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Units of New Hampshire History
Unit 12: Immigration in the Industrial Age
Find It! Immigration in the Industrial Age

Find It! Immigration in the Industrial Age

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All the resources that appear in this unit are gathered here for you—the photographs, maps, objects, audiovisuals, documents, videos, biographies, and vocabulary words. Click on the image below to see a larger view of each resource with more information about each one. On some of the resources you can even zoom in and get a closer look. So go ahead, dive in, and explore. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking like a historian.

Find It! Scavenger Hunt

Can you help Mason find these items on the page and answer the questions?

Scavenger Hunt

Click On An Icon To Find A Resource!

Audiovisuals in this Unit:

Mason Presents: French Canadian Fiddle Music

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Audiovisual

Mason Presents: French Canadian Fiddle Music

2012

Les Bon Hommes Du Nord: French-Canadian Fiddle Music & Songs from New Hampshire

Caption:

French-Canadians were the largest immigrant group to come to New Hampshire during the Great Wave. Let's listen to some of the music they brought with them!

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center

Mason Presents: Jewish Immigration to Manchester

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Audiovisual

Mason Presents: Jewish Immigration to Manchester

Caption:

What was it like living in an immigrant neighborhood? David Stahl of Manchester describes what it was like to grow up in a Jewish neighborhood in Manchester’s largest city.

Image Credit: Courtesy Manchester (NH) Historic Association

Documents in this Unit:

A pale brown paper booklet written in a different language than English. The booklet is not very wide, but is long. There is a tear on the paper cover in the top right-hand corner.

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Document

Booklet of Practical Information

undated

Caption:

This book, written in Polish, was written for Polish immigrants to help them get used to life in the United States. It has first aid tips, recipes, information about staying healthy, information about passports and becoming a citizen, and information about learning English.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

An old newpaper with a large title placed in the center of the newspaper along the top border. Below this title is a smaller title, with very small words placed in columns below it. To the right of the text is a drawing of a tall man in a top hat, suit, and striped pants, pointing straight at the reader. All of the text is written in a different language than English.

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Document

Greek-Language Newspaper

1943

Caption:

This is the front page of the Acropolis newspaper from August 13, 1943. Acropolis was a newspaper written in Greek and printed in Manchester during the 1940s. Greek immigrants enjoyed having a newspaper they could read in their native language.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Document

Job Advertisement from L'Avenir

1895

Caption:

This is a French-language job advertisement for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester. Amoskeag was a huge textile company along the Merrimack River. The company needed a lot of employees and liked to hire French-Canadian workers. This ad was printed in L’Avenir, a newspaper written in French and printed in Manchester for the French-Canadian community.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Letter from E. E. Sturtevant to George W. Sturtevant (1 of 2)

A sheet of paper covered in cursive writing. The writing is in black ink on white paper.

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Document

Letter from E. E. Sturtevant to George W. Sturtevant (1 of 2)

1854

Edward E. Sturtevant

Caption:

In this letter, dated July 9, 1854, Edward E. Sturtevant describes the July 1854 riot against immigrants in Manchester, including the attack on an Irish Catholic church. This is the second page of a three-page letter.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Letter from E. E. Sturtevant to George W. Sturtevant (2 of 2)

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Document

Letter from E. E. Sturtevant to George W. Sturtevant (2 of 2)

1854

Edward E. Sturtevant

Caption:

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A flier with black ink printed on aged, wrinkled paper. The flier reads in dark bold letters "No Democrat or Irish NEED APPLY."

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Document

No Democrat or Irish Need Apply

circa 1890

Caption:

Irish-Catholic immigrants faced discrimination when they arrived in the United States, and as a result sometimes had a hard time finding jobs or housing. This is the headline from a poster that criticized both the Irish and members of the Democratic party. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Democratic party reached out to the Irish and Irish-American communities, especially in large cities. In return, Irish-Catholics often voted in favor of the Democrats.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A cutting from a newspaper has one column of information, divided into many fonts and sizes of text. One image of a circus is in the middle, showing horses, a tent, and various other scenes of the circus. The text is in French, and reads in part "MANCHESTER, LUNDI, 17 JUIN, 1895 ... RINGLING Brothers."

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Document

Ringling Brothers Circus Advertisement

1895

L'Avenir National

Caption:

This is an advertisement for the Ringling Brothers Circus show on June 17, 1895 in Manchester. The advertisement is in French and ran in the Franco-American newspaper L'Avenir National.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A horizontal postcard with a colored photograph on the left and black text on a white background on the right. All of the text is written in a different language than English. The photograph has different foods placed on plates of varying sizes. All of the plates sit on a wooden table.

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Document

Russian Recipe Card

undated

Caption:

This is a recipe card for blini, a traditional food in Russia and the Ukraine. They are small pancakes served with sour cream, butter, caviar (small, salty fish eggs, a traditional food in Russia), or jam. The recipe is in Russian on one side, with the English translation on the back.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored photograph is of a baptism certificate. The baptism certificate is framed by spiral designs and colorful lines in brown, blue and green. There is an oval in the center of the page, surrounded by pink and yellow roses to its left. At the top of the oval are two green leaves with ribbons and small flowers in an oval-shape surround words from the Bible in Swedish. Underneath this are the details of the baptism, which are both hand-written and typed in Swedish in a cursive font.

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Document

Swedish Baptismal Certificate

1907

Swedish Evangelical Mission Church, Meyer & Brother

Caption:

This is a baptism certificate for Ester Augusta who was born April 3, 1905 and baptized March 31, 1907 at the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church in Manchester. The certificate is in Swedish.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Explainer Videos and Virtual Field Trips in this Unit:

Mason Asks: What Were the Amoskeag Mills?

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Video

Mason Asks: What Were the Amoskeag Mills?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Video

Mason Explains: How Immigrants Traveled

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Mason Explains: Melting Pot Versus Salad Bowl

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Video

Mason Explains: Melting Pot Versus Salad Bowl

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Video

Mason Explains: Push-Pull Factors

2019

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Maps & Charts in this Unit:

A map of eastern Canada and the northeast the United States. The states in the United States are all gray, except for New Hampshire, which is colored in black, while the Canadian province of Quebec is colored in red. On top of the map of Canada is a white text box outlined in black, with black text, which reads "French Canada/38,277."

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Maps & Charts

French Canada and the Great Wave

1840–1920

Caption:

This map of French Canada, also known as the province of Quebec, shows how many people living in New Hampshire in 1920 were born in French Canada. Many French Canadians immigrated to New Hampshire during the Great Wave.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A map of New Hampshire labeled “New Hampshire Statewide Map Atlas TOWN BOUNDARIES” in the top left corner. The state is outlined in a thick black line. All ten counties are outlined. All New Hampshire towns are labeled and their boundaries are marked with dashed lines. The towns of Berlin, Gorham, Lebanon, Laconia, Franklin, Franklin, Newport, Keene, Jaffrey, Pembroke, Allenstown, Hooksett, Goffstown, Manchester, Rochester, Somersworth, Rollinsford, Dover, Epping, Exeter, Portsmouth, Greenville, Nashua, and Plaistow are colored in purple.

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave French-Canadian Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where French-Canadian immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840–1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Greek Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Greek immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840—1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored map of the United States and Europe. Many of the countries are in gray, while 10 countries are in different colors. Next to each colored country is a white text box outlined in black, with black text.

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Immigrants to New Hampshire

1840–1920

Caption:

People from all over the world immigrated to New Hampshire during the Great Wave, but especially from the countries highlighted on this map. The map shows how many people living in New Hampshire in 1920 were born in each of the countries. For example, over 50,000 people living in New Hampshire in 1920 were born in Canada, especially French Canada (Quebec).

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Irish Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Irish immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840—1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Jewish Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe and Russia settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840—1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Polish Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Polish immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840–1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Russian Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Russian immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840–1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

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Maps & Charts

Great Wave Scandinavian Communities

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing some of the areas of New Hampshire where Scandinavian immigrants settled during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840–1924.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

Immigrant Communities in the United States

A colored map of the United States. The states in the top horizontal half of the map, from the right edge until the vertical fold at the center of the map, is colored in groupings of dark red and tan. The lower half of that side of the map is colored in light tan. The states to the left of the vertical fold are colored in white with scattered sections of light tan. The title of the map, centered along the upper border, reads "32. DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOREIGN BORN POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES: 1890" in black text.

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Maps & Charts

Immigrant Communities in the United States

1890

United States Census Office. 11th Census, 1890, and Henry Gannett. Statistical atlas of the United States, based upon the results of the eleventh census.

Caption:

This map shows where immigrants lived in the United States in 1890. The darker red an area is, the more people lived there who were born outside of the United States. Look at the map key in the lower left corner for more information.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A colored horizontal map of the world. Most of Europe, Asia, South America, some of Africa, and all of Canada are colored in red. The United States is colored in blue, while the remaining countries are colored in gray.

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Maps & Charts

Immigration to New Hampshire Today

2019

Caption:

This map of the world shows where immigrants to New Hampshire come from today. In 2010, there were people living in New Hampshire from all of the countries colored in red. What changes do you notice from the Great Wave to 2010?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A map of Ireland, colored in green. Next to the map is a white text box outlined in black, with black text, which reads "Ireland/7,908."

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Maps & Charts

Ireland and the Great Wave

1840–1920

Caption:

This map of Ireland shows how many people living in New Hampshire in 1920 were born in Ireland. Many people immigrated from Ireland to New Hampshire during the Great Wave.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Major 19th-Century Industries of New Hampshire

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Maps & Charts

Major 19th-Century Industries of New Hampshire

2019

Base map by NH GRANIT, University of New Hampshire; demographic data added by New Hampshire Historical Society

Caption:

Map showing four important industries in New Hampshire during the Industrial Revolution. Those industries are logging (green), granite quarrying (blue), textile manufacturing (purple), and shoe making (dark pink). Many immigrants to New Hampshire during the Great Wave of immigration, 1840–1924, found jobs in these industries.

Image Credit: NH GRANIT database, Complex Systems Research Center, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Historical Society

$A bar graph is titled "Population of New Hampshire, 1850--1930". The Y-axis shows numbers from 50,000--400,000, increments of 50,000. The X-axis is labeled by years in decade increments from 1850--1920. There are two pieces of data for each year: blue shows "Born in the U.S." and orange shows "Born in another country." The blue bars hover around 300,000 and rise to 350,000 by 1920. The orange bars start at a fraction of 50,000 and rise to 100,000 by 1920.$

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Maps & Charts

Population of New Hampshire, 1850—1930

Data from U.S. census records

Caption:

This bar graph uses census data to show the population of New Hampshire during the Great Wave of immigration. It compares the number of people living in New Hampshire who were born in the United States with the number of people living in New Hampshire who were born outside of the United States.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Objects in this Unit:

A colored image of a black hat. The hat has a green ribbon around the circumference and a black visor. The green ribbon is framed by two pieces of golden rope. There are two pieces of this gold rope above the visor, with knots placed on each end, and held in place by a small gold button. Above the green ribbon, on the blue felt of the hat rests a golden wreath. In the middle of the wreath is the number “1” and the letters “AOH”.

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Objects

Ancient Order of Hibernians Hat

circa 1900

Oak Hall Clothing Company

Caption:

This hat was worn by John J. Maloney (1874–1936), who was a member of the Concord chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The AOH is the oldest organization for Irish Catholics. It was founded in 1836 and is still in existence today. Only men can join. There is a separate organization, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, for Irish-Catholic women. These groups help immigrants and their descendants stay connected to their native culture and traditions.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A wooden box with a drawer on the lower half is topped by a metal crank with a wooden knob at the top of the handle. The metal is decorated with curved vines.

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Objects

Coffee Mill

undated

Caption:

A wooden and metal hand-cranked coffee mill for grinding whole coffee beans, typically used by Greek-Americans. Coffee and coffeehouses are an important part of Greek culture. Many Greek immigrants brought coffee mills like this with them to America.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photograph of a close up of a brown potato cut in half. Rot and dark brown lines extend throughout the potato.

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Objects

Effects of Potato Blight

2005

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Caption:

This potato shows the effect of potato blight, an infection which caused the Irish Potato Famine, and continues today.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

A violin is shown, with spruce belly; maple ribs, back, and neck; and ebony fingerboard and pegs.

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Objects

Ferdinand Picard's Violin

1919

Ferdinand Picard

Caption:

This violin was made by Ferdinand Picard for his daughter in 1919. Picard was born in Canada in 1873. After immigrating to New Hampshire, he settled in Rochester around 1900 where he worked in the Wyandotte Woolen Mill.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Union St-Jean Baptiste d'Amerique Ribbon

A ribbon badge hangs from a metal pin that reads "MEMBRE." Hanging from the pin, on a red, white, and blue ribbon, is a colored metal disk with white lettering on a blue border that reads "L'UNION ST-JEAN-BAPTISTE D'AMERIQUE / FONDEE LE 7 MAI 1900", with a cross and American flag in center. An ornamental brass border is clipped to the button. Also attached to the top pin are two reversible silk ribbons sewn together at top and bottom, with gold metallic fringe at bottom. One ribbon is black with silver lettering and says "IN MEMORIAM / CONSEIL / STE. IRENE / NO. 285 / U.S.J.B.A. / SOMERSWORTH / N.H."

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Objects

Union St-Jean Baptiste d'Amerique Ribbon

circa 1900

Caption:

This badge is for the Union St-Jean-Baptiste d'Amerique in Somersworth. This was a mutual aid society for French-Canadian immigrants and their descendants. Members helped each other out when someone was sick, died, or lost their job. It also hosted events like parties, parades, and concerts to help immigrants feel connected to their native language and culture and pass their traditions down to their children and grandchildren.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Photographs & Prints in this Unit:

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing among piles of wood in front of a large house. Some of the men stand on top of a wagon pulled by two horses. The wagon is filled with cut logs.

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Photograph/Print

Beauregard Lumber

late 1800s

Caption:

French-Canadian immigrants worked in many of New Hampshire's important industries. The men in this photo worked in a lumberyard in Marlborough, NH. Many French-Canadian immigrants worked together in Marlborough's logging and textile industries and lived in a neighborhood called "Little Canada."

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Historical Society of Cheshire County

A black and white photograph shows a small boy in overalls and a button-down shirt standing at the opening of a big wooden doorway. He is grinning at the camera.

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Photograph/Print

Boy in Doorway

circa 1893–1904

Caption:

A picture of a possible immigrant child from Quebec, Canada. From a group of photographs taken in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Quebec.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Breakfast Bell on Board an Emigrant Ship

A black and white drawing shows the crowded deck of a steamer ship. It is in the water with mountains and clouds in the background. The people are dressed in traveling clothes, with wrappings, coats, hats, and shawls. They crowd towards the left side of the painting to go belowdecks, although a few people stand by the railing and look out at the water. The drawing is titled "ON BOARD AN EMIGRANT SHIP--THE BREAKFAST BELL."

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Photograph/Print

Breakfast Bell on Board an Emigrant Ship

1884

Caption:

The journey for immigrants traveling from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States took one to two weeks. Most people were third-class passengers who stayed in "steerage." Steerage is the big open space at the bottom of the ship. It was hot, crowded, and dirty. Passengers got three meals a day, but the food was not very good and sometimes even rotten. The immigrants on board this ship are lining up for breakfast.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of a landscape with a hill in the distance and a white, small cottage in the foreground. Smoke comes out of the chimney, and there are people and livestock clustered at the front of the house. There are several smaller outbuildings scattered nearby.

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Photograph/Print

Cottage in Quebec

circa 1890–1906

Detroit Publishing Company

Caption:

A cottage in Quebec, Canada. Many French Canadian emigrants to the United States during the Great Wave of immigration would have lived in similar cottages.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of three smiling women in knee-length dresses sitting in front of an old-fashioned car. The back window on the car has words painted on it, which read "DESCHENES MARKET/ E. JAFFREY, N.H."

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Photograph/Print

Deschenes Delivery Truck

circa 1920s–1930s

Caption:

The Deschenes family immigrated from Quebec to New Hampshire in 1897. The family had nine children and settled in Jaffrey. Five of the sons became merchants, or shop owners, and the sixth son ran a dairy farm. They were very active in the French-Canadian community.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Historical Society of Cheshire County

A black and white photograph of a large building with four domed towers. The building is placed along a body of water. There are several small ships placed in front of the building.

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Photograph/Print

Ellis Island Immigrant Station

1905

A. Loeffler

Caption:

Between 1892 and 1954 more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States at Ellis Island in New York City. This building, which opened in 1900, is where immigrants had their medical exams and answered questions from the immigration inspectors.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of a large room overcrowded with people sitting on benches in sectioned off rows. There is a balcony that spans the upper floor of the room, with two people looking down from it in the upper right-hand corner. A large American flag hangs from the section of the balcony that spans the back of the room.

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Photograph/Print

Ellis Island Registry Room

circa 1902–1913

Edwin Levick

Caption:

During the Great Wave, in order to enter the United States, immigrants had to pass an inspection process. These immigrants are waiting in the great hall at Ellis Island in New York for their inspection. The process could take from three to five hours and included a medical exam and an interview.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collections

A black and white drawing of a group of men, women, and children waving from a shore to a departing ship with tall masts.

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Photograph/Print

Emigrants Leave Ireland

1868

An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800, by Mary Frances Cusack, Illustrated by Henry Doyle

Caption:

During the 1840s there was a terrible famine in Ireland, known as the "Great Famine" or the "Great Hunger." One million Irish people emigrated to escape hunger and disease, mostly to the United States and Canada. The emigrants had to leave their family and friends behind and probably never saw them again.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A black and white photograph shows a bird’s eye view of a plot of farmland. The foreground shows a small fenced-in yard with metal fencing dividing it at a diagonal. Inside the yard are small shrubs and a small wooden shack. Beyond the fencing, in the background, are several vertical rows of crops. To the left of the fenced-in yard and the rows of crops is a dirt road, lined by rock walls and small trees. The plot of farmland is surrounded by large trees.

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Photograph/Print

Farmland in New Hampshire

1902

Caption:

New Hampshire is known for its beautiful farmland, and people have come here to farm from prehistoric days all the way through to the modern day. During the "Great Wave" of immigration, many immigrants moved to New Hampshire to farm.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a building in a rural area shows many people gathered in the front of the building. They are standing on the porch, stairs, and in front of the building, and are dressed in long skirts and suits. The building is made of brick, has power lines running to it, and has a boxy appearance. At the top of it in large letters reads "F.S. HALL."

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Photograph/Print

Finnish Society Hall

circa 1914

Caption:

The Finnish Society Hall in Newport was built in 1911 with money and labor donated by the Finnish-American community. It was a place for them to gather for social or educational events.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Grace Episcopal Church and St. Joseph's Cathedral

A black and white photograph of two churches with tall steeples. The churches are separated by a dirt road that is lined with trees and bordered by sidewalks.

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Photograph/Print

Grace Episcopal Church and St. Joseph's Cathedral

undated

Caption:

This photo shows two churches across the street from each other in Manchester, NH. Grace Episcopal Church is a Protestant Christian church, while St. Joseph's Cathedral is a Catholic Christian church. Great Wave immigrants from Ireland, French Canada, and Italy were generally Catholic, while the people already living in New Hampshire were mostly Protestant Christians. Both churches are still standing today.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Manchester (NH) Historic Association

A black and white photograph shows an image of workers in a granite quarry. The ground in the photograph is littered with white stones, large and small and generally angular. The rocky and chiseled sides of the quarry act as the backdrop. Two men are seated in the foreground on large white blocks of stone, with mallets and pegs. The seated men are hitting the pegs with mallets. One man stands behind them, and all three men are looking at the camera. A group of four men talk around a white block of stone in the background at the photograph’s center.

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Photograph/Print

Granite Quarry Workers

circa 1845-1930

Keystone View Company

Caption:

Quarrying for granite was hard physical work. Many immigrant men held this job, which involved digging deep into the ground to remove the granite. Quarry workers, like those at the Concord Granite Company in Concord, used hand tools to split the granite into smaller pieces. Then they hammered the pieces into different shapes and sizes so they could be used for building. Granite from New Hampshire was used as a building material in many cities across the United States, as well as for the New Hampshire State House and the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a large group of children. There are some adults standing on either side of the children, as well as on the two-sided staircase in the background of the picture. Behind the children are three buildings, one of which is a church. On the left side of the group of children, there is the American flag, and on the right, the Greek flag. On the right bottom corner of the photograph, there is handwriting in cursive, citing the group’s name, their location, and date of the photograph.

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Photograph/Print

Greek School Class Photo

1927

Caption:

This group of children is celebrating the anniversary of Greek independence, March 25. They attend classes in Greek language and culture at a Greek Orthodox church in Manchester, which is shown in the background of the photograph.

Image Credit: Courtesy Manchester (NH) Historic Association

A green field on a hill is seen in a photograph. Sheep are grazing and there are trees in the distance.

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Photograph/Print

Green Fields with Sheep

2005

Brookie at English Wikipedia

Caption:

This is an English landscape, similar to what Irish immigrants were leaving in the 1840s.

Image Credit: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

A black and white drawing shows people crowded under an overhang. They sit on the ground, huddle together, or stand in groups. They are wearing traveling clothes, like long coats, shawls, head coverings, and they carry bundles. In the background is a steamer ship with a gangway being set up.

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Photograph/Print

Group of Emigrants Waiting to Leave

Engraving by Derbier after painting by Dawant in Capitals of the World, by N D'Anvers and H D Traill (London, Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.)

Caption:

A crowd of emigrants at a shipping dock waiting to board their ship.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Group of Immigrants to the United States

A drawing shows the heads and shoulders of seven people, all facing right. They are wearing coats and cloaks; some have bonnets, head wrappings, or hats. They are clumped together, staring into the distance, although one woman in the middle looks at the viewer. The drawing is black and white except three accents of blue: a woman's neck scarf, a man's hat, and a person's cloak.

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Photograph/Print

Group of Immigrants to the United States

circa 1890–1934

Wladyslaw T. Benda

Caption:

This drawing, by a Polish immigrant to the United States who was a graphic artist, shows a group of immigrants to the United States.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Color poster with the Statue of Liberty in the background of the image. Behind her are tall buildings. There is a rainbow above her. In the foreground, on the left side, is a ship’s prow. On the right side, a man wearing early 20th century clothing faces the viewer with his heard turned to his left and his arm outstretched toward the ship’s prow. He is looking at an older woman, whose head faces the viewer. She is dressed in early 20th century clothing and her head is covered with a scarf. She carries a basket with food in it. Behind these two four people face away from the viewer, toward the Statue of Liberty. One man has removed his hat and is holding it in his hand, his arm outstretched. Another person, behind the older woman, is facing away from the Statue of Liberty. Her head is covered with a blue scarf.

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Photograph/Print

Immigrants Arriving at New York

1917

Original painting by Charles Edward Chambers, published by the United States Food Administration, printed by Rusling Wood, Lithographer.

Caption:

This poster shows a group of immigrants on board a ship arriving at the harbor in New York City. They are greeted by the Statue of Liberty, and probably entered the United States at Ellis Island.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing at the edge of a dock. They all look away from the camera, and out into the distance. One man is pointing with his right arm outstretched. Behind the group are large bundles and suitcases.

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Photograph/Print

Immigrants on a Dock

1912

Underwood & Underwood

Caption:

Immigrants from Europe during the Great Wave had to make a long journey to the United States. Unless they lived near the ocean, they first had to travel over land to a port. Then they had to wait until a ship was ready to cross the Atlantic Ocean. This group of immigrants is waiting on a dock.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of many people standing very close to each other on a ship. The ship is in the middle of a body of water.

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Photograph/Print

Immigrants on an Atlantic Liner

1906

Edwin Levick

Caption:

Immigrants arriving in New York from Europe stand on the deck of a ship to get their first view of the United States. They probably landed at Ellis Island, after a journey of 10 to 12 days across the Atlantic Ocean. Conditions on the ship were crowded, uncomfortable, and dirty, and sometimes passengers did not have enough food or got sick on the trip.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Black and white scene of a crowded city street. Two women stand next to a fruit vendor cart. Behind them, a shop has awning with Italian words on it. The next shop is Café Turco.

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Photograph/Print

Italian Market

circa 1900–1910

Detroit Publishing Company

Caption:

When immigrants arrived in the United States during the "Great Wave," they often settled in neighborhoods with other immigrants from the same country or even town. These ethnic communities provided immigrants with familiar food and cultural traditions, and everyone spoke their native language. For example, what do you notice about the store sign in this photo? This photo is of a neighborhood called "Little Italy" in New York City, but there were similar neighborhoods in New Hampshire towns. For example, Berlin had areas called "Little Canada," "Norwegian Village," and "Russian Hill."

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white etching of an older man’s portrait. He is partially bald and has side-burns. He wears a collared shirt, a neck tie, and a jacket.

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Photograph/Print

John Hapgood Maynard

undated

Caption:

John Maynard lived in Manchester in the 1800s. He was a building contractor and built many of the mills and business blocks in Manchester. He was an important person in the city and also worked as the city engineer and a banker. In 1854, he helped protect the Irish community in Manchester from an anti-immigrant riot.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Manchester (NH) Historic Association

Four men in suits stand looking at the camera. The two men in the middle are younger, and stand together. The men generally have their hands behind them, and they are looking at the camera. The backdrop has gravel, granite slabs, and a building.

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Photograph/Print

John Swenson and Sons

circa 1905

Caption:

Photo of, left to right, John Swenson, his sons Omar Swenson and Guy Swenson, and Origin Downing, a former business partner of John Swenson. An immigrant from Sweden, John Swenson founded the Swenson Granite Company in Concord in 1883. Swenson Granite Company (later Swenson Granite Works) provided granite for building projects in New Hampshire and across the country, including the New Hampshire Historical Society building in Concord, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. Swenson was a family-owned and operated company for four generations. It is still in operation today as part of Polycor Inc.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

La Caisse Populaire Ste-Marie (St. Mary’s Bank)

A black and white photograph of a large stone building. There are three large arched windows on the right side of the building and one on the left side. The door of the building is in the center, framed by two ionic Greek columns and a smaller arched window above it. The door has six star-burst designs carved into it. On the front of the building, there are carved letters, stating: “LA CAISSE POPULAIRE STE-MARIE”.

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Photograph/Print

La Caisse Populaire Ste-Marie (St. Mary’s Bank)

circa 1935

Caption:

This building at the corner of Main and Amory Streets in Manchester is La Caisse Populaire Ste-Marie, which means "the people's bank" in French. It was the third home of the nation's oldest credit union, which was created in 1908 to serve Manchester's French-Canadian community. It still exists today and is known as St. Mary's Bank.

Image Credit: Courtesy Manchester (NH) Historic Association

A black and white drawing of a tall man in a top hat and long-tailed coat standing in front of a large funnel. The funnel is placed over a body of water, between a piece of land marked "EUROPE" and the piece of land that the man is standing on, marked "U.S.A." The funnel has a large opening at one end and a very small opening on the other. The tall man is sliding in a card marked "GATE/3%" through a small slot towards the smaller end of the funnel. The large end of the funnel is filled to overflowing with minature people. A small group of minature people emerge from the smaller end of the funnel. The drawing's title, place along its bottom border, reads: "THE ONLY WAY TO HANDLE IT."

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Photograph/Print

Limiting Immigration

1921

The Literary Digest, May 7, 1921, reprinting a cartoon by Hallahan for Providence Evening Bulletin

Caption:

As more and more immigrants came to the United States, many of the people who already lived in the U.S. felt that their way of life was threatened and were suspicious of immigrants. This newspaper cartoon supports limiting the number of immigrants who could enter the United States. It shows a large group of immigrants at the wide end of the funnel, and then "Uncle Sam"—a symbol of the United States—letting only a small number of those immigrants into the country.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The black and white photograph shows two teams of horses pulling logs in make-shift sleighs. In the foreground, two horses pull a man standing on top of a pile of logs, and in the background to the right, another man squats on a pile of logs as he drives his two horses. The horses pull their sleighs through an open area of forest. The downhill path is on uneven, snow-covered ground and moves around the remaining forested sections to provide a clear road. The ground and surrounding forest is covered in a layer of snow.

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Photograph/Print

Logging Workmen and Horse Team

undated

Caption:

Logging was one of the most dangerous jobs taken on by immigrant men. It was very specialized work. Loggers had to go deep into the woods to cut down the trees. Then they used horses to help them bring the cut trees to the nearest train station. This logging team in Lincoln is on their way to the East Branch and Lincoln Railroad Company. Logging mainly took place in northern New Hampshire towns.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored photograph of a group of men and women walking in a parade. The man and the woman at the front of the line carry flags, the man carrying the Irish flag - which is three rectangles of green, white, and orange - and the woman carries the American flag. Behind them are three columns of people playing bagpipes. They are all dressed in green black sweaters, plaid skirts, tall black socks, black shoes, and green flat hats.

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Photograph/Print

Manchester Saint Patrick's Day Parade

2017

Gail Durant

Caption:

Twenty percent of New Hampshire residents today claim to have Irish ancestry. You don't have to be Irish, though, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Since 1995, Manchester has had the largest St. Patrick's Day parade north of Boston.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Gail Durant

A black and white photograph shows a group of people, posed in five rows. They wear dark suits, or light shirts and pants. They are standing in a yard with buildings behind them. Two flags frame the group. At the bottom of the picture reads "TURN VERIN MANCHESTER / MANCHESTER NH SEPTEMBER 1888."

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Photograph/Print

Manchester Turn Verein Club

1888

Stephen Piper

Caption:

Group portrait of the Turn Verein club in Manchester. Turn Verein was a social and athletic club, focused especially on gymnastics, for German Americans. The photo shows the American and German flags standing next to each other.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing in front of a store. The men wear dark colored jackets and pants, and the women wear long dresses of various designs. Above the store is a sign that reads "MIVILLE & DESCHENES." A large maple leaf sign hangs out from the awning of the store into the street.

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Photograph/Print

Miville and Deschenes Store

circa 1885

Caption:

The Miville and Deschenes Store in Manchester, named after its owners, was a dry goods store. That means it sold items like textiles, clothing, and toiletries. Notice the maple leaf hanging in front of the store. This Canadian symbol encouraged French-Canadian immigrants to shop there.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Manchester (NH) Historic Association

A black and white image of a skiing competition is shown. The photograph was taken above the spectators and skiers, on top of a hill. The crowds of people are gathered around the ski slope, and a single skier is seen in the middle of the photograph. The ski slope is sectioned off by wooden fencing and several American flags are posted along the fencing. In the background, there are some farm buildings and forest in the distance. Beneath the photograph is the caption: “EASTERN SKI CHAMPIONSHIP, BERLIN, FEB. 19 AND 20”.

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Photograph/Print

Nansen Ski Club Jump

1926

Brown Bulletin Publishing Association

Caption:

A skier sails off the jump at the Nansen Ski Club in Berlin, NH, during a competition. The Nansen Ski Club was founded by Norwegian immigrants in 1872 and is the oldest ski club in the country. This image is from the cover of The Brown Bulletin, which was published monthly by the Brown Company, a paper manufacturing company in Berlin.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored photograph of a group of children of multiple races, wearing soccer gear. They stand and sit on a green field with white lines drawn on it. In the background are rows of seats placed in an upward angle.

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Photograph/Print

New American Soccer Club

2013

Caption:

Today immigrants come from all over the world to live in New Hampshire. Sports like soccer can bring people together, even if they don't speak the same language or share the same customs. These kids are part of a soccer club with the Inti Academy in Manchester. Inti Academy was a nonprofit organization that provided soccer clubs, after-school activities, art classes, and other programs for new American kids.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Inti Academy

A colored photograph of a large white, green, and blue sign in front of a forested area. The sign reads: "Welcome Bienvenue/nh/New Hampshire/LIVE FREE OR DIE."

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Photograph/Print

New Hampshire Welcome Sign

2017

Jimmy Emerson, DVM

Caption:

This sign greets drivers as they enter New Hampshire from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Canada. "Bienvenue" means "welcome" in French.

Image Credit: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A colored drawing of a tall man in a top hat, a red and white striped shirt and pants, and a long-tailed blue coat with white stars on it. In his right hand, he holds up a large American flag to reveal the Statue of Liberty on a body of water. The Statue of Liberty faces away from the viewer, overlooking a rising sun. In the upper right corner of the drawing are the words: "Picturesque/America" typed in cursive red text.

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Photograph/Print

Patriotic Postcard

circa 1910–1915

Caption:

This postcard from the early 1900s shows Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty, two important American symbols.

A black and white photograph shows five women, dressed in long skirts and head coverings, working on a farm. Two women are winnowing grain to separate the chaff from the grain. A flat pan is suspended under three poles tied together, and there is a large pile of grain under the pan.

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Photograph/Print

Peasants at Work in Russia

circa 1918

Caption:

This photo shows poor farmers in Russia separating grain from the hay. This hard, physical labor takes a long time. Many poor farmers from Russia and other places immigrated to the United States in search of a better life.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

There are five panels in a black and white drawing with a background of a town and pasture land. In the middle of the rectangular panels is written "Scythestone Works of The Pike Manufacturing Company, Pike Station, N.H." The detailed panels show the different stages of production: natural resources, a factory, a house on the bank of a river gathering power, the interior of a different factory, and a town in which people are walking through and working. It is overall a positive and attractive vision of the Pike Manufacturing Company.

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Photograph/Print

Pike Manufacturing Company

1892

Caption:

This image of the Pike Manufacturing Company in Haverhill, NH, was taken from a state atlas. The Pike Company quarried, produced, and sold scythestones from natural deposits of stone in the White Mountains. Scythestones are stones used for sharpening metal, especially metal farming tools.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Polish Men after Naturalization Ceremony (detail)

A black and white photograph of a large group of men standing on a set of stairs in front of a large building. They all look directly at the camera and hold small American flags. There is a sign on the building, which reads "MAYNARD SCHOOL."

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Photograph/Print

Polish Men after Naturalization Ceremony (detail)

1929

Caption:

This group of Polish immigrants have just been sworn in as citizens of the United States. They are standing in front of the Maynard School in Manchester. Notice what they are holding in their hands.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Manchester (NH) Historic Association

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing in front of some trees and a large building. They all face the camera. The man in the center and the last man on the right wear dark colored suits. The other three men wear jackets and pants with animal designs on them.

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Photograph/Print

President Coolidge and Native Americans

1925

Caption:

Although Native Americans were in North America long before there was a United States, not all Native Americans could become U.S. citizens until 1924. That year, a law was passed to grant citizenship to all Native Americans who were born in the United States. This photo shows President Calvin Coolidge and a group of Native Americans outside the White House.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of a group of men posed seated in front of the camera, though nonelook directly at the camera. They all wear dark colored suit jackets and pants, and wear long ribbons on the left side of their chests.

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Photograph/Print

Saint Jean Baptiste Society Meeting

1910

Caption:

The Saint Jean Baptiste (John the Baptist) Society was started in Canada. French-Canadian immigrants started new chapters of the society throughout New England. The society preserved French language, culture, and Catholic religious traditions. It also provided financial help to French-Canadian immigrants in need. This photo is from a meeting of the Saint Jean Baptiste Society in Jaffrey, NH.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Historical Society of Cheshire County

A black and white photograph shows two slides of the same image of a school house. Immediately outside the school house is a large group of boys and girls in 18th century clothing. The ages and height of the children vary. The school house is a single room, and behind the school house are some white houses.

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Photograph/Print

Schoolhouse and Students in Manchester

undated

Caption:

This one-room schoolhouse included students of many ages, from small kindergarteners to high-schoolers. In the 1800s, some students only went to school when they weren't needed at home to help with farm chores or the family business.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph features seven women in a shoe-makers workroom. They wear dark late-1880s clothing, with aprons of differing patterns. Their hair is tied up and they stand in a line, at an angle to the camera, with one seated woman. A long, shoulder-high work bench runs along the right edge of the photograph with random scraps of garments and small boxes on it. There are various small items under the bench and hanging on the wall. The left side of the photograph has tall racks of ankle-high boots.

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Photograph/Print

Shoe Factory Workers

circa 1897–1929

Caption:

Many immigrant women worked in factories all over New Hampshire, like at this shoe factory in Derry.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Soldiers Prevent Russian Peasants from Leaving a Village

An etching shows a soldier on a horse with weapons and his back to the viewer. He has a spear in front of six people on the ground. The people on the ground have long clothing, hats, and one has a long beard. In the background are three buildings as well as other soldiers on horses and people standing.

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Photograph/Print

Soldiers Prevent Russian Peasants from Leaving a Village

1892

R. Caton Woodville

Caption:

A Russian soldier prevents villagers from leaving their village during a time of famine. Food shortages were one of the push factors that convinced people to leave their country and move to a new one.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph shows a large building made of concrete. It has a row of three doors and three windows over the doors. There is one window on top. Stone steps lead up to the doors.

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Photograph/Print

Temple Israel in Portsmouth

circa 1921–1943

Caption:

View of the exterior of Temple Israel in Portsmouth, the first synagogue established in New Hampshire. The Temple Israel congregation was established in 1910 and this building opened in 1912. This photograph is undated but is probably from between 1921 and 1943.

Image Credit: Courtesy Temple Israel Portsmouth

A black and white photograph shows the interior of a textile factory. There are roughly seven machines visible on the left and nine machines are visible on the right, separated by a walking path down the middle. A group of men and women gather at the center of the photograph and are positioned in front of and in between the machinery. The rigging and pulleys of the machines can be seen on the ceiling. An empty bucket and a bucket of bobbins sits to the path’s right and left sides.

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Photograph/Print

Textile Factory Workers

circa 1900–1934

Caption:

Immigrant men and women worked in textile mills throughout New Hampshire, especially in cities or large towns. Textile mill workers would be placed in charge of several large and noisy machines, and had to make sure that all the machines continued to work properly throughout the workday. This is a photograph of workers at Rochester Mills.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored photograph of a group of children marching in a parade. They all wear red caps, white shirts, black shorts, and white sneakers. One of the children holds a large American flag, and another holds a smaller white flag with some writing on it. The road they are walking on is lined with two- and three-storied buldings and people sitting and standing on the sidewalks.

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Photograph/Print

U.S. Bicentennial Parade

1976

Caption:

Americans from all backgrounds came together in July 1976 to celebrate the Bicentennial—the 200th anniversary of American independence—with parades, fireworks, and other celebrations. This photo shows the parade in Manchester.

Image Credit: Courtesy Manchester (NH) Historic Association

Uncle Sam's Youngest Son, Citizen Know Nothing

A black and white drawing shows head and shoulders of a young man wearing a suit with decorative scarf tied at his neck. He has a brimmed hat worn at an angle, and his shoulders face the viewer while he looks off to the right. There is a decorative border around him, including an American flag to the left. Words around the picture says "UNCLE SAM'S YOUNGEST SON / CITIZEN / KNOW NOTHING."

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Photograph/Print

Uncle Sam's Youngest Son, Citizen Know Nothing

1854

Sarony & Co., lithographer; Williams, Stevens, Williams & Company, publisher

Caption:

The "Citizen Know Nothing" figure appeared in several anti-immigrant publications in this era. It was probably not a picture of an actual person, just an ideal type. He was supposed to look like the perfect idea of a native-born American citizen.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A colored, vertical postcard of two groups of people standing on either side of a body of water. The people standing on the left side of the postcard have their arms stretched out towards the people on the right side. The people on the right side are carrying bundles. Above the people on the left is a large eagle with the American flag on its chest. It is holding a scroll with words written in another language with its claws. Above the people on the right is a double-headed eagle, which wears a crown and is holding a scepter and orb in its claws. On its chest is a red crest with a man riding a white horse on it. Behind the groups of people are three ships with large smokestacks.

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Photograph/Print

Welcoming Immigrants

circa 1900–1920

Hebrew Publishing Company

Caption:

This postcard shows Jewish Americans welcoming Jews who are immigrating from Russia to America.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of a group of women all dressed in long, light-colored dresses and broad-rimmed hats. Some of the women wears sashes around their shoulders, which read "VOTES FOR WOMEN" and carry American flags. The woman at the center of the photograph pushes a baby in a stroller, and there is a young girl walking behind them.

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Photograph/Print

Women's Suffrage Parade

1912

Caption:

American women did not have the right to vote in any federal elections or in most states until 1920, when the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed. Before then, women campaigned for the right to vote with meetings, letters, speeches, and large public demonstrations and marches, like this parade in New York City. Suffrage is a word meaning the right to vote in political elections, so people who supported women's voting rights, or suffrage, were called "suffragists."

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A black and white photograph shows the interior of a Jewish temple. There are three men in religious garments on a raised wooden platform with arched, short pillars. One man stands at the center of the platform, reading from a book. The other two men hold the Torah and also read from a book on either side of the man in the middle. On the ground level, a woman plays the piano in the right-hand corner of the photograph. In the background, an American flag and a flag with the Star of David hang on either side of the alter. Above the altar hangs two tablets with Hebrew written on them.

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Photograph/Print

Worship at the Synagogue

undated

Caption:

The Star of David on the podium and the man holding a Torah show that this house of worship is a synagogue. The first synagogue in New Hampshire was founded in Portsmouth in 1911, named Temple Israel. The location of this synagogue is unclear, and this photograph is undated.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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