Back in 1999, our idea was simple: use the web to link students and professional scholars of history around local historical topics. We brought our students to archives, libraries and museums to collect and link primary source records around selected topics, because we knew that history comes alive through hands-on investigation. We were amazed at what students were willing to attempt, and what they were able to accomplish, with only the encouragement of transportation and a slice of pizza. There is an innate love of history among students that motivates them even in the face of, or in spite of, the pressure to succeed with a good grade.
Since then our site has grown as we have worked with a variety of historical societies, school districts, and colleges. Primaryresearch.org is meant to be a free resource, free to access, free to learn from, and free to share and participate in. The strength of what we offer is directly related to engagement. History is often a puzzle to be assembled from pieces spread across our towns, our homes and memories, and our public archives. At it’s highest level, the pieces form pictures that enlighten us. We seek to immortalize the lives of everyday individuals, and in doing so, better understand where we’ve come from and where we’re going.
We are the web presence of a number of projects involving secondary school students and local history. Central to all of these projects is collaboration among research institutions such as historical societies, libraries, archives, and museums. We are based in Beverly, Massachusetts, which serves as a starting point for students learning the process of local history research.
Primaryresearch.org went online in 1999, then funded by a Documentary Heritage Grant from the Massachusetts Historical Records Advisory Board. Originally the website for Project Apprentice to History (PATH), it has grown to include projects such as Primary Research Through the History of Beverly (taught by W. Dean Eastman at Beverly High School), the Nathan Dane Collaborative (an electronic exhibit of documents and research related to Nathan Dane), African Americans in Antebellum Boston , Puritan Gravestone Studies, and more.
The aim of this website is to serve the research community by providing free access to original source documents and databases, as well as to provide a vehicle for the publication of original primary research by high school students. Collections of local history documents such as the Beverly Educational Archives , and Historic Postcards of Beverly are presented on this website free of charge. Student research projects using these documents show a sampling of some of the remarkable results possible from asking thoughtful questions.
The projects featured on this site originate from ideas conceived by W. Dean Eastman, his Primary Research Through the History of Beverly class at Beverly High School in Beverly, Massachusetts, and the extracurricular Project Apprentice to History (PATH). This website is designed, edited and updated by Kevin McGrath.
We encourage you to explore this website and make full use of the material provided. You can use the menu at the top of the page to access most areas of the site. Our goal is to inspire creative thinking and open possibilities for historical research.
Greetings! I just learned about this site from Bill Whiting at the Topsfield Historical Society. Good to know about you. What a wonderful site!
I’ve been transcribing and publishing the letter books created by Gloucester essayist Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820) for a number of years now, with more to go. I am also the former ED of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, I created Boston Women & The Law walking trail and the Salem Women’s Heritage Trail, served as board president of the Sargent House Museum in Gloucester and the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites, and on and on. So…………I get it! I also have a PR and marketing company that helps businesses use history to benefit everyone involved, which brings together both sides of my personality. The web address is historysmiths.com. My work on Judith may be viewed at jsmsociety.com.
I wonder how we can support each other? How can I contribute?
And I don’t mean to be a pest, but today historians agree on “woman suffrage,” not “women’s.”
Sorry……..
In any event, I am happy to know about you!
Regards
Bonnie Hurd Smith
bonnie@historysmiths.com
Hi Bonnie,
So glad you found our site, and please send our thanks to Bill for spreading the word. Very appreciative of the great work you’ve done, and are doing. Although it’s near the end of the month, we’re thrilled to be adding some fascinating articles from The Bostonian in 1894-1896. The portrait of Lucy Stone is really good. Let’s certainly stay in touch.
Kevin
I was an AHS ’66 Classmate of Dean’s and wanted to thank you guys for sharing this great research. My fellow wanna be Andover Historians love this stuff. Let me know if there are any restrictions on sharing this wonderful stuff.
Hi!
I was a student in Primary Research Through the History of Beverly in 2000-2001. I learned more in Mr. Eastman’s class than almost any other that I took in high school. I think this can be attributed to encouragement of out-of-the-box thinking, student independence and self-accountability. It is really cool to see the research that I was involved in as a high school student alive and well on the web. My favorite is our Archaeology Handbook, with our class picture and some of my own drawings! Thanks so much for making this information available to everyone!
-Tara
Hi Tara,
I talked to Dean this morning and read your comment to him. Thrilled to hear from you, and thanks for the kind words. Thanks for getting in touch.
In the process of clearing out our house I have come across an issue of the Newton High School Review for 1885 and 1886. Hard bound, printed by Newton Graphic Press.
My grandparents, Henry Whitmore and Edith M Farley, were students at the high school at that time. (Edith was Vice President of the class of ‘86.)
Is this an item you would like to add to your collection of Newton history? If not, is there an organization that might be interested? I have sent a similar inquiry to the Newton Public Library.
Thank you. Carolyn (Whitmore) Baldwin, Gilmanton NH.
Hi Carolyn,
My apologies for the late reply. You could try contacting the Newton North High School Library, which has similar records in their archives. Another possibility would be the Jackson Homestead.
Good luck!
Kevin
Methuen Town Poor Farm -1846- 430 Pelham St Methuen MA, presently a private residence. Photo in Wkipedia, was unable to paste mine here.
This project is brilliant, and while I can’t say I thought of it first by a long shot, I’m glad to see it brought to life – and what better way than through the schools! With the digitization so many records in recent years – shout out to the MA State Dept for, among countless others, centuries of land deeds – this concept can be applied to a wider age group, with fewer resource requirements, and produce tangible results to benefit both the local and research communities. I would love to discuss further if possible; I’m based in Sudbury, MA and with the 250th anniversary of the Revolution looming, the possibilities are endless!
The transcribed 1754 Massachusetts Slave Census on your website notes that there were three slaves at a lighthouse. I have seen reference to this before but forget the source. What is your source for this note?
What lighthouse? I am trying to collect as much information about slavery in Kingston, MA as possible.
Hello Thomas, i just found this website and curious if your research has crossed paths with Winslow of Marshfield and slaves he owned?
Thank you.
Hi my name is Chris Gagnon. I was a student of Dean Eastman’s in the lare 80’s early 90’s. Our class helped build the pit and performed the first archaeological excavation. Also, we were the first students under his tutelage to do primary research projects. He was a mentor and amazing teacher it would be good to get back in touch with him.
Hi,
I am doing some research and am looking for the Newburyport Almeshouse records. Do you have them or do you know who would.
Thank you,
Joanne Allen
HI, My relative was in this place 1910 listed as servant. What is the difference between INMATE and SERVANT
Kathy
This is awesome-using the video tomorrow to close out my History of Beverly class at BHS-thanks for all the hard work
Good day,
My grandmother Diana Boulanger is said to be buried in the paupers section of the St. George Cemetery on Paige Hill in Southbridge MA.
Is there any information on that location as a project?
And are any of these puffers graves able to be exhumed for re-burial in the state??
My Grandmother was sent home from the hospital too soon after giving birth to my father, and passed away from a hemorrhage. Not having money for funeral expenses. She was apparently buried in that section. That is all the information that we have..