Worcester 150*^ AnniversaryCelebrat ion

Record Group

Processed by William F. Carroll, CAFebruary 1999

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Ser ies Page B o x

Col lect ion In fomiat ion 3

Historical Background 4

Scope and Content 5

Series Description 6

1 Municipal committees 7 1

2 H i s t o r i e s 8 1

3 Special events/projects 9 1 , 2 , 3

4 Public relations, advertising, etc. 10 1

5 Photographs 11 1

6 Clippings 1 2 1

7 L e t t e r s 13 1

8 Ephemera 1 4 1

9 Ar t i f ac t s 15 2 , 3

2

Collect ion Information

Abstract: Worcester was incorporated as a Town in 1722, and as a City in 1848. A year-longcelebration was held in 1998 marking the 150*̂ anniversary of Worcester as a city. Thecollection includes information and publicity on many of the anniversary events, includingcelebrations of Worcester's diverse cultural and ethnic history.

Finding Aids: Finding Aid in print form is available.

Preferred Citation:

Provenance: Collection processed by Worcester Historical Museum staff for City of Worcester.

Access: The Finding Aid is cataloged in MARC under the following subject headings (LCSHAAT, TGM, GMGPC)

Worcester (Mass.) - History.Worcester (Mass.) - Anniversaries - 150'*' Anniversary celebration, 1998.Ethnic groups - Massachusetts - Worcester.Ethnic festivals - Massachusetts - Worcester.Multiculturalism - Massachusetts - Worcester.Monuments — Massachusetts — Worcester.Historic buildings - Massachusetts - Worcester.Historic sites - Massachusetts - Worcester.Printed ephemera - Massachusetts - Worcester.

Anniversaries - Massachusetts - Worcester.Broadsides - Massachusetts - Worcester - 150"' anniversary celebration, 1998.

Advert isements.

Advertising cards.Advertising mail.Photographic prints - Massachusetts - Worcester - ISC'" anniversary celebration, 1998.Banners - Massachusetts - Worcester - ISC' anniversary celebration, 1998.

See also: Worcester Historical Museum files.

3

Histor ica l Backcro imd

Worcester was incorporated as a Town in 1722, and in common with most Massachusettslocalities of the time was primarily an agricultural community. With the coming of the IndustrialAge in Massachusetts in the 1840s, Worcester, with its plentiful water supply, was a preferredlocation for industries to establish themselves. Rapid industrial growth was followed by rapidpopulation groAVth, as workers, both native born and immigrants, moved into Worcester to workin the mills. The increased population made it desirable to change the form of government fromTown Meeting/Board of Selectmen which was adequate for a small agricultural town to a moreformalized and streamlined city form of government. A petition was presented to the GeneralCourt by the Inhabitants of Worcester to change the form of government in December, 1847.This was approved and Worcester became a city in 1848.

A year-long celebration of the 150*'' anniversary of Worcester as a city was planned for 1998. Inaddition to numerous historical events and celebrations, the occasion also served to celebrate theethnic diversity of the City and its cultural heritage.

4

Scope and Conten t

The collection includes a cross-section of events taking place during the ISO"" anniversary year of1998, as well as some of the preliminary planning of the previous year. Photocopies of previousanniversary celebrations, notably in 1972 and 1948, are included with the planning information.The collection includes historical data of the city, information about special events and projectscarried out as part of the celebration, information about the cultural history and ethnicbackgroimd of Worcester and its people as well as clippings, letters, ephemera, and artifactsrelated to the 150"' anniversary. The collection illustrates the events taking place during the 150"*anniversary year, as well as the cultural and ethnic diversity of the city.

The collection is arranged topically and/or by format, and is described to folder level.

5

S e r i e s D e s c r i p t i o n

Series 1: Municipal Committee documents. Includes lists, proposed programs, otherinformation of the Worcester 150* Anniversary Committee and the Worcester CulturalC o m m i s s i o n .

Series 2: Histories. Includes historic information of Worcester and many of its historic sites,buildings, and monuments. Also includes photocopies of historic documents, photocopies ofpamphlets printed during Worcester 100* anniversary in 1948, and 250* anniversary of itsincorporation in 1972.

Series 3: Special events/projects. Includes special events taking place during the anniversaryyear, including special school scrapbook projects, reunion of World War 11 veterans from theUSS Worcester, multi cultural celebrations, etc.

Series 4: Public Relations, advertising, etc. Includes numerous broadsides and fliers of events,publicity releases, and related materials. Also includes special videocassette "Youth Unity, 150*Anniversary, 1998" prepared by Greater Media Cable, and "The Worcester Heart Beats", sixaudio cassettes of Worcester's history and cultural heritage, prepared by Greater WorcesterCommunity Foundation.

Series 5: Photographs. Miscellaneous photographs, most colored, of events and people of theWorcester 150* anniversary celebration.

Series 6: Clippings. News items relating to events of the Worcester 150* anniversaryc e l e b r a t i o n .

Series 7: Letters. Miscellaneous letters relative to the celebration year, programs, persormel, etc.

Series 8: Ephemera. Includes advertisement postcards, special envelopes, badges, labels, andsimilar items related to events of the Worcester 150* anniversary celebration.

Series 9: Artifacts. Includes souvenir items of the Worcester 150* anniversary celebration, andb a n n e r s .

6

Worcester ISC'AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 1, Committees

B o x # F o l d e r # Accession # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 1

1 2

City of Worcester's ISO"* Anniversary Committee:notices, membership lists, proposed schedules ofevents and activities, etc.

City of Worcester Cultural Commission: PublicHearing June 18,1997 re 150"* anniversary;photocopies of Worcester historical information;photocopies of 1948 centennial celebration and1972 250*'' anniversary of incorporation as a town.

7

Worcester 150*''AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 2, Histories

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 3 M i s c e l l a n e o u s d o c u m e n t s : F i r s t s f o r W o r c e s t e r ;Broadsides of historic events, places, etc.;photocopies of historic information on Soldier'sMonument; photocopy of "Petition for a CityCharter as filed by the Inhabitants of Worcester onDecember 27, 1847"; photocopy of pamphlet"Dedication of new city hall, April 28,1898";photocopy of 1948 Worcester centennial celebrationpamphlet.

8

Worcester 150 AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 3, Special events/projects

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 4 Fliers. Exhibitors at multi cultural celebration,February 13 and 14; Franco-American Committee;Greek multi cultural celebration events;Preservation Worcester events; African-Americanprogram schedule; Indian Society of Worcesterprograms; Armenian cultural celebration; Irishcommunity; Franco Worcester; Scandinavianp r o g r a m s .

3 Broadside. Multi cultural celebration, SundayFebruary 8. Native Americans, Irish, India, Italian,French, Swedish, Somali, African Americans.

1 5 Letters. To 150 Timeline, suggesting names offamous Worcester people and/or events. 10 items.

1 6 Memoranda. Description and naval history of USSWorcester, 1948-1958. Reunion in 1998 of KoreanWar veterans stationed aboard the USS Worcester,with clipping and photograph.

1 7 Program curricula. Worcester Area Retired &Senior Volimteer Program (RSVP) sponsored after-school programs with lesson plans, for creatingscrapbooks based on Worcester's history. Fiveparticipating schools.

2 Scrapbooks. Made by students from Granite StreetSchool, Quinsigamond School, Clark Street School,May Street School, Elm Park School. 5 items.(Alkaline binders and papers)

2 Notebook. NAACP Annual Convent ion.Worcester NAACP act iv i t ies. Laminatedphotographs, clippings, etc.

9

Worcester 150"' AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 4, Public relations, etc.

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 8 F l i e r s , b r o a d s i d e s , e t c . I n c l u d e s m a t e r i a l s r e t h efollowing special programs and events: TatnuckWatershed Festival, September 12, events,clippings, invoice; Tennis Toumament, September,events lists, clipping, invoice for advertising; 27""annual RSVP volunteer recognition celebration,October 16,1998; Union Station Children's Projectevent, September 25,1998; 138"'Worcester Musicfestival, 1998; Designs Unlimited Festival of Treesomaments; Worcester Historical Museum Industrialhistory exhibit starting May 30, 1998; WorcesterHistorical Museum annual Valentine contest; Golftoumament; Ice sculpting contest; Worcester SeniorCenter commemorative quilt exhibition; Elm Parkconcert series; Anniversary highlights; Time capsuleevents; Visitors from Worcester, England publicity;Trivia challenge; Former Mayors press conference;City hall events; Teachers' certificates ofappreciation; Theme contest form.

Audiotapes. "The Worcester Heart Beats, 150 yearsof connecting history, people, and cultures." 6audiocassette tapes.

Videocassette. "Youth Unity, 150"* Anniversary,1998." 1 videocassette, prepared by Greater mediacable.

10

Worcester 150'*'AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 5, Photographs

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

Color photographic prints. City Hall events,February 1998; banners; USS Worcester belldedication, miscellaneous other prints.

11

Worcester ISC'AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 6, Clippings

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 10 Clippings. Historical background of Worcester,articles re ISC' anniversary celebration preparationsand planning.

1 11 Clippings. 150* anniversary celebration specialevents: tennis tournament, Tatnuck WatershedFestival events. Smiley face backgroundinformat ion.

1 1 2 Clippings. 150* anniversary celebrationadvertisements and promotions.

12

Worcester 150"" AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 7, Letters

Box # Folder # Accession # Description

1 1 3 L e t t e r s . W o r c e s t e r 1 5 0 ^ a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r a t i o n :Requests for volunteers; letters and facsimiletransmissions re display case for City Hall;facsimile transmissions re chronological draft;Committee meeting schedules; Acknowledgment ofdonation from Union Station Children's Project.

13

Worcester 150"'AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 8, Ephemera

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 1 4 E p h e m e r a . D o n a t i o n a c k n o w l e d g m e n t c a r d s ;business card, RSVP; advertising cards andpostcards; RSVP flier; Worcester scenes 1999calendar; ISC' anniversary stickers; Worcester ISO"*anniversary postage stamp cancellations.

1 4

Worcester 150"'AnniversaryRecord Group

Series 9, Artifacts

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

Souvenir candy dish (boxed); conmiemorativeornament (boxed); T-shirt; cap; coffee mug; pens;City hall plaque; hockey puck.

Banners (3), 30x60 in.

15

Worcester 150^ AnniversaryRecord GroupContainer List

B o x # F o l d e r # s S e r i e s

1 1 , 2 S e r i e s 1 , C o m m i t t e e s1 3 S e r i e s 2 , H i s t o r i e s1 4, 5, 6, 7 Series 3, Special Events/Projects1 8 S e r i e s 4 , P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s , e t c .1 9 S e r i e s 5 , P h o t o g r a p h s1 10,11,12 Ser ies 6 , C l ipp ings1 1 3 S e r i e s 7 , L e t t e r s1 1 4 S e r i e s 8 , E p h e m e r a

2 Series 3, Special Events/Projects (Scrapbooks)2 Series 4, Public Relations, etc. (Audiocassette, videocassette tapes)2 S e r i e s 9 , A r t i f a c t s

33

Series 3, Special Events/projects (Broadside)Series 9, Artifacts (Banners)