Student Research Topics

Time Period

Subject

Author

Date

Inter-Period

The Beverly Militia Soldiers in King Philip’s, The French-Indian and Revolutionary Wars
This paper researches the demographics of Beverly men whom participated in three different American wars. The student also researches possible motives and experiences regarding these individual’s involvement. The student found town records at the Beverly Historical Society. Sources include Muster Records, secondary sources, private letters and ship records.

Reid Davenport

1/29/01

Naturalization of Immigrants On Rantoul Street:
This paper discusses the ethnic neighborhoods of Beverly off of Rantoul St. The assimilation process and the lives of these immigrants are also researched. This student researched census records.

Seth Carr

1/27/95

Development of The Beverly Police Department
Touches upon the developments and advances in Beverly’s Police Department, from 1874 to 1910, as well as police departments elsewhere. Also discusses the ethnicity of Beverly’s PD, who were often of Irish decent. Contains sample police reports and pay rolls.

Corey Dylengoski

1/28/98

Contagious Disease:
Nurses and Nuisance Removers 1880-1920
A comparison between nuisance removers and nurses. This students also compared the ethnicities of medical employees in Beverly to that of those working throughout the U.S. Sources include Census results from Beverly, Beverly City Directories and secondary sources including those written by Holmes and Rothman.

Justin Keating

1/28/98

History of the Poorhouse
Investigates the changes in views and attitudes towards the nations poor throughout history (1600’s to present day). Also delves into the government’s treatment of the poor, including the city of Beverly which is reported to have done an excellent job of helping their unfortunate. Sources include the 1900 Census, Municipal documents, maps of Beverly and several secondary sources.

Sarah K. Allen

1/27/98

Architectural Guide
This paper is a guide to classical architecture. The examples from all different periods are found on the streets of Beverly and can be related to the goings on of the larger society not only in America but in foreign nations as well. Documents were found at the Registry of Deeds.

Jennifer DuBois

1/27/97

History Of 42 Central St In Beverly
The paper traces the owners of this particular home, investigates them and connects their occupations to the larger historical context. The students sources were mainly City Directories, the 1900 and 1910 Census and a few secondary sources.

Meghan Connaughton

1/23/97

Biography On Student’s House
This paper uses city documents to investigate the owners and uses of the students home in Beverly. Through research of former owners he discovers aspects of the past, i.e. occupations, social movements, ideals etc. Newspaper articles, city directories and documents from the Registry of Deeds were used in this research.

Derek Sullivan

6/2/97

Causes of Death in the Late 1800’s and Early 1900’s
This paper investigates the causes of death in Beverly during certain periods in which hospitals and medicines were unlike what we have today. By using city Death Records and hospital documents as well as newspaper articles the student paints a picture of life in Beverly.

Aaron J. Overberg

6/2/97

Occupations At Time Of Entry
This paper investigates the lives of immigrants who had recently come to the United States. Occupations they held and lives they lived is researched, laborer in industry was common. Sources include population schedules and maps.

Jamie Hios

2/2/92

Native and Foreign Born Between 10-15 Yrs: School or Working
This paper investigates the working conditions of child labor in Beverly circa 1900. It researches which children work, from what socioeconomic group and age, and where they were employed using documents from the city of Beverly offices including that of census records.

Amanda McGowan &

Kimberly Sewyck

2/2/92

Working Females
This research paper investigates and researches the occupations and responsibilities of female employees. It mainly touches upon employment in the industrial areas such as the USMC. Census and USMC documents were used in the research.

Jenica Rood

2/2/92

Women Teachers:
Their Meaning To Themselves and Us
This paper is about the movement of women to the role of educator. It investigates Beverly’s past as well as that of other communities, reasons for such a move etc This student used different varieties of city documents for her research. The student was able to link teacher lists from city directories with census records.

Allison Peters

1/23/00

History Of West Beach, Beverly Farms
This paper discuses the connection West Beach has to the Gold Coast that was Beverly in the 1800’s. It also unearths some facts about how beaches were used as a means for climbing the socio-economic ladder and segregation. Sources include petitions regarding the issue and secondary sources.

Brett Marciano

1/10/00

18th Century

Economic Mobility of Beverly Fisherman
A study of Beverly’s fisherman, whom made up more than 25 percent of the workforce over the course of the eighteenth Cent. Touches upon the means of payment, the fisherman’s upward mobility, fishing networking, and the roles of both the common workers and the vessel owners. The student used such sources as shipping papers from local schooners, account books, census records and numerous secondary sources.

Kristen Dennesen

1/27/99

19th Century

The Lothrop Club Of Beverly and It’s Contributions to The Women’s Club Movement
This paper researches the origins of this women’s club, founded in 1895, and how its contributions positively effected the quality of life in Beverly MA. While researching the original members the student writes of the contributions and history of women’s clubs across the country. Sources include records from the club researched, census records and secondary sources.

Tara Talbot

1/29/01

Beverly’s Challenge Against A High School
paper analyzes the events leading up to the Beverly High School Controversy. It studies, with the aide of books by Katz and Vinovskis and Beverly City and School documents, those who were opposed and for a school in Beverly. The student linked individuals who voted yes or no with the 1860 census.

Meaghan O’Neil

1/29/01

Beverly Massachusetts and the American Civil War
Studies the demographics of Beverly citizens who were drafted and involved in the American Civil War. Categories considered include:
high status class white color, low status white color, skilled worker, unskilled worker, farmer, and those with an unknown occupation. Sources include census and military records

Jeffrey M Ouellet

1/29/01

Lucy Larcom’s Life And Works
This paper researches the famous Beverly poet Lucy Larcom. The paper is part biography and analytical criticism of her work. Larcom was a Mill employee in Lowell who wrote for the companies newspaper, she went on to write famous works of poetry. Sources include newspaper articles, personal letters and works written by Lucy Larcom.

Jamie Wytiaz

1/22/99

Early Estates of Beverly:
People Who Made Them Run
This paper investigates the former gold coast of Beverly in which America’s rich owned summer homes in what is now Prides Crossing / Beverly Farms. It focuses more, however, on the managers and workers of the estates. Sources include census records, employment lists and newspapers.

Andrea Knight

1/25/96

Boardinghouses in 1880:
Owners, Those Whom Resided And Why
Research regarding the connection of immigrant industrial workers to the cheap and efficient residence provided by boarding houses not only in Beverly put in all industrial communities. A study of the boarding house owners, typically women accustom to giving such services, cleaning cooking etc, whom rely on the house to make a living. Census records from Beverly, scholarly journals and secondary sources by Zunz and Sennet were used in this students research.

Rachel KirkPatrick

1/25/96

Beverly Farms Attempts of Secession From Beverly 1885-1890
This report investigates the attempts by the Beverly Farms community to separate from Beverly. The summer residents of what was then the “gold coast” planned to join Marblehead so as to avoid Beverly’s high taxes. The attempts would leave prejudices of Farm summer residents and their now distant relationship with the rest of Beverly. Sources include opinions and decisions on the issue written by local judges, Beverly Farms newspapers and a secondary source.

Jonathan Tadiello

1/28/98

Fredrick Law Olmsted’s Moraine Farm
This report is a study of the famous landscape artist, Olmstead, work with Moraine Farm in North Beverly. The Farm topography was overseen by Olmstead, everything from the placement of the road and barn to the trees and shrubs planted on the facility. Olmstead is the architect of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” and New York’s Central Park. Sources include newspaper articles, many secondary sources, Conservative Commission maps and documents from the Registry of Deeds.

Jason W. Ouellet

1/27/99

Development of The Early American High School In Beverly
This report investigates the changes occurring in Beverly’s High School. It relates occurrences in Beverly to that of other nearby communities. The student used such sources as Census records, school documents and secondary sources including those written by Vinovskis and Ueda.

Nicholas Bochynski

1/23/97

Comparison of Child Labor In Beverly and Lowell
This report investigates the differences in child labor in Beverly, mainly the USMC, and similar labor in Lowell. Lowell is a more industrialized community to the southwest of Beverly. Census records and company documents were used in the students research.

Stacy Ambrifi

1/27/96

Changing Roles of Women In the American Society
This paper investigates the occupations, community contributions, and family roles that women played in American society. It reflects on how these roles have evolved or been replaced over the years, especially when women received more rights in the Twentieth Century. Sources include secondary sources and census records.

Katherine Plutnicki

5/2/97

Design and Conservation of Moraine Farm and Other Olmsted Estates
This report investigates the famous landscape artist’s work with Moraine Farm in North Beverly. The Farm topography was overseen by Olmstead, everything from the placement of the road and barn to the trees and shrubs planted on the facility. Olmstead is the architect of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” and New York’s Central Park. This paper goes into considerable depth regarding the changes and conservations of Moraine Farm and other Olmstead works. Sources include local newspaper articles and some secondary sources. Primary sources came from the Registry of Deeds.

Carol Moulton

1/24/00

Irish and Canadian Workers In Beverly
This paper investigates workers of Irish and Canadian decent from Beverly towards the end of the 1800’s going into the 1900’s. It focuses on their occupations, places of employment and residence. Sources include city directories and census records

Eric Shairs

2/14/92

Fishing Industry In Beverly And Impact On The World
This paper investigates the industry of fishing in Beverly, its effects on the economy and work force, 1/4 of Beverly men were fisherman. It also connects this industry to the US and foreign counties industries. Sources include many captains logs, fishing journals, Census records and secondary sources.

Emilie Cloutman

1/24/00

Secession Attempts by Beverly Farms
This paper researches the attempts of Beverly Farms to join Marblehead. This occurred partly because the summer residents did not wish to pay Beverly’s high taxes. The sources the student used include newspapers from across the state, records of speeches given in the MA General Court and arguments given regarding the issue.

Kate Murdock

1/24/00

20th Century

Swedish Immigrants and Swedish Evangelical Churches
A study of Swedish immigrants and the religious institutions, which also served as social and educations centers, they established in Beverly. Swedish religions include: Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Congregational. Church and municipal documents and city directories were used in the research.

Alaina Walsh

1/29/01

Italian Community Organizations and The Patria e Lavoro Society
A study of Italian community organizations in the late 1800’s early 1900’s. Relates this information to the Patria e Lavoro Society of Beverly to discover similarities and differences. The Society’s original members are investigated through P e L documents, city documents and newspapers, larger context researched through Pisani, Higham, Gallo and organization’s literature.

Matthew Lauranzano

1/29/01

The Effects Of The Depression On Beverly
This paper researches Beverly’s reaction and action towards the Great Depression of the 1930’s. The paper breaks down the Depression into two time periods, that of pre-New Deal and New Deal. Sources used include City Documents, including the Address of the Mayore, the Annual Reports for the Year and the Organization of the City Government for different years, and newspaper articles dating back to the 1930’s.

Ada Brinkman

1/29/01

The Naturalization Patterns of Immigrants Residing on Rantoul Street in 1920
This paper investigates the assimilation of immigrants living on Rantoul Street into American culture. It analyzes the reasons assimilation and not naturalizing. Compares and contrasts immigrants in Beverly to immigrants residing in Boston and New York. Census records and secondary sources were used by this student in his research.

James Bower

1/29/01

Analysis Of The 1910 Census
This paper analyzes the results from the 1910 Census taken from streets coming off of Rantoul St. The student discovers trends regarding ethnicity, immigration, naturalization, occupation social standing etc. using the information provided in the ninety year old document (data was computerized).

Dianna Czernuszka

1/29/01

The Consolidation of Neighborhood Schools Into Multiple Room District Schools In Beverly 1910-1960
Researches the nation- wide progressive education movement which led to the consolidation of one and two room neighborhoods into larger multiple room district schools. Relates this info to city of Beverly which was typical in that it also reformed but not typical in that didn’t desire change but was forced to because of a surge in public school enrollment. Sources include the Annual Reports of the School Committee of Beverly and secondary sources.

Andrea Lohnes

1/29/01

Relief in Beverly For The Victims of the Salem Fire of 1914
Discusses the many ways in which Beverly came to the aid of Salem after the fire of 1914. Also researches the movement of a French Canadian culture from Salem to Beverly and its effect of Beverly. Sources include newspaper articles and city documents.

Ian Fullerton

1/29/01

Biography of Paul Seward Eaton:
A Beverly Politician and Resident
This paper is a historical biography of the students great-grandfather, although the paper is written from a detached view point. Paul Eaton was a pharmacist, City Alderman and Mayor. Sources used include:
birth certificates, death certificates, newspaper articles, Records of Interments, voter registration, 1920 Census, Beverly City Directories and other city documents.

Andrew Eaton

1/29/01

Analysis Of The 1920 Census
This paper analyzes the results from the 1920 Census taken from streets coming off of Rantoul St. The student discovers trends regarding ethnicity, immigration, naturalization, occupation social standing etc using the information provided in the eighty year old document (data was computerized).

Christine Scolia

1/29/01

Ethnic Entrepreneurs and Beverly Business
This project researches the foreign born entrepreneurs of Beverly trends within that group. i.e. Italian immigrants were often business owners while Irish men were typically laborers. This paper also touches upon the economic landscape of Beverly in the early twentieth Century. City documents and secondary sources were used.

Bobby Gates

1/27/96

Henry Cabot Lodge and His Relationship to Beverly
This paper investigates a member of the famous Lodge family and his contribution not only to American politics but Beverly, his hometown. This paper is part biography of the public official and informative on American politics in the 1900’s. Sources include newspaper articles and secondary sources, some written by Lodge himself.

Bill Conlon

1/27/99

128 Expansion Through Beverly
This paper studies the connections between changes in transportation (highways, automobiles, trains etc) and the settlement of the American people (i.e. suburbia) Sources include many pictures, maps and writings by those involved with the process and secondary sources.

Jody Syneki

1/17/99

Social Life of Beverly’s Youth In The 1920’s
This paper investigates the activities and lives of Beverly younger population. Their employment at the USMC and their responsibilities to their families. Sources include many city documents, student literature and newspaper articles.

Suzanne Santosuosso

1/27/99

International Migration and Occupations In Ward 6 Of Beverly
This term paper mainly investigates the immigration of foreign born to the United States and their settlement into different areas of Beverly MA. Occupations of immigrants often were a reflection of their ethnic background, Italians were businessmen while Irishmen were laborers. Sources include many documents from the US Department of Commerce, census records and secondary sources.

Erin Durnam

1/28/98

United Shoe Machinery Corp. of the Early 1920’s
This paper studies the strike at the USMC which took place in the early 1920’s. The relationship between unions and between the employee and employer is investigated. Strikes in Lowell and Marblehead are also researched. The typical sources are newspaper articles and letters of those involved.

Kevin Harsip

1/28/98

The Italian Community Of Beverly
This paper is about the communities of Italians, most of them immigrants. It touches upon occupations, geographical area, contributions and associations. The sources include that of newspaper articles, city directories, populations schedules and secondary sources including one by Herbert Gans.

Alison Driscoll

1/23/96

Woman Voters and The Women’s Suffrage Movement
This paper investigates the changing roles and rights of females in American Society during the Twentieth Century. Their rights to voting and campaigns for equal rights are touched upon. Sources include secondary sources, Beverly voter registration lists and census records.

Jennifer Remare

1/27/97

Child Labor in Beverly
This paper researches the employment of children, fourteen and under, in Beverly circa 1900. Their ethnic background, socio-economic placement, hours and working conditions are investigated. As in any research of the industrial movement in Beverly MA, the USMC is touched upon. Sources include populations schedules and secondary sources.

Aynsley Harrington

1/27/97

Naturalization on Rantoul St and Kiron Iowa
This paper investigates ethnic organizing on Rantoul Street in Beverly and compares it to a similar community in the states of Iowa. Ethnic groups, occupations and assimilation are touched upon. Population schedules were relied on heavily in this students research.

Patrick Kehoe

6/9/97

Child Labor At The Turn Of The Century
This paper investigates the occupations, responsibilities, working conditions and hours of children employees in the early 1900’s in Beverly. It is connected to the industrial movement as the greater context by connecting Beverly labor to that of neighboring communities. Sources include records from the United States Congress, newspaper articles and secondary sources.

Kristen Lafontaine

6/1/97

Ethnic Neighborhoods On Rantoul
This paper investigates the organizing of ethnic groups into different areas of the city of Beverly. Occupations, family life and community groups are touched upon in this report. Population schedules and city documents were used in this research.

Nathan Pelletier

6/1/97

The Census Of 1900
This paper investigates the Census of 1900 with special attention paid to the community of Beverly. Through this document ethnic groups, popular occupations, benevolent groups, entrepreneurships and churches can all be uncovered and examined. This report provides good insight into the social and economic landscape of Beverly at the turn of the Century using the census records.

Jason Nichols

2/14/92

Intra and Inter Marriage Between Ethnic Groups In Beverly:
A study of the relationship between marriage and ethnicity in the years 1895, 1900, and 1905
This study of the marriages between ethnic groups gives insight into cultural beliefs held by different ethnic groups during the years given. Information regarding ethnic marriages depicts the rate of assimilation of the particular group; i.e. a grouped that marries interracially has assimilated into the American culture rather quickly. Sources include many city documents found at City Hall such as marriage records and census records.

Sarah Coffey

2/1/93

Franco American Club
This paper studies the French Canadian club that is the Franco American Club. By relating the organization to others in the US at this time the paper provides a look not only at French Canadians in Beverly but in the US as a whole. Sources include documents of the researched organization and secondary sources including those written by Stephen Thurnstrom.

Christopher Gagnon

6/17/91

Beverly High’s Lost Students
This paper investigates the students of Beverly High who did not graduate. The paper puts into categories those who didn’t graduate and tell of reasons for their departure. The student’s sources include school committee records and books written by historians such as Maris Vinovskis and Reed Ueda.

Julliette A.Liu

1/24/00

Beverly High During War Time
This paper discuses the activities, atmosphere and involvement of BHS at times of war. Reactions, protests, military support etc is explored. The student used such sources as school records, student literature, newspaper articles and secondary sources including a book by Howard Zinn.

Danielle Chatellier

1/24/00

United Shoe Corporation:
Work Or Play
This paper researches the living conditions of the Unite Shoe Machinery Corporation. The facilities that they provide for their employees is what is referred to as “play”. This student utilized USMC documents and newspaper articles as his research.

Jake Frerk

1/23/00

Women in The Shoe Industry:
Beverly vs. Essex County
This paper investigates women involved with labor in industry. It compares the conditions and statistics of Beverly to that of Essex County. Census records and secondary sources were used in this research project.

Sarah De Cruz

1/18/00

Metal Hydrides Company’s Involvement In The Atom Bomb
This paper touches upon the Metal Hydrides Company’s involvement in the Atom Bomb. Their actual contributions, labor, research ,materials etc is investigated. Newspaper articles, secondary sources and company documents were used in this project.

Julie Hanlon

6/17/97

Evolution of Graduating Classes Of BHS
This paper researches the changes taking place in places of education. It also relates events in Beverly to education elsewhere. A study of the financial situation of the graduating class of 1910 is also featured. Sources include census records, Grading Lists of Beverly High School and several secondary sources.

Christine Gilbert

1/23/97

United Shoe Machinery Corp.:
Impact of Women yrs 11-25
This study is of the women involved with labor of the shoe industry, particularly the Untied Shoe Machinery Corporation of Beverly. The main primary sources used includes the 1900 and 1910 Census.

Melinda Keating

1/27/97