Author Archives: University Archives and Special Collections

In the Archives: Joiner Institute Writers’ Workshop Photographs

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Author: Amanda McKay, Archives Assistant and graduate student in the English MA program at UMass Boston

Participant with Marilyn Nelson, 2000. Photo by Melissa Shook.

In the early 1980s, UMass Boston’s William Joiner Institute for the Study of War and Social Consequences launched a writers’ workshop focused on war and its aftermath. The workshop included classes, discussions, readings, and much more. Since the start of the workshop, the Joiner Institute has worked to transform thoughts, feelings, and experiences relating to war into artistic expression through writing, but these workshops soon became more than that.

After a lecture at the Yenching Library in Cambridge, Mass., circa 1996-2000. Photo by Melissa Shook.

Digitized photographs of the writers’ workshop are available through Healey Library’s Open Archives website. These photographs, taken by long-time UMass Boston faculty member Melissa Shook between circa 1996-2001, reveal the personal and collaborative efforts of the writers’ workshop, and of the Joiner Institute as a whole. The workshop became more than it set out to be; it created connections among members and provided a sense of community. Shook’s long-standing connection to and intimate documentation of the university program show how art and memory were powerfully intertwined. Shook’s life and legacy live on through Healey Library’s Melissa Shook papers.

Four women, seated on a couch, are having a conversation, 2000. Photo by Melissa Shook.

The Joiner Institute’s writers’ workshop series was incredibly important for participants, but it was only one part of the institute’s mission, which is “to inform, develop, and implement equitable policies, programs, and pathways to help ensure the health, safety, well-being and success of veterans, their families, and others impacted by war or military service, without exception.” Be sure to check out the Joiner Institute website to learn more, and visit the University Archives and Special Collections department to view the Joiner Institute records and learn about their fascinating history and writers’ workshop.

Contact library.archives@umb.edu to schedule a research appointment.

References:

“Joiner Institute Writers’ Workshop Photographs.” University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston. Accessed July 17, 2025. https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/collection/joiner.

Nelson, Caleb. “How Can We Save The Joiner Institute?” Veteran Art Movement. June 17, 2018. https://www.veteran-art-movement.net/evam-blog/can-we-save-the-joiner-institute.

“William Joiner Center Writers’ Workshop.” ShawGuides. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://writing.shawguides.com/joinercenter.

In the Archives: Jack Powers Collection

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Author: Amanda McKay, Archives Assistant and graduate student in the English MA program at UMass Boston

Drawn portrait of Jack Powers with “A Poet of the City” next to it.

Growing up in and around housing projects in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Jack Powers was no stranger to struggle and need. At the age of seventeen, Powers decided he was going to turn this struggle into something good, and the rest of his life is a testament to his devotion to community, welfare, and knowledge. Healey Library’s Jack Powers collection highlights the various areas of activism that Powers belonged to. Two major accomplishments from this collection are the Beacon Hill Free School and his Stone Soup poetry reading series.

Bookmark from the Downtown Reading Series, 1992.

During the prime of the Beacon Hill Free School, weekly classes on various topics were held for local community members, free of charge. Holding around eleven classes per week in his apartment, and another twenty per week in the Beacon Hill community center, Powers had a full schedule—and he never sacrificed his philanthropy for paid work. Class topics were not limited by any means, with Powers saying, “Every idea was held up like a jewel in the light so that if there were any defect hopefully human intelligence would see it” (Robb 2 Jun. 1979). His idea of freedom was expressed through the catalogue of extensive classes that were offered.

Schedule of the Downtown Reading Series, 1992.

Later, in the 1970s, Powers decided to create Stone Soup, a nightly poetry event. Stone Soup was a come-one-come-all event that featured renowned poets such as Allen Ginsberg, as well as local poets who hadn’t gotten their break into the spotlight yet. True to its name, a children’s folktale about community, the poetry series was a collective energy that livened up the arts scene in Beacon Hill and in Boston as a whole. Powers once said that, “We’re all in this world together, and there’s no better way to translate pleasure than through the magic of words,” showing his true intentions behind the reading series. Accessibility was at the forefront of Powers’ mind, and he achieved it by creating a safe space that was less “literary salon” and more “neighborhood activism.” Stone Soup lives on today, with meetings held both virtually and in person. There is an updated blog page with recent and upcoming activities that the organization holds as well as spotlights on local authors and artists.

The Jack Powers collection at UMass Boston not only includes information regarding the programs that Powers founded, but also information about Powers’ personal life and writings. The collection isn’t just about the power of art, it also documents the power of community and what can happen when people come together, something that must be remembered and held onto for generations to come.

Poster for “Jack Powers at Gallery Imago,” February 1985.

All images courtesy of the Jack Powers collection in Healey Library.

References:

Hartigan, Patti. “Literary Boston: Literary Boston.” Boston Globe. February 16, 1989. https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/literary-boston/docview/2445561348/se-2.

Holder, Doug. “Stone Soup Poetry founder Jack Powers: Looking back.” The Somerville Times. October 27, 2010. https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/8821.

Jack Powers collection, SC-0001. University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://archives.umb.edu/repositories/2/resources/195.

Negri, Gloria. “Boston’s Jack Powers: Helping people body and soul.” Boston Globe. March 15, 1987. https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/bostons-jack-powers-helping-people-body-soul/docview/2074430383/se-2.

The Poetry Foundation. “Jack Powers.” Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/blog/uncategorized/55706/jack-powers-.

Robb, Christina. “A Poet’s Odyssey with Stone Soup.” Boston Globe. June 2, 1979. https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/poets-odyssey-with-stone-soup/docview/747069726/se-2.

In the Archives: Dorchester Pottery Works

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Author: Amanda McKay, Archives Assistant and graduate student in the English MA program at UMass Boston

In 1895, George Henderson brought his knowledge of stoneware to Boston and opened Dorchester Pottery Works, a stonework business with the intention of selling stoneware both industrially and commercially. Until its closing in 1979, Dorchester Pottery Works operated as a family-run business, with son Charles Henderson taking over after George’s death in 1928. Before his death, George worked to create his own clay-firing kiln, described as, “beehive type, downdraft kiln built in a circular form. The interior dimensions, 22 feet in diameter and 10 feet in height allowed two to three freight carloads of pottery to be fired at one time” (Mock 1984).  With the large-scale kiln, the family business was booming and was well-received by consumers.

UMass Boston’s University Archives and Special Collections department not only holds records of the business but also houses pieces created at Dorchester Pottery Works. Photos of the pottery available through Healey Library’s Open Archives website show just how detailed and beautiful these pieces were. My personal favorites are the ones that are more artistic, showing off the skills of the pottery makers and stoneworkers. For example, these blue dishes show off painted, artistic designs including half scroll, geometric, and colonial lace patterns.

However, the creativeness did not stop at just the painted design. This star-shaped candy dish shows off how form and design come together by skilled workers to create a practical, yet visually interesting piece.

Along with these, the workers also created practical, minimalistic pieces, such as this brown pot.

Along with housewares, they also created various feeders and even a chicken waterer—a container to hold water for chickens, allowing clean water to be filtered through to promote the health of the livestock.

Their most popular invention was the footwarmer with a metal, leakproof tap which received a lot of praise and attention. It was even featured in The Ladies Home Journal!

Some of these pieces can be seen on display in the Archives Research Room on the fifth floor of Healey Library, or digitally through Open Archives, so be sure to stop by or visit our website to see what was created at Dorchester Pottery Works!

References

“Dorchester Pottery Works.” Wikipedia. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorchester_Pottery_Works.

Mock, Elizabeth. “Dorchester Pottery Works: records, 1905-1961.” April 1984. https://web.archive.org/web/20060919220912/http://www.lib.umb.edu/archives/pot.html

Open Archives. University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/search/searchterm/dorchester%20pottery.

Legacy of Care: The History of the Boston Female Asylum

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Author: Amanda McKay, Archives Assistant and graduate student in the English MA program at UMass Boston

As the 1800s streets of Boston were bustling with carriages, a group of women were plotting a new development: a home for young girls. The first of its kind, the Boston Female Asylum catered to young girls who were orphaned and destitute. The asylum was a major advancement for both women and children. Over the years, the asylum evolved to include more care options, influencing the modern day foster care system. By the turn of the next century, the organization was offering counseling and placement services for young girls. In 1923, the organization merged with the Boston Children’s Aid Society, forming the Children’s Aid Association.

Portrait of Mrs. Hannah Stillman, founder of the Boston Female Asylum

The organization’s early years garnered a lot of attention and support from notable local figures such as Abigail Adams. The Boston Female Asylum Records collection within Healey Library encompasses vital historical documents such as minutes, face sheets, and various publications. Dating back to the early 1800s, the collection shows the evolution of the organization. The most notable documents are the yearly reports and by-laws, rules, and regulations publications, clearly noting changes and developments within the organization. The improvements are evident in the resources provided. The 1898 Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations publication highlights that,

Between the age of twelve and fourteen years the girls are sent to families, living usually in the country or small towns, chosen by the Managers from many applications; the intention being to give them opportunities for further schooling and training in housework, and to have them treated as members of said families, from whom they are to receive the sum of $50; $20 of it on reaching the age of seventeen and $30 at eighteen.

Cover of 1898 Boston Female Asylum By-laws, Rules, and Regulations

Interestingly, later publications, such as the 1852 Report for the fifty-second anniversary of the Boston Female Asylum has no mention of the girls being sent anywhere to work. The growth and progress of the institution is shown by this partnership with community members. Not only were people of the community supporting the Boston Female Asylum, but they were active members, fiscally and physically. By sending in donations and allowing girls to work in their home for a wage, the Boston Female Asylum not only provided safe housing and conditions for young girls but also gave them an opportunity to work and become independent when needed. Today, the effects of the work that was done at the Boston Female Asylum is not lost. Going through various mergers in its history, the organization is now known as The Home for Little Wanderers. The roots of the Home are not just with the Boston Female Asylum, but various other institutions such as Boston Children’s Services, the New England Home for Little Wanderers, Parents’ and Children’s Services, Charles River Health Management, and Wediko Children’s Services. Serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, the Home provides community-based services for young people under the age of 26 who need emotional, social, educational, and physical support.

Cover of Report for the fifty-second anniversary of the Boston Female Asylum, 1852

References

Boston Female Asylum. Boston Female Asylum. Historical Account. By-laws, Rules and Regulations. Boston: Beacon Press, 1898. https://archive.org/details/bostonfemaleasyl00bost_3/mode/2up.

Boston Female Asylum. Report for the Fifty-Second Anniversary of the Boston Female Asylum. Boston: n.p., 1852. https://archive.org/details/bostonfemaleasyl00bost_3/mode/2up.

Boston Female Asylum records, SC-0003. University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://archives.umb.edu/repositories/2/resources/197.

Davainis, Dava. “Boston Female Asylum: Records of Benevolence.” State Library of Massachusetts. December 16, 2019. https://mastatelibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/boston-female-asylum-records-of.html.

The Home for Little Wanderers. “About Us.” Accessed June 27, 2025. https://www.thehome.org/about-us/our-history.

“Boston’s Little Syria” exhibition on display in Grossmann Gallery

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Author: Sabrina Valentino, Archives Assistant and graduate student in the Public History MA Program, UMass Boston

Boston’s Little Syria, an exhibition currently on view in the Grossmann Gallery on the fifth floor of the Healey Library, takes viewers on a journey through Boston’s little-known first Arab neighborhood. Located in what is now Chinatown and the South End, Little Syria became home to immigrants fleeing blight and violence in Ottoman-controlled Syria and Mount Lebanon. The exhibition will be open through May 31, 2024. 

The Boston’s Little Syria exhibition uses property maps, photographs, interviews, and memoirs of Syrian and Lebanese Americans who lived in this neighborhood to build a map of the creation and eventual migration of Little Syria, blending the history of the modern Middle East and Boston’s urban history. The items on display not only tell individual stories of the lives of immigrants, but also shed light on a rich cultural center in Boston that has been pushed aside and largely forgotten. 

In the 1880s, immigrants from Ottoman-controlled Greater Syria chose to leave their homes to escape war, famine, and the collapse of the silk industry, leading many to build new homes in Massachusetts. Starting in what is now Ping On Alley, the community grew and created a thriving life for themselves, reaching 40,000 people expanding south down Shawmut Avenue by the 1930s. However, despite the community’s growth and success, the residents of Little Syria faced hardships such as being denied citizenship status, and eventually began to relocate due to the Boston Redevelopment Authority uprooting urban blocks. 

Syrians sitting on a front step on Hudson Street, black and white photograph, photographer unknown, 1909. Courtesy of the Trustees of Boston Public Library.

The exhibition originated from a larger project that began with walking tours in 2022, and eventually grew to include an interactive digital map and a bilingual article published in the online journal Al-Jumhuriya as well as exhibitions at both MIT’s Rotch Library (2022-2023) and the Massachusetts Historical Society (2023). 

The exhibition is curated by Lydia Harrington and Chloe Bordewich. Lydia Harrington received her PhD in Art and Architectural History from Boston University in 2022 and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT in 2022-2023. She is currently the Senior Curator at The Syria Museum, which is one of the sponsors of this exhibition. Chloe Bordewich is a postdoctoral fellow at the Jackman Humanities Institute and Critical Digital Humanities Initiative at the University of Toronto and  received her PhD in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University in 2022.

Boston’s Little Syria is sponsored by the Syrian American Council, the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, and the University of Massachusetts Boston.

For additional information on Boston’s Little Syria, visit bostonlittlesyria.org.

The Grossmann Gallery is open during Healey Library hours.

University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston collects materials related to the university’s history, as well as materials that reflect the institution’s urban mission and strong support of community service, notably in collections of records of urban planning, social welfare, social action, alternative movements, community organizations, and local history related to neighboring communities.

University Archives and Special Collections welcomes inquiries from individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in donating materials of an archival nature that that fit within our collecting policy. These include manuscripts, documents, organizational archives, collections of photographs, unique publications, and audio and video media. For more information about donating to University Archives and Special Collections, click here or email library.archives@umb.edu.