Winter Lecture Series 2022
Due to the global pandemic, lectures were presented virtually.
- Saturday, January 29
Portland’s Complicity in the Economics of Atlantic World African Enslavement
Historian Seth Goldstein discussed Portland’s complex relationship with Atlantic world African enslavement. Through a deep dive into what was known as “The West Indies Trade,” Seth explained how various commodities like lumber and salt cod from Maine were shipped to slave plantations in the Caribbean. He discussed how, in return, Maine consumed large quantities of sugar, molasses, rum, and exotic fruits produced by enslaved Africans as well as how Portland—Maine’s largest port and fish export center—was the nexus of this exchange. - Saturday, February 26
The Maine Charitable Mechanics, 1815–1890
In 1815, Portland artisans and tradesmen established the Maine Charitable Mechanics Association (MCMA). The founders were housewrights, painters, tailors, blacksmiths, masons, and other tradesmen. This early association foreshadowed the formation of the labor union movement in Maine. In 1859, the cornerstone for Mechanics Hall was laid by architect Thomas Sparrow, but design and construction was accomplished entirely by MCMA members. Today, Mechanics Hall presents community events that connect to that rich history, promoting ingenuity, creativity, and the diffusion of useful knowledge. Paul Stevens presented the story of MCMA and their Hall. - Saturday, March 26
From Beside the Sea in County Galway, Ireland, to the Docks of Portland, Maine
After the Great Hunger (or Potato Famine) in the mid-19th century, over 1 million desperate souls departed Ireland for the 4 corners of the Earth. A good number came to Portland, Maine, where they had relatives and jobs waiting for them. This immigration trend grew in the early 1880s at the time of another famine and stayed steady until immigration restrictions in the mid 1920s. This presentation by Michael Connelly focused on what awaited these Irish immigrants upon their arrival in Portland.