The records of the Western Massachusetts locals and district councils of the UBCJA documents the rise of unionization among carpenters in the Connecticut River Valley since the 1880s. This collection represents a merger of separate accessions for the District Councils in Springfield (MS 110), the Pioneer Valley (MS 231), and Holyoke (MS 108), along with post-merger records for Local 108. In general, each has been maintained as a distinct series.
Oral history with the Gagnon family, part of the Franco-American community in Springfield since 1953. Topics include their participation in Franco-American activities at St. Joseph’s Church, their interest in Franco-American studies, and what nationality means to them, as people with roots in America, Canada, and France.
Collection includes statutes and by-laws, minutes, administrative records, correspondence, financial records and receipts, scholarship records, publications, records of programs and events, and artifacts and ephemera.
Marguerite Delavarre Dubois kept this diary from 1907-1908. Most entries were made in 1907 and describe her social life in New York City; study of French and German; painting; attendance at theaters; visits to Saratoga, Lake George, Plattsburgh, Montreal, Albany, and the Catskills.
This First Communion certificate was tucked behind a framed Baptismal record. Note that the language for the Baptismal record was French. Eight years later, at the same church, the First Communion record is in English. There was also another priest, albeit Franco-American as well, named Fr. Troie.
James' Franco-American mother made the frame for the baptismal record. Her family name was Houle, also spelled Rule. The baptism took place on July 10, 1928 at Assumption Church in Redford, NY. The priest was Fr. Laramee. Godfather (Parrain) was ? Lanctot. Godmother (Marraine) was Lina Fecteau.
Assumption Church was consecrated on August 15, 1855, the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary. Every year on August 15, a community picnic was held by the parish. It continues today on the 3rd Sunday in August. The masses were said in French until Irish parishioners complained. Then bilingual masses were held, followed later by separate masses. There was also a parish school whose teachers and administrators were nuns from the Order of the Holy Cross from St-Laurent, Quebec. The church was Sallaz Academy.
Letter found in the wall of the rectory of the Roman Catholic priest in Redford, NY. It is in French and written by a young woman who says that she is "compelled by law" to return to Montreal. It was found in the wall along with a linen with a cross on it.
