmente para ciertos eventos especiales.

Mientras tanto, visita la exposición del museo en la Galería latina de la familia Molina, ubicada en el Museo Nacional de Historia Americana de la Smithsonian, o explora el museo en línea en latino.si.edu/es.

Railroad bridge across the Merrimack River from South Lawrence side, adjacent to the O’Leary Bridge (Falls Bridge), date...
10/17/2026

Railroad bridge across the Merrimack River from South Lawrence side, adjacent to the O’Leary Bridge (Falls Bridge), date unknown. Ruins of Merrimac Paper Co. in the foreground. Photographer Tom Delisle, Lawrence History Center collection.

Address

6 Essex Street (in The Essex Company Offices & Yard)
Lawrence, MA
01840

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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